First time to photo at night..any advice? I have the following set up: Canon 7d mk ii 18-135 lens IS STM Using tripod with a Gimbal head pointed straight up. f/3.5 Planning on using...

cmc65

I have the following set up:
Canon 7d mk ii
18-135 lens IS STM
Using tripod with a Gimbal head pointed straight up.
f/3.5

Planning on using ISO starting with 800 and 20sec or less.
Please trouble shoot this for me...there are supposed to be meteors tonight. The sky is clear. Hoping to get the stars and a meteor streak if I'm lucky.
Any and all advice would be appreciated. First time trying this. This is my widest and fastest lens and only camera so that can't change.

BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

Pretty good so far, add a wireless remote or 10 second delay.
Most important, get as far away from city light pollution as you can.
I keep my tri pod legs un extended and you may want to consider anchoring the tripod.
Have fun!

cmc65

BassmanBruce wrote:

Pretty good so far, add a wireless remote or 10 second delay.
Most important, get as far away from city light pollution as you can.
I keep my tri pod legs un extended and you may want to consider anchoring the tripod.
Have fun!

I have a wired remote. Weight the tripod, check, there's a hook.
Not quite sure what focus point to use. I usually use Av, should I use M?

Straight Shooter Loc: Newfoundland, Canada

Yes, go for it. Check your first shot - you may want to adjust the ISO a bit (up or down). You might get away with 25 seconds before you start to get star trailing, but trial and error will tell you. An intervalometer would be good, but just pressing the shutter is fine too. You could put it on a short shutter delay to remove any movement. Shooting RAW gives more latitude for adjustment in post-processing. Good luck!

cmc65

Straight Shooter wrote:

Yes, go for it. Check your first shot - you may want to adjust the ISO a bit (up or down). You might get away with 25 seconds before you start to get star trailing, but trial and error will tell you. An intervalometer would be good, but just pressing the shutter is fine too. You could put it on a short shutter delay to remove any movement. Shooting RAW gives more latitude for adjustment in post-processing. Good luck!

Thank you for the advice. I always shoot raw. The hardest part of this is going to be reading the manual in the dark:)

Straight Shooter Loc: Newfoundland, Canada

cmc65 wrote:

I have a wired remote. Weight the tripod, check, there's a hook.
Not quite sure what focus point to use. I usually use Av, should I use M?

Use manual focus. Using a single centre point, focus on the moon using enlarged live view, then don't touch the focus ring again. If the moon has set, put your ISO on the highest setting and manually focus on a bright star. Once focus is set, reduce ISO to what you are going to use.

cmc65

Straight Shooter wrote:

Use manual focus. Using a single centre point, focus on the moon using enlarged live view, then don't touch the focus ring again. If the moon has set, put your ISO on the highest setting and manually focus on a bright star. Once focus is set, reduce ISO to what you are going to use.

The moon will have set by then.I'm assuming I should set the button on lens to manual focus? I know to turn the IS to off.

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

Take a flashlight. It will help with setting up your camera in the dark.

CraigFair Loc: Santa Maria, CA.

cmc65 wrote:

I have a wired remote. Weight the tripod, check, there's a hook.
Not quite sure what focus point to use. I usually use Av, should I use M?

Auto Focus on something as far away as possible, change to Manual Focus so it does not change when triggering the shutter.
Your other techniques sound good. 18mm, f/3.5, ISO 800, 20 to 25 sec.. this is your test shot then adjust the ISO up or down to control the brightness.
Good luck and have fun.
Craig

cmc65

RichardTaylor wrote:

Take a flashlight. It will help with setting up your camera in the dark.

Yes, thank you, I was just kidding, I do have two small flashlights in my 'kit' along with extra mini glasses so that I can see through the viewfinder without taking them off. This age thing is really inconvenient. I'm also going to be right in my back yard. perfect viewing. Well, if not perfect, at least pretty good.

cmc65

CraigFair wrote:

Auto Focus on something as far away as possible, change to Manual Focus so it does not change when triggering the shutter.
Your other techniques sound good. 18mm, f/3.5, ISO 800, 20 to 25 sec.. this is your test shot then adjust the ISO up or down to control the brightness.
Good luck and have fun.
Craig

AHHH that's it, the change to manual is what I have not done in the past. check

Albuqshutterbug Loc: Albuquerque NM

cmc65 wrote:

The moon will have set by then.I'm assuming I should set the button on lens to manual focus? I know to turn the IS to off.

You could go out now, focus and turn off the auto focus.
Some people use painter or masking tape to keep the focus ring from moving.
If you do that double check the focus by doing the half button push and the focus confirm red light should light up.
Good luck!

kynsinal Loc: Fresno, CA

suggest using a red filter on the flashlight - easier on the eyes when trying to look at dials, for car keys and to others in the area

hettmoe Loc: Rural ND

It sounds to me that you will be having fun😀

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

cmc65 wrote:

Yes, thank you, I was just kidding, I do have two small flashlights in my 'kit' along with extra mini glasses so that I can see through the viewfinder without taking them off. This age thing is really inconvenient. I'm also going to be right in my back yard. perfect viewing. Well, if not perfect, at least pretty good.

I have one of those LED light cobtraction that clips to the bill of my cap, so I have two hands free.