new astro help please

I've taken a few pics of northern lights before but when it comes time to take more I can never remember where about the best settings are and seem to spend hours messing around trying to get it figured out. I also try to take pics of stars without any success. I haven't ventured to much into the manual side of my camera so any help would be greatly appreciated. Also where do you go to see if the milky way is visible near you? Camera is Canon T1i

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detailedblue wrote in post #17720889
I've taken a few pics of northern lights before but when it comes time to take more I can never remember where about the best settings are and seem to spend hours messing around trying to get it figured out.

look at your EXIF data for the images, all the settings are recorded there
if you are using Windows, right click on the file, select properties ( at the bottom) in the window that opens select details
it will tell you the camera and lens type, focal length, exp time ISO and a few other things

get to a dark site ... if you are in a city/large town, the MW isn't likely to be visible
from a dark site, you cant miss it

your pix ...
1) .... the aurora, looks a little out of focus and the colour a little pale, but not too bad ( some editing would bring out more colour)

2) .... the moon, somewhat over exposed if that had been a bit less it would have been spot on

3) .... aurora/trees, very out of focus, and looks like the camera may have also been bumped
as the stars appear to be double imaged


keep trying, and asking Q's on here, there plenty of good experienced people that are willing to help new comers

Dave

All of your pictures are Out Of Focus which is your main issue.

Have trouble focusing manual since auto just keeps trying to re adjust. How do u make pic not over exposed? It's taking me awhile to try and get the camera sorted out lol night pics are my hardest

detailedblue wrote in post #17721921
Have trouble focusing manual since auto just keeps trying to re adjust. How do u make pic not over exposed? It's taking me awhile to try and get the camera sorted out lol night pics are my hardest

I'm not familiar with the Canon T1i ... does it have live view ?
if so use it on the highest magnification, maybe x10 on your cam it is on my 5D3. manual focus carefully on a really bright star or distant streetlight ( near pinpoint source) what ever is available. Get out there and experiment with your focussing

over exposing ... Since I don't know your camera settings ... have you done what I suggested earlier and looked at the image details ??
either shorten exp time or decrease ISO or a bit of both
for a bright moon you can use smaller apertures f5.6 - f11 or so


Dave

Live view is where I put my eye right up to camera correct? I think I have a dial where I can change so it is correctly exposed. I haven't played around with that yet but will do

*LOLS I PROMISE I WON'T FLAME YOU*

Live view is using the screen on the rear of the camera as the viewfinder. Like point and shoots do.
Generally speaking you will have a dial near the shutter button that you can use to change your f-stop and shutter speed.

Ok. I never use that view I just look through and adjust as needed. I will try and see if that is easier with that screen instead. I go out where it's very dark and can't see anything lol. Would it be easier to set the focus if I shine a flash light on a object in foreground first

Fry focusing to infinity and dialing it back a smidge? also make sure AF is turned off!!!