Sony 24mm F1.4 GM astro test

After been very disappointed with the Samyang 24mm f1.8 lenses i have now moved onto the Sony 24mm F1.4 GM lens.

While this lens doesn't have an astro setting for focusing you have to selecting a star and then zoom in to obtain the focus.

I had to wait sometime for a clear sky before trying it out, wow the sharpness is incredible even at F1.4, and wide open lets more light in than the Samyang

I tried it out on our cats at F1.4 & a Sony A7iii and was blown away with the quality. 

I have bought this for both Astro photography and landscape photograph. I like working with wide angle lenses although it needs a different approach. You also need to obtain a good focus with the very narrow depth of field

I manage to get out last night to test out the focus on the stars with a part clear night, just outside our front door. The wind was around Force 5 so fairly strong. 

As far as focusing goes, set the lens to manual focus and turn the focus ring. The Sony A7iii then enlarges the stars. Make sure they are the smallest possible, not quiet at infinity mark, then increase magnification first x5.9 then to x11.7,  and then take photo before checking on screen

Today manage to get them on the computer for a closer look and here they are. ISO3200 6 seconds first at F2 .

The 24mm Sony F1.4 is consider the best lens for astrophotography and it feels the part. Smaller and less heavy than the Samyang 24mm F1.4. Also this is completely weather sealed, unlike the Samyang and it also has a brilliant autofocus. It also captures the metadata which the Samyang F1.4 lacks so checking settings later would be a problem. The filter size is 66mm rather than the 77mm Samyang although i don't intend to use a filter as it will degrade the quality of the lens.

The resolution is again much better than the Samyang which is what you want for Astrophotography. I also managed to get £230 off with various discounts. It pays to get the best quailty lens you can afford and i have been saving for this for a while now

ISO3200 F2   6 seconds

You still get a small amount of Coma but nothing like what you get from the Samyang F1.4 and F1.8 lenses and its razor sharp, worth the money if you are going to use it for Astrophotography and other types of daytime photography. 

Top corner of the one below, ISO3200 6 seconds F1.4

More test shots to come later, the weather has been very poor since i got this lens with gales and rain/ cloud most nights