Milkyway nightscapes

I figured I'd make my first post of the Milky Way here. This is from 3/11/13. Single exposure for 25" seconds @ 14mm, f/2.8 and ISO 3200.

Nice one Scott!

Here's one from Crows Nest National Park, just after the start of astronomical twilight last Sunday morning.

Cheers,
Stephen

NavyDiver911 wrote in post #15712295
I figured I'd make my first post of the Milky Way here. This is from 3/11/13. Single exposure for 25" seconds @ 14mm, f/2.8 and ISO 3200.

I love this. Great work!

S.R.M. wrote in post #15712395
Nice one Scott!

Here's one from Crows Nest National Park, just after the start of astronomical twilight last Sunday morning.

Cheers,
Stephen

What lens and what settings did you use for this shot?

Going to go try with the 60d and Tokina 11-16 lens. Last shots I took we're with the 350d so really trying to nail what settings I will need....ideas?

Gutterscum wrote in post #15715533
Going to go try with the 60d and Tokina 11-16 lens. Last shots I took we're with the 350d so really trying to nail what settings I will need....ideas?

Widest aperture - well not quite, I go one stop smaller for a sharper shot.
High ISO - depending on where you are, 1600-3200 should get good results, or go 6400+
Depending on lens, I stay under 25 seconds for my wide angle (10mm) to get no trailing of the stars.

The main part is focussing, if you have a focus guage on your lens that makes it super easy set to infinity.

HOW HOW HOW do you guys do that???

I have 7D w/ 50 1.8, 15-85

Do I need to find very dark area to taking a pix ?

Tips?

Thanks

JakeF150FX4 wrote in post #15715959
HOW HOW HOW do you guys do that???

I have 7D w/ 50 1.8, 15-85

Do I need to find very dark area to taking a pix ?

Tips?

Thanks

It helps a lot, but not absolutely necessary. Many of these pictures are "stacked", or they are using long exposures with some kind of tracking mount (one that is motorized to keep the camera pointed at the same thing in the sky). Your 15-85 will probably do fine for Milky Way shots with a long-ish exposure. Use your widest aperture, or maybe close down one stop to gain some sharpness. Use the highest ISO that you can tolerate its noise level; probably 1600 or 3200 on a 7D. On my T1i, I limit it to 800 unless I'm going to be stacking (which tends to wash out noise).

The rule of thumb on a crop camera to minimize trailing (elongated stars) is 400/focal length for the maximum exposure length. On ff, 600/fl. So on your 7D at 20mm, keep your exposures below 20 sec or so (depending on your tolerance for elongated stars). If you're shooting a narrower field with your 50, 8 sec or so.

And EXPERIMENT!!! Take a bunch of shots at varying apertures, ISOs and exposure times.

That helps a lot, thanks and ill try when I get chance ( busy w family )

Huge thanks

CallumRD1 wrote in post #15715479
What lens and what settings did you use for this shot?

Sorry, forgot the details in my post above!... I used a 50D and Tokina 11-16mm. This was a single 30 sec exposure at f/2.8 and 3200 iso.

Cheers,
Stephen

JakeF150FX4 wrote in post #15715959
HOW HOW HOW do you guys do that???

I have 7D w/ 50 1.8, 15-85

Do I need to find very dark area to taking a pix ?

Tips?

Thanks

Your 50mm can get shots like this it's just focusing the 50mm lens is the hard part...

5 sec, ƒ/1.8, ISO 1600, 50 mm

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/mikeymack/84079​11820/

^ Nice!

RoyceBair wrote in post #15720751

"Stargazer"
As we approach Winter in the Northern Hemisphere, the brightest portions of the Milk Way, the central bulge, disappear below the horizon for several months (and appear in the Southern Hemisphere). However, other stars take their place on the night stage, i.e. Sirus, the brightest star in the sky, and the Orion Constellation — arising only in the winter months. More information on this photo is found at my blog.

Ah, that is most excellent! Just goes to show, there's tons of great stuff in the sky at all times, just need to get out and look for it.

Great work as usual, Royce!

nice shots in here.