This site requires new users to accept that a small amount of member data is captured and held in an attempt to reduce spammers and to manage users. This site also uses cookies to ensure ease of use. In order to comply with new DPR regulations you are required to agree/disagree with this process. If you do not agree then please email the Admins using info@nikondslr.uk after requesting a new account. Thank you.

 Moderated by: chrisbet,
Astro photography not easy   -   Page   1
 Rating:  Rating
AuthorPost



Posted: Mon Sep 28th, 2015 05:18
 
1st Post
Eric



Joined: Wed Apr 18th, 2012
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 4572
Status: 
Offline
I know there are/were some astrophotography experts on here and I tip my cap to them! Its a whole new (complex) ballgame to me.

I took a shot of the moon on my 500mm / D750 combination before going to bed then set the alarm for 3:30 (though my bladder was 15 minutes a head of it!!!) and stubbled on to the back lawn. That's when you realise that the settings (ISO, shutter speed) are different to a full moon DUH!!!!
Fumbling about was a good exercise in finding all the buttons you want in the dark !!! (yeah I know they invented torches for such a moment)

I suppose I should have whacked the D750s ISO right up, taken multiple shots and superimposed them in levels to null out the resulting noise...but I was still half asleep. So when you look at the results (several hours later) you realise a 2sec exposure means you get star sausages...and a blurry moon. Unless of course the moon was shivering with fear at the darkness? And I got gnat bit!!

:whip:

Attachment: 2moons.jpg (Downloaded 20 times)



____________________
Eric
 




Posted: Mon Sep 28th, 2015 05:38
 
2nd Post
jk



Joined: Sun Apr 1st, 2012
Location: Carthew, Cornwall, United Kingdom
Posts: 6987
Status: 
Offline
Good shot.
Showing the two different moons in shot shows that the moon is also rotating.

I want to do some astrophotography and it seems like the recommended way is to use a medium wideangle lens e.g. 20-35mm on a FF. Use full aperture f1.4-f2.8, ISO 2000-3200, exposure 10-20 seconds. This shows all the stars and you get very little movement.

Remember with your telephoto if you dont want sausage stars you need to shoot even faster.

A tip. If you push the Info button then the exposure settings are shown in the TFT screen on the camera for 15-20 secs. Should work for all Nikons with an Info button. Also if you push the Off/On toggle collar past On then it lights up the top LCD panel.



____________________
Still learning after all these years!
https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none
 




Posted: Mon Sep 28th, 2015 11:17
 
3rd Post
amazing50

 

Joined: Thu Apr 12th, 2012
Location: Kitchener, Ontario Canada
Posts: 571
Status: 
Offline
jk wrote:


Remember with your telephoto if you dont want sausage stars you need to shoot even faster.
There are tracking heads available at reasonable prices. :-)



____________________
There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept ;~) Mike Grace
 




Posted: Mon Sep 28th, 2015 13:40
 
4th Post
Robert



Joined: Sun Apr 1st, 2012
Location: South Lakeland, UK
Posts: 4066
Status: 
Offline
What a coincidence! I just happened to be driving South through the Lakes last night after midnight, listening to radio 5 Live. I heard mentioned about the Lunar event and sure enough as I approached Ulswater I started to get glimpses of a spectacular scene which I knew I couldn't capture.

I stopped several times in Glenridding by the shore of Ulswater to admire the wonderful scene, it was probably the most spectacular view I have ever seen in the Lakes. The reflections in the mirror like water and the wonderful shades of dark grey were so beautiful. Yet I had no way of capturing it.

I yearn for my D3, I have considered going back up there tonight but it won't be as bright and even with the D200 I can't even hope to get a clean image. I took several images with the iPhone at about 1 O'clock but they were useless. Just blotchy shades of black!



____________________
Robert.

 




Posted: Mon Sep 28th, 2015 14:28
 
5th Post
Eric



Joined: Wed Apr 18th, 2012
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 4572
Status: 
Offline
jk wrote:
Good shot.
Showing the two different moons in shot shows that the moon is also rotating.

I want to do some astrophotography and it seems like the recommended way is to use a medium wideangle lens e.g. 20-35mm on a FF. Use full aperture f1.4-f2.8, ISO 2000-3200, exposure 10-20 seconds. This shows all the stars and you get very little movement.

Remember with your telephoto if you dont want sausage stars you need to shoot even faster.

A tip. If you push the Info button then the exposure settings are shown in the TFT screen on the camera for 15-20 secs. Should work for all Nikons with an Info button. Also if you push the Off/On toggle collar past On then it lights up the top LCD panel.


Don't understand the long exposure not having a more movement than my 2 sec??? These are stars from between moons.

Attachment: image.jpeg (Downloaded 14 times)



____________________
Eric
 




Posted: Mon Sep 28th, 2015 15:46
 
6th Post
jk



Joined: Sun Apr 1st, 2012
Location: Carthew, Cornwall, United Kingdom
Posts: 6987
Status: 
Offline
Eric, Angle of change caused by rotation is magnified when you use a telephoto compared to a wideangle.

Try to get a lens that is at least f/2.8 for fixed tripod shots so you can use relatively short exposures. This will lessen the amount of star trailing you get when shooting on a fixed tripod. If you are shooting on a polar-aligned equatorial tracking mount, the f/stop of the lens is not as critical because you can always shoot longer exposures without trailing.

This is a good primer.

http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2015/08/23/best-camera-settings-for-astrophotography/#null



____________________
Still learning after all these years!
https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none
 

Reply
1st new
This is topic ID = 1238     Current time is 11:24  
Nikon DSLR Forums > Photography > Photography Projects > Astro photography not easy Top

Users viewing this topic

Post quick reply

Go to top
Go to end
Messages
Home
Recent topics
Unread posts
Last posts
Splash

Current theme is Modern editor



A small amount of member data is captured and held in an attempt to reduce spammers and to manage users. This site also uses cookies to ensure ease of use. In order to comply with new DPR regulations you are required to agree/disagree with this process. If you do not agree then please email the Admins using info@nikondslr.uk Thank you.


Hosted by Octarine Services

UltraBB 1.173 Copyright © 2008-2025 Data 1 Systems
Page processed in 0.0507 seconds (64% database + 36% PHP). 64 queries executed.