How to focus on infinity with a canon 18-55 lens kit

adamredshaw · 23rd of July 2012 (Mon)

Hi eveyone.

I am rather new to DSLR photography and am trying all sorts of techniques. Tonight is a really clear night and I went out to try and have a go at shooting the stars and possibly even some of the milky way as you could see some of that too. However it was the first time i have done it and i was having difficulty focusing on the stars especially since there is no moon out. The lens kit I got with my d600 is very limited and I cannot focus to infinity. I have tried all the tricks such as setting the small aperatures and setting it in DEP mode but I cannot get a good exposure. Is there a way to focus on infinity with the lens using another trick?

Thanks a lot.

spotz04 · 23rd of July 2012 (Mon)

You have to set the lens to manual focus and then focus manually. Set the focus to infinity then back off just a bit. Preview pic, if still blurry then adjust ever so slightly (fine hair amounts) one direction or another. Try using Live View, finding a star and then zooming in at 10x in LV, manual focus on that white dot.

adamredshaw · 24th of July 2012 (Tue)

Thanks for the quick reply.

I will give this a go tonight. Hopefully i will be able to get some good results. really i need to invest in a better lens but im making do with what i have at the moment.

cyberon · 24th of July 2012 (Tue)

All lens needs to be set to manual focus for astrophotography apart from possibly the moon.

issue1 · 25th of July 2012 (Wed)

Lens has nothing to do with it. Give the kit lens to a seasoned star shooter and they'll come away with amazing results.

A.S.I.G.N. Observatory · 25th of July 2012 (Wed)

I started out with that very same lens. It is a very capable lens. Here's my tutorial.

I hope this helps you mate.

Baz.

mtbdudex · 28th of July 2012 (Sat)

I also stated with that same kit lens and T1i for widefield, here is my method

Quote:

Tip on focus camera with live view:

I've had luck with live view, 10x, then manual focus until the brightest star you can find gets small/sharp as possible.
Sometimes that takes a back/forth on the focus ring until you find that center spot of focus.
Even if you have to crank up the ISO just to focus to show the star brightest, then move it down for the actual shot.
Infinity marking on lens is a good start, but that varies on temp and zoom.

495 · 2nd of August 2012 (Thu)

I always autofocus on the most distant light source available, imediatly switch off to manual focus and i'm careful not to touch the focus ring. but my days shooting stars with the 18-55 are gone, the 8mm does the job now!

23rd of July 2012 (Mon)	#1
adamredshaw Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 2	How to focus on infinity with a canon 18-55 lens kit Hi eveyone. I am rather new to DSLR photography and am trying all sorts of techniques. Tonight is a really clear night and I went out to try and have a go at shooting the stars and possibly even some of the milky way as you could see some of that too. However it was the first time i have done it and i was having difficulty focusing on the stars especially since there is no moon out. The lens kit I got with my d600 is very limited and I cannot focus to infinity. I have tried all the tricks such as setting the small aperatures and setting it in DEP mode but I cannot get a good exposure. Is there a way to focus on infinity with the lens using another trick? Thanks a lot.

23rd of July 2012 (Mon)	#2
spotz04 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: USA Posts: 1,548	Re: How to focus on infinity with a canon 18-55 lens kit You have to set the lens to manual focus and then focus manually. Set the focus to infinity then back off just a bit. Preview pic, if still blurry then adjust ever so slightly (fine hair amounts) one direction or another. Try using Live View, finding a star and then zooming in at 10x in LV, manual focus on that white dot. __________________ Gear

24th of July 2012 (Tue)	#3
adamredshaw Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 2	Re: How to focus on infinity with a canon 18-55 lens kit Thanks for the quick reply. I will give this a go tonight. Hopefully i will be able to get some good results. really i need to invest in a better lens but im making do with what i have at the moment.

24th of July 2012 (Tue)	#4
cyberon Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 538 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: How to focus on infinity with a canon 18-55 lens kit All lens needs to be set to manual focus for astrophotography apart from possibly the moon. __________________ 500D, Speedlite 430EX II, Lens : 15-85mm; 50mm F1.8 II; 100mm F2.8L IS Macro; 70-200mm F4L; Samyang 8mm F3.5 U/W : G11, OEM Housing, Inon S2000, Inon D4 Tray, Inon UCL-165 Close up lens Astro : Modded 1100D, ES 80ED, Skywatcher HEQ5 Mount, Astrotrac TT320X-AG, Astronomik CLS Clip in filter

25th of July 2012 (Wed)	#5
issue1 Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 52	Re: How to focus on infinity with a canon 18-55 lens kit Lens has nothing to do with it. Give the kit lens to a seasoned star shooter and they'll come away with amazing results.

25th of July 2012 (Wed)	#6
A.S.I.G.N. Observatory Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Canberra, Australia Posts: 1,490	Re: How to focus on infinity with a canon 18-55 lens kit I started out with that very same lens. It is a very capable lens. Here's my tutorial. I hope this helps you mate. Baz. __________________ Australian Wildlife Photographer BA Photography ASIGN Observatory II

2nd of August 2012 (Thu)	#8
495 Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Romania Posts: 77	Re: How to focus on infinity with a canon 18-55 lens kit I always autofocus on the most distant light source available, imediatly switch off to manual focus and i'm careful not to touch the focus ring. but my days shooting stars with the 18-55 are gone, the 8mm does the job now! __________________ With the power of my mind, I make the end of this sentence disa SONY Alpha α230 + Samyang 85mm f/1.4 + samyang 8mm fisheye + 18-55mm SAM + Tamron 70-300mm + Kenko 25mm + Fancier WT3570 My Flickr, My Photo BLOG, My Fb page, My Deviant

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