iOptron SkyGuider
May 25, 2019 05:17:59 #
It's after 3AM (Mountain Time) and I just returned from an excursion to the boondocks where the night sky was much darker to try shooting the Milky way. AS mentioned in my first post, I recently bought a SkyGuider Pro and tonight was my first attempt to use it to take a longer exposure of the Milky way. Unfortunately at the time of the shot (around 1:30AM MT) the moon was starting to rise, which didn't help, but overall I was happy for a first attempt. Look forward to trying again in better circumstances (no moon). Hopefully I'll get better at it. This exposure was with my 6D with a Rokinon 14mm at f2.8 and ISO 800. Exposure time was right at 2 minutes.
May 25, 2019 11:28:09 #
Nice image!
When you post, you should also post original so we get a higher detailed image to look at. There is a checkbox next to the upload, I believe it says post original.
Thanks.
When you post, you should also post original so we get a higher detailed image to look at. There is a checkbox next to the upload, I believe it says post original.
Thanks.
May 25, 2019 11:44:38 #
Europa wrote:
Nice image!
When you post, you should also post original so we get a higher detailed image to look at. There is a checkbox next to the upload, I believe it says post original.
Thanks.
When you post, you should also post original so we get a higher detailed image to look at. There is a checkbox next to the upload, I believe it says post original.
Thanks.
Ok, here it is with original (may have done a bit more processing on this). Not that the background is blurred as I didn't get a static background shot (I was just interested in how well the StarGuider tracked). Next time I'll get a better background and merge.
May 25, 2019 17:52:15 #
May 25, 2019 18:07:34 #
Europa wrote:
It’s a really nice photo, the sky may have a bit too much purple.
I'll get better with practive hopefully. This was processes at after 3AM (yawn)
May 27, 2019 15:41:21 #
Europa wrote:
Mine arrived today, so it’ll be cloudy here for a few weeks!
Yep, it is and has been.
Jun 29, 2019 12:43:14 #
In a few days I'm planning a trip to Cabazon Peak (plan on camping over night). Already took one trip to the location with my PhotoPills app to "plan" exactly where I want to be and what time to shoot for the images I plan (read hope) to get.
Jun 29, 2019 12:50:03 #
Jun 29, 2019 14:21:18 #
Europa wrote:
Cool, good luck and don’t forget to post some pix.
Thanks, I will (assuming I get any worth posting). I'm praying for clear skies (or if there are clouds, I hope they are not too much)
Jul 5, 2019 12:25:10 #
btrlvngthruchem wrote:
There will be significant vignetting with the 14 mm on a full-frame camera but on an APS-C camera it should be hardly noticeable by stopping down to f4. Typically, lenses aren't their sharpest wide open so stopping down from f2.8 to f4 could significantly improve your photograph.
Thanks for the tips. I do get some vignetting when shooting 14mm f2.8, but it's been easily fixed in post. I haven't tried shooting at anything other than wide open so far but maybe next time I'll try stopping down to f4 and increasing exposure time/ ISO just to experiment. So far I've been shooting at f2.8, ISO 400 or 800 for 2 - to 2.5 minutes roughly. I want to go out one night and just shoot a bunch of exposures at different combinations of f-stop, ISO and time to see if I can zero in on what works best. (of course, like you say, conditions will play a big role in what works best).
btrlvngthruchem wrote:
I've watched some of Peter Zelink's videos and think they are quite well done. If you haven't seen them, check out Lonely Planet and Ian Norman's videos as they are specific to Milky Way astrophotography.
I've watched several of his videos - they were a huge help getting up and running. I've subscribed to his channel of course.
btrlvngthruchem wrote:
One of the most difficult things to do, at least for me, is getting a great focus. Just something to think about.
I've seen a couple of different methods, but what works best for me is to put the camera in live view and zoom is as much as possible on a bright star, then adjust focus to get the smallest star possible.
btrlvngthruchem wrote:
I hope you're in a location where you have the possibility of getting to some reasonably dark skies as they are few and far between for me here in west Florida.
We live in New Mexico so I don't have to go too terribly far to find a good dark sky area. There is a good app called "Dark Sky" to is helpful.
btrlvngthruchem wrote:
I've attached a MW shot I took about a year and a half ago under the darkest sky conditions I've ever encountered. It is a single 10 s shot from my tripod using a Canon 6D, the Rokinon 14 mm f2.8 set at f2.8 and at ISO 6400. From my backyard, the setting would be completely different. At least this gives you some frame of reference.
Nice! I'm just a beginner but really enjoy taking Dark Sky Milky Way shots. One thing you (or someone) mentioned that I haven't done that I should is to hang some weight under the tripod. The last time out at Cabazon Peak it got pretty windy and I suspect weights would have helped a lot.
I'll attach a few I've taken with the SGP.
Moon Rise at 1:30AM South of Mountainair, NM
(Download)
Old Cattle Pen/ Windmill Near Cabazon Peak, NM
(Download)
Galactic Core over Cabazon Peak, NM
(Download)
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