Star gazing picture

About my experience with OOF star shots. I finally got one night at the cottage that was clear, I set up the tripod, aimed the camera, set it to 100iso, shutter speed to bulb, fstop at 2.8, changed the lens over to MF, threw the focus ring over to infinity, and started shooting. Did 4 or 5 30 min exposures. Came back inside, looked at them on the computer and shouted "WTF!!!" Not one was in focus..........then realized that the focus ring doesn't stop at infinity, but actually goes beyond infinity, causing every shot to be blurry. The lesson learned, boys and girls, take a flashlight and get the camera to focus on a tree far away, then switch to manual.
I love star trails though - it's just a royal PITA to clean up all the hot spots that crop up with a long exposure.
Nice shots.

Canuck - you hit the nail on the head. I threw the focus to "infinity" and thought would be ok.

I like the idea of the torch etc, most remember to stick the Maglite into the camera bag as the one I was using that night was friggin hopeless. I intend using shorter exposures next time so as not get the stars moving/blurred.

Thanks for some of the tips!!

nice shots i like the #2`nd one. what white ballance are you "supposed" to use for such photos?

laimis.s wrote in post #2177599
nice shots i like the #2`nd one. what white ballance are you "supposed" to use for such photos?

No Idea - I was going to switch it back to auto but forgot!! I will be trying some more with it in Auto soon (weather permitting more like) and will be interesting to see what difference it makes.

Hey there Mike - hope you don't mind, but here are two of my star shots. The first one is a recent one, taken during a very bright full moon, and the second one is one of my first star shots, taken this past summer - where I was extremely out of focus, but maybe the longer exposure saved me a tad.

If anybody has any suggestions on a shutter speed that allows you to freeze stars, but still properly expose the image I'd love to hear it. I find I'm always getting some movement, or underexposed.

Sam

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no hints on what shutter speed or iso to freeze stars?

Cauck, it all depends on the lens you are using. I found that when I used my 18-55mm kit lens focused at 18mm, it can take up to 90sec. for just a hint of a star trail to appear. For a star trail pic that showes long trails circling around the polar star, your looking at a single exposure of at least 15min. I'll try and find the link I had to a site that actually showed a chart in regards to the exposure time it take at numerous comon focal lengths before star trails occur. Also good if you're doing night exposures and don't want star trials.

I'll post the link here when I find it.

As for ISO, your best bet is usually 400-800, but you can use lower than that.

Hi Canuck,

No worries about posting your pics. I am glad you did as it gives me ideas as to what I need to do next. Would you mind posting the exif data for your two shots so that I (or we) can compare.

Many thanks

Mike

Mike
Sorry about that, I guess the "Save for web" strips out the exif data.

First one, (keep in mind that this was a very bright moon, you could actually walk around outside without a flashlight)
6s exposure
2.8f
800iso
28 mm (Tammy 28-75)

Second one,
897 secs exposure
2.8f
100iso
28mm (Tammy 28-75)


One conclusion I've arrived at.........I need a wide angle to really capture star shots

Thanks for that Canuck.

Having the full moon makes a huge difference.

One question I have tho, how do you set the focus to ensure everything is right? In the first picture, I am assuming because of the very bright moon it was probably made easier but I am talking in general.

Here are two go's from last night. Defo much better so your tips are defo helping - many thanks!!

As an astronomer, I say: those are great!

Was it in Galway, that you captured the star trails? ( I am assuming that the plane lights streaking across the 2nd one, is from Shannon air traffic.)

Elphaba wrote in post #2217335
As an astronomer, I say: those are great!

Was it in Galway, that you captured the star trails? ( I am assuming that the plane lights streaking across the 2nd one, is from Shannon air traffic.)

My original thread pics were taken much further north than Galway. In a small village just outside Ballina, Co Mayo

The two I just added above were taken around Galway.

Love the pictures but it seems to me that you either have a lot of hot pixels or noise in the to shots