Questions, First attempt Milky Way

SnEm

SnEm

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Hi,

I'll soon be off on holiday and I really would like to shoot the milky way.

This is how I intend to take my picture:
Camera Sony A57
Lens, only have a 17-50mm F2.8

ISO 1600??
Shutter 30sec (600 rule)
F2.8
Tripod
Manual Focus

I'm just not sure where to focus?
Long Exposure Noise reduction on?
Which White Balance should I use?

Any other tips?

Thx,
 
Try several settings on the night. 1600 is probably a bit low. Try 3200 or 6400. Certainly a very high ISO will help you see exactly where everything is before you get started properly. Also play around with the shutter speed as I don't always find that 400 or 600 rule is hard and fast.

For focus, look at one of the very bright stars. If your camera does live view with extra 10x zoom you can see a single bright star on the screen and manually focus on that. It's likely to just be a smidge back from infinity.

Auto WB should be fine.
I can't remember if I had noise reduction on when I took pics a couple of weeks ago.

Don't forget too that if you don't have as wide a view as you'd like you an always stack a panorama of portrait shots.
 
probably get more tips in talk section rather than photos ;)
 
Wasn't sure where to post the thread... :-)
 
Yes some of the section heads are a bit ambiguous but discussion about "night and astro" comes under landscapes. A mod has moved it anyway :)
 
Tungsten works for me with WB.
 
I read that most of you use a wide lens, I only have a 17-50 mm F2.8 is this ok?
 
Yeah will be fine 2.8 but I would use 6400 ISO and shorter than 30 seconds because the stars move!
 
Ah thanks that's reassuring! Sounds like a good nite of trial and error :-)
 
Before stepping outside, I find Stellarium a very useful tool for getting timings and location correct.
 
Depending on where you are going on holiday, warm clothing could be useful.

A head torch is handy as it leaves your hands free and one with a red bulb is good as it won't destroy your night vision.

If you are doing any more than one or two shots and especially if you are doing lots of shots for stacking, take a chair.

If you have binoculars, take them too - plenty to look at while the camera is doing its stuff.

Dave
 
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