This lens is available in Canon and Nikon mount options but the Canon version can also be used on the Sony E-Mount system when using Sigma’s MC-11 mount converter. Image distortion is minimal and stars appear sharp throughout most of the image frame with little to no chromatic aberration, even at the widest aperture setting. Zoom and focus rings operate smoothly and the lens has rapid and almost silent autofocus – handy if you wish to use the lens for daytime use. The lens is optimized for full-frame cameras and has a typically solid Sigma construction. Sure, at f/2.8 it won't soak in as many photons as its 14mm f/1.8 cousin, but the benefit of shooting with a zoom lens is the versatility it gives for composing at multiple focal lengths, reducing the need to move the camera as much.
There is always a trade-off when using zoom lenses for astrophotography and it comes in the shape of a reduced maximum aperture size of f/2.8. This lens has more than a passing resemblance to the fixed 14mm focal length of Sigma’s 14mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art but has the added benefit of boasting a zoom range from 14mm through to 24mm. The Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG HSM (opens in new tab) is another lens from Sigma’s ‘Art’ range, well known for their optical quality and high-class engineering. In fact, some of the cheaper manual-focus lenses can outclass their more sophisticated competition, as you don’t necessarily need AF when focusing on the stars. Whether primes or zoom lenses, there's an astro lens to fit every sort of budget. Third-party lens manufacturers such as Sigma come into their own when you’re looking for astrophotography lenses, as not only are their lenses often cheaper, but they tend to create lenses that fill niches overlooked by the camera manufacturers.
However, you’ll notice a huge difference once you upgrade to high-quality glass, so this is the best place to start.
There are plenty of other astro accessories worth throwing in your kit bag too, from small things like lens heaters (opens in new tab) and intervalometers (opens in new tab) to larger bits of kit like star trackers. If you’re serious about the hobby, investing in one of the best cameras for astrophotography (opens in new tab) is also a no-brainer - when you're set-up with a good body and a solid lens, you'll see some serious improvements in your images. Once you're ready for a new lens, apertures of f2.8 and wider are what you’re looking for, to let as much light reach your camera's sensor as possible.