HighDesertRose wrote:
Thank you - this is what I have been looking for, some values. I have a Nikon D50 with a 70-300 lens in southern AZ - where the milky way is wonderful. I do have a tripod. What I can't figure out is how to set the damn thing for a 4 minute exposure. Anyone?
I don't have a Nikon, but on Canon there is a "B" for Bulb setting on exposure time. The shutter will stay open as long as you have the shutter button pressed, or better, as long as your remote shutter release is pressed. You will want to have one of those. The Chinese versions are very cheap on Amazon.
That said, with a 70-300 lens, you're going so see star trails on any exposure over, about 10 or 15 seconds. I use my widest angle lens (12MM) and set the ISO as high as possible ( 1600), open the lens up as wide as possible ( F4) and set the long exposure noise reduction on. Then take a 30 second exposure. You should see lots of stars, some nebulosity and the stars will not turn into little streaks. You still might need to do some post processing to enhance the image.
Thanks Rex. We'll try that android ap - but not sure if it is compatible with the iPad. What marvels, now, eh?
thank you very helpful. Which canon are you shooting with?
I use a Canon 40D. The lens is a Tokina 12-24 F4.
I forgot to mention, I use live view and boost the power to focus on a bright star.
I have the 40d and the tokina ultra also but how do you "boost" the power?
GrandmaJoy wrote:
I hope you find it soon. For the first time in many many years I saw the milky way last night in Floyd Co. Virginia. I don't ever remember seeing it's path across the sky. It was dark and the stars were shining. I just wanted to camp there and never forget the view.
This is amazing. I cannot comprehend this.
I live in a part of the world that it is either cloudy or the milky way is there.
saycheese
Loc: By the Big Lake in West Michigan
CocoaRoger wrote:
Right, with a long exposure even dark can come out foggy. That's ok, I only took my first star shots last night and was pleasantly surprised. I'm not expecting anything like we see in high dry desert, I just want to see what it looks like under the given conditions and then I can better weigh future attempts. And that doesn't even take into account yet whether the sky will be clear. But, it does get very dark here at night and when the winter comes I'd like to get the Pleide's in Orion and hopefully satellite trails. I also want to get the ISS flying over. That's an easy one since it's so bright. You only need clear sky, and to know when and where it's coming and for that I use a websit
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http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/cities/skywatch.cgi?country=United+States which tells you all of that.
Right, with a long exposure even dark can come out... (
show quote)
I used to view the 7 Sisters in the winter sky, with my 10" Dob reflector. At that time there were many attachments available for telescopes to cameras. I remember seeing the 7 Sisters the first night I got my Dob.I nearly plotzed!!!Good luck, good seeing, and good shooting. I miss those days.
Annie
By boost the power I meant to say zoom in on the live view screen. On the canon it is done with the same button you use to zoom when reviewing pictures on the LCD.
Thank you so much. I am filing your response and hope to get back to you with some photos - when I figure out the timed exposure set up. Connie
Bubu
Loc: Out of this solar system
Nikon65, Than you for the tip on the settings. I will use that with my Vixen Polarie next time I have really good seeing weather.
Hello, you do not want to go longer than 30 seconds or your stars will appear as streaks
CocoaRoger wrote:
Thanks. I like the Stellarium for now. It shows what I'm looking for at this point. I found what I think would be a good place to set up but the weather isn't looking like it will cooperate tonight. Guess we'll see. Now if only I could get my remote to work with the D3100 to work! I still can use up to 30 seconds but I'd prefer to go a little longer.
Kalina54 wrote:
Hello, you do not want to go longer than 30 seconds or your stars will appear as streaks
500 rule Kalina.
500 divided by equivalent 35mm focal length gives the longest time without the stars trying to trail.
Started out as the 600 rule but many change it to 500 to build in a margin for error.
So fullframe camera, 14mm lens, 500/14 =35 seconds
Crop Canon frame camera 18mm end of zoom lens .... 500/18*1.6 = 17.6 seconds.
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