By Widhibek
Adapted for NightSkyIndonesia.com

Which lens is better for Milky Way photography—the trusty Samyang 14mm f/2.8 that has accompanied me on many night hunts, or the recently added Canon 16-35mm f/4L? A few days ago, I brought both lenses to capture the night beauty at Mount Merapi. Here’s a comparison based on my observations and personal experience, not technical jargon.

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Samyang 14mm f/2.8

Advantages:

• Wider and broader field of view (14mm focal length)
• Wider aperture at f/2.8
• Affordable price (~3.5-4 million IDR)
• Sharp results
• Can use lower ISO due to wider aperture
• Very suitable for landscapes and astrophotography due to ultra-wide angle and aperture

Disadvantages:

• Cannot use filters (not critical for Milky Way)
• Manual focus only (okay since Milky Way focus is manual anyway)
• Not so great when shooting against bright lights
• Strong distortion, especially horizontal lines bending like a mustache

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Canon 16-35mm f/4L

Advantages:

• Image Stabilizer (IS), though less useful for tripod work in Milky Way
• Supports 77mm filters (CPL, GND, UV, ND)
• Flexible zoom range 16-35mm for composition
• Fast autofocus
• Better flare control than Samyang 14mm
• Less distortion than Samyang 14mm
• Sharp output
• Versatile: landscape, portrait, travel

Disadvantages:

• About 3x pricier than Samyang 14mm
• Smaller aperture than Samyang 14mm
• Narrower field of view than Samyang 14mm
• Requires higher ISO to compensate smaller aperture

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Distortion Test

Canon 16-35mm produces much friendlier distortion than Samyang 14mm.

Flare Test

Canon 16-35mm outperforms Samyang 14mm in handling bright light sources.

Milky Way Test

Both lenses deliver equally sharp Milky Way images.

Edge Sharpness

100% cropped edge comparison shows little difference.

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Summary

For pure landscape and Milky Way photography, Samyang 14mm offers most advantages: wider aperture, wider field of view, affordability. But for broader use beyond night shots, Canon 16-35mm’s filter capability and IS make it more versatile.

If weight and packing mandate choosing one for long trips like mountain treks, Canon 16-35mm is my pick. For accessible locations, I wouldn’t hesitate to carry both.

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Conclusion

Both lenses are worthy Milky Way options. Samyang 14mm takes precedence for dedicated Milky Way shooters; Canon 16-35mm is my choice for combined landscape day and night use.

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NightSkyIndonesia.com encourages photographers to pick lenses fitting their unique needs balancing sharpness, flexibility, and budget.