Suggested settings for shooting the Milky Way
Apr 19, 2017 18:27:17 #
I am new into photography and was wondering if anyone can give me settings for shooting the Milky Way. I will be in Cabo San Lucas and away from lights.
I have a Nikon D810 with 12-24 and 24-70 lenses.
Thank you for your time and input.
I have a Nikon D810 with 12-24 and 24-70 lenses.
Thank you for your time and input.
Apr 20, 2017 06:15:43 #
Chris Mannerino wrote:
I am new into photography and was wondering if anyone can give me settings for shooting the Milky Way. I will be in Cabo San Lucas and away from lights.
I have a Nikon D810 with 12-24 and 24-70 lenses.
Thank you for your time and input.
I have a Nikon D810 with 12-24 and 24-70 lenses.
Thank you for your time and input.
I have done a little of that type of photography with my D800 and a 16mm f2.8 Nikon lens. I used the lens wide open at f2.8, 30 seconds for a shutter speed, and ISO of 6400. If you use anything longer than 30 seconds you will get streaking, due to the earth's rotation. A longer focal length will require an even shorter shutter speed to avoid streaking. You will probably have to experiment with the ISO. You have a great camera for that type of photography. Good luck.
Apr 20, 2017 09:26:58 #
Apr 20, 2017 16:43:49 #
The rule of 500 for star trails is 500 divided by focal length is maximum seconds exposure to avoid star trails.
Apr 20, 2017 20:05:45 #
I use a D610 with a 14 to 24mm set at 14mm. The time varies slightly, but my best results are 25 to 30 seconds with ISO's of 2500 or 3200
This picture was taken in far northeast corner of California. 14mm, 3200 ISO, 30 seconds, about an hour after sunset.
This picture was taken in far northeast corner of California. 14mm, 3200 ISO, 30 seconds, about an hour after sunset.
Apr 20, 2017 21:51:32 #
Apr 21, 2017 00:28:12 #
plessner wrote:
I have trouble figuring out what white balance to use
I forgot to mention that. Go to a manual setting for your white balance and set it for somewhere between 3400 to 3700k. I usually use 3700k, but then tweak it in Adobe Camera Raw (ACR).
Apr 21, 2017 06:43:08 #
DavidPine
Loc: Fredericksburg, TX
I like to use the 14-24 f/2.8 on a D810 at f/5.6, ISO 3200 for 20 to 30 seconds mounted on a geared head and weighted down with a remote shutter release. I shoot raw and I usually have my WB set on cloudy. Works for me. I made one at Fort Davis, Texas that a lawyer bought from me and he had a large metal print made for his office.
Apr 21, 2017 17:07:05 #
With my D810 I shoot with the 14-24 usually at 14. No longer than 25 seconds wide open at 2.8. ISO 4000-4500, white balance usually between 4000-4500K. Best shots need interesting foreground. Those will need to be long exposure depending on the moonlight. For these shots you need 2 to 2.5 minutes with ISO 2000 to 2500. Again this will change a lot with moonlight. Best shots need to be far away from the city....good luck and be safe!
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