can i take pics of the stars whit my rebel xt??

[streetcarvideos]

im new in this and last night i try to take pics of stars but they where well rubish i have a 28-80 lent and a 55-200 what config should i use? i just want a simple starts in the sky pic here its the best that i could.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3430/3940928059_e7c9faf735_o.jpg

[RobinSchouten]

A tripod, longer exposure time and sharper focus. Then you should be fine! :)

[VIGER]

Hi Jairo.

Yes you can,

- Use a tripod
- Mirror lock feature if you have it
- Use a remote if you have one or use the time delay ...
- Focus at a far objet during the day you lens set at wide angle. Desable the AF after that- note the setting on your lens.

- As wide as you can and shoot traight up and the brightest star right now - vega - that should bring you towards the milky way
- Shoot at the fasted stop you can but f5.6 might give you your shapest focus.
- Set your iso to 400 or 800 and shoot from 20 to 30 seconds shots.
- You might want to try playing with the focus a hair a take more.

Experiment and have fun.

Cheers

Michel

[Adrena1in]

Focus is the first thing you need to sort really. The XT doesn't have Live View does it? Best thing to do therefore is find a very bright star, set up with your tripod, remote shutter release, put the lens on a nice wide angle, turn off Auto-Focus, and look through the eyepiece then adjust the focus until the bright star looks sharp. Take a 3s or 4s exposure, then adjust the focus slightly and take another exposure. Preview the two images and see which is best, then adjust the focus again and take another exposure and review. Repeat until you've got what you think is the best focus.

Then shoot a load more shots with varying ISOs from 400 to 1600, aperture usually wide open and stopped down a couple, and exposues from 5s to several minutes. It'll be a great way to get an idea how long you can expose beore noise becomes a problem, or before star-trails get too noticeable, or before light pollution washes out your image.

Muck about also with different focal lengths, and try some targets in the sky to see how you get on, then post us your results.

Good luck and clear skies.

[Lumin Miner]

Zoom out... focus, zoom in, 25sec shot. I think you are shooting freehand, because no matter what combo of those lens I use, I couldn't get that on a tripod... Looks to me your hands are shaking. Try setting the camera down on a pillow / jumper and try again.

[Adrena1in]

Zoom out... focus, zoom in.

When I try that with my 18-200mm it completely messes up the focus. :confused: