Best zoom lenses 2023: The best picks from Canon, Sony, Nikon and more

The best zoom lenses are a must-buy for anyone, from seasoned astrophotographers to beginners wanting to take their photography skills to the next level.

These expertly design optics, whether they be telephoto or wide-angle, enable you to change the focal length (zoom in or out on your chosen subject). This is helpful for astrophotography in particular as you are obviously shooting very distant subjects, and some of these lenses can rival even the best telescopes in that regard.

Using a zoom lens in astrophotography may require compromises on aperture and exposure time, but the improved image quality justifies these trade-offs and your investment. To help you make an informed decision that suits your needs and budget, our experts have tested and reviewed the top zoom lenses on the market right now. However, if you're not concerned with having a zoom lens, take a look at our best lenses for astrophotography guide which includes primes as well.

If you're looking to upgrade the rest of your photography kit, why not pair your new zoom lens with one of the best cameras for astrophotography? To make up for the extra weight to carry, check out our guides to find the best camera backpack and tripod for you.

The quick list

Below you'll find an overview of all the lenses included in this guide, with some pros and cons to help you find the ones that best suit your needs and budget. In this section, you will find links to read more detailed reviews of the products you're most interested in. 

The best zoom lenses we recommend in 2023

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The best zoom lens overall

Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G Master OSS

Deep sky astrophotographers will love the huge focal length — just bear in mind you'll need a good star tracker to make this work

Specifications

Mount: Sony E-mount
Focal range: 200-600mm
Aperture range: f/5.6-6.3
Filter thread size: 95mm
Weight: 4.7 lbs (2.1kg)

Reasons to buy

+
Superb image quality
+
Impressive focal length for astrophotography
+
Well-designed and made

Reasons to avoid

-
Almost 5 lbs of weight requires a hefty star tracker
-
Expensive — cheaper alternative available
Buy it if

✅ You want a versatile lens: the zoom and wide aperture means this is suitable for astro and daytime photographers alike.

✅ You can invest in a well-built lens: it has quality ergonomics and is designed very well.

Don't buy it if:

❌ You're on the go a lot: At 4.7 lbs, this is a hefty piece of kit that requires a good star tracker and tripod.

❌ You're on a budget: Although it's not the most expensive lens on this list, it will still set you back close to $2,000.

❌ You want to shoot wider astro shots: The 600mm maximum zoom costs you a bit of light as the aperture can only be opened as wide as f/6.3 once you crank it in.

The bottom line

🔎 The Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G Master OSS is a versatile telephoto zoom lens perfect for deep-sky astrophotographers and daytime photographers alike. The impressive zoom and aperture range combine to create pin-sharp images, even at 600mm zoom. However, the hefty weight means you'll need a decent tripod and star tracker to support it. ★★★★½

Topping our list of zoom lenses is a real titan of a lens from Sony. Catering to both astrophotographers and daytime photographers, this high-quality lens is perfect for capturing deep-sky images at night or for shooting wildlife, nature or sports during the day. This makes it a versatile bit of kit with a wide appeal.

Design: This lens has a couple of drawbacks. It's relatively heavy at 4.7 lbs, which can be challenging to handle when attached to a heavy camera. To achieve the best professional results, you might need to invest in a powerful star tracker, which will further increase the overall cost. In addition, you'll also need to invest in a quality tripod in order to carry this level of payload.

Performance: This is a lens that stands up incredibly well to the torture test of being shot with the aperture wide open, which is essential if you're considering using it for astrophotography. The center of the image is almost absurdly sharp, even when fully zoomed in at 600mm. The maximum zoom achieved by this lens is an impressive feature. Admittedly, using the maximum zoom does cost you a little light as the aperture can only be opened as wide as f/6.3 once you crank it in, which will cost you either shutter speed or ISO (or a bit of both). 

Functionality: When you think about the potential weight of a 600mm lens with a faster aperture and the image quality that modern sensors can deliver, the trade-off is worth the price. Especially if you have a recent full-frame camera that can produce good image quality at high ISO settings. This lens provides significant magnification, opening up spectacular photographic opportunities. And with the Sony, you can get all this for under $2,000.

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Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G Master OSS
AttributesNotes
DesignA very hefty lens.
PerformanceAbsurdly sharp, even at 600mm.
FunctionalityOffers fantastic magnification for astrophotography.

The best Nikon telephoto

Absolutely spellbinding image quality, although could be overkill for some

Specifications

Mount: Nikon Z-mount
Focal range: 70-200mm
Aperture range: f/2.8 constant
Filter thread size: 77mm
Weight: 3.1 lbs (1.4kgs)

Reasons to buy

+
One of the very best 70-200mm f/2.8 lenses out there
+
Large maximum aperture great for astrophotography

Reasons to avoid

-
Cutting-edge tech equals cutting-edge price
-
Longer focal lengths available for the same, or less, money
Buy it if

✅ You want the highest possible image quality: the quality of the images achieved with this lens is nothing short of phenomenal.

✅ You need a lens for all weather: astrophotographers are often shooting out in all types of weather, and this lens can certainly handle that. 

✅ You want a lens with autofocus: a handy feature for astrophotography shots, the autofocus on this lens is fast and quiet.

Don't buy it if:

❌ You're on a budget: all the features and the amazing image quality come with a hefty, hefty price tag.

❌ You want close-up shots of celestial objects: If you're interested in detailed shots of the moon, you might need to resort to a lens with a bigger zoom or a teleconverter.

The bottom line

🔎 The Nikon Nikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8 S-Line is a flexible telephoto zoom lens that delivers sharp images of incredible quality. With autofocus and image stabilization, it predictably also comes with a very high price tag - but we think it's worth your hard-earned money if your budget stretches that far. ★★★★½

Design: Designed to be the best zoom lenses for mirrorless Z-mounts, the S-Line lenses claim to offer edge-to-edge sharpness and superb optical quality when shot wide open, which we found to be true in our Nikon Nikkor Z 70-200 f/2.8 S review

Deep-sky astrophotographers may argue that extreme focal distances are the main priority for them and that this lens doesn't live up to that at only 200mm. However, the advantage of the 3.1 lbs weight of this lens is that it won't overwhelm the majority of star trackers and the images come out sharp enough to withstand all but the most aggressive of crops. 

Performance: The performance of this lens is nothing short of fantastic. The autofocus is fast and quiet, and it is equipped with Nikon's Vibration Reduction technology (read: built-in stabilization) which makes it ideal for shooting astro even handheld as it can counter the weight of the lens. It's not the best for close-up images of celestial objects such as the moon but unless you have a teleconverter, most lenses aren't up to that task.

Functionality: The Nikon Nikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8 S-Line stands out as one of the top zoom lenses available for several reasons. It features a wide maximum aperture, optical image stabilization and customizable Fn buttons for added versatility. One unique feature is the OLED panel on the top, replacing the traditional focus distance marking ring. This panel can be set to display various information like focus distance, aperture size, focal length, ISO or depth of field. Additionally, the lens includes a control ring for even more creative control.

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Nikon Nikkor Z 70-200 f/2.8 S
AttributesNotes
Design3.1 lbs weight won't overwhelm most star trackers.
PerformanceFast & quiet autofocus.
FunctionalityConstant f/2.8 aperture great for astrophotography.

The best Nikon F-mount telephoto

A surprisingly versatile lens with stunning optics.

Specifications

Mount: Nikon F-mount
Focal range: 70-200mm
Aperture range: f/2.8 constant
Filter thread size: 77mm
Weight: 3.1lbs (1.4kgs)