Shooting images of the night sky/stars

Have a look at this thread, Emma: http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=428381
Your image looks quite bright... how long was the exposure for?

This one of mine (only my second ever attempt) comprised 356 shots. 30 seconds exposure for each frame at F/6.3. ISO400. 19mm

20120305235430_startrail-050312.jpg


Both the below pieces of software are excellent for stacking multiple images:
StarStax: http://markus-enzweiler.de/StarStaX/StarStaX.html
Startrails: http://www.startrails.de/html/software.html

(Same for you, Matt, with regards to mulitple images :) )
 
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cheers mate.
is there a decent piece of kit that can do that? don't fancy carting my laptop into a field!
maybe an android app that will auto fire the camera in succession?
will have a nosey!
 
All done after the fact once I got home. Just had camera attached to one of those intervalometers and let it take a snap every 30 seconds.

One of these.

Must be one for your 7D, the guy's shop has quite a few listed.
 
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groovyf said:
Have a look at this thread, Emma: http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=428381
Your image looks quite bright... how long was the exposure for?

Both the below pieces of software are excellent for stacking multiple images:
StarStax: http://markus-enzweiler.de/StarStaX/StarStaX.html
Startrails: http://www.startrails.de/html/software.html

(Same for you, Matt, with regards to mulitple images :) )
Click to expand...

Hey Craig, great! That thread's really helpful too. Yeah the exposures were 30 secs per frame. My photo seems a little grainy too, would that be something to do with ISO? :shrug: Also, I'm guessing it's best to focus during the day?

I'll check out those photo stacking links too, thank you!
 
Your 550D has liveview, and is what I used to focus. Magnify the liveview image (like you would when zooming in on a picture to look at on the camera). It probably just takes two presses to get it to 10x zoom, put lens in manual focus mode, then simply turn the focus ring until a bright star seems to be sharp enough.
Leave lens on manual focus and take your snap(s). Might be worth dropping the ISO to 400 and setting aperture to 6.3 (all best done in full Manual mode to be honest).

Hope that helps.
 
groovyf said:
Your 550D has liveview, and is what I used to focus. Magnify the liveview image (like you would when zooming in on a picture to look at on the camera). It probably just takes two presses to get it to 10x zoom, put lens in manual focus mode, then simply turn the focus ring until a bright star seems to be sharp enough.
Leave lens on manual focus and take your snap(s). Might be worth dropping the ISO to 400 and setting aperture to 6.3 (all best done in full Manual mode to be honest).

Hope that helps.
Click to expand...

Fantastic thanks very much, will try this out tonight if the weather allows!
 
DizMatt said:
hi and welcome to the forums! first post?
I'm trying this too, although all I've gotten so far is clouds!
I'd like to try taking multiple photographs at long exposure and overlaying them in PS

all I've gotten so far is :(
556580_10151041536462993_1001258352_n.jpg
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This looks great! x
 
Truthfully... manual focus and whizz it all the way round to the infinity mark on the lens, then back just a little.
 
yea, ive had a bit of luck with that and ive tried to do that thing where you look slightly off the star as in darkness you see in monochrome and an circle around the centre of your eyes is the most sharp compared to seeing colour and the centre being the most sharp during the day but it is incredibly difficult to do.

here is an article I found about it: http://www.oneminuteastronomer.com/86/averted-vision-nature-gave/
 

Star Story by 42zx, on Flickr

2min, ISO 1600, f/2.8. You could see the milky way in the sky but its still very hard to actually get a picture of it in the UK mostly.
 
I tried the settings hollis (damn ipad)gave the other day, unfortunately it was cloudy as it normally is in the UK but I could see these would work well and with my 10-20mm sigma I can't wait til the clear skies out autumn come along and hopefully I get to take some more photos of the skies again. I guess you could use similar settings for the moon or would there be too much light let in? Astrophotography really interests me and I'd love to be able to have a proper go at this!
 
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The moon is really quite bright - it is reflecting the sun after all.
To get detail of the surface exposure needs to be almost similar to a rather dull day.
 
4wd said:
The moon is really quite bright - it is reflecting the sun after all.
To get detail of the surface exposure needs to be almost similar to a rather dull day.
Click to expand...

Given that the moon is in full sunlight, the exposure required is probably only 1 stop below what you would use for a bright sunny day here on terra firma.
 
Dialling down the exposure is not something I've done before so thanks for that. I just wonder as people talk about long shutter speeds and I can only ever get any detail in my moon pics with speeds of maybe 1" or more normally 1/8 etc any longer and I let too much light in. So definitely more food for thought here,

Thanks!
 
Thanks! Hopefully the moon will be out tonight as a starting point, it had clouds rolling over it last night so might get some good pics!
 
7876544464_9189b99904_z.jpg


Hi all,

Just thought I'd post a quick image I took of the moon handheld before the camera shake set in. Getting exactly what I wanted on the setting from hollis, I just cropped in to show the detail I wanted as this was taken using a 55-250mm IS lens!

Thanks again,
Liz
 
Nothing wrong with that, a quick sharpen helps.

moon.jpg
 
Haha they left something behind! I also took some star shots but I had a LOT of light pollution and while I can see it works they aren't worthy of showing any one...
 
DizMatt said:
hi and welcome to the forums! first post?
I'm trying this too, although all I've gotten so far is clouds!
I'd like to try taking multiple photographs at long exposure and overlaying them in PS

all I've gotten so far is :(
556580_10151041536462993_1001258352_n.jpg
Click to expand...

i like that pic, staring at the clouds plays tricks on the mind...i am sure they are moving lol, great colour clouds
 
Hi Everyone

Hope you all well and enjoying your day.

I would like some help if possible
I am using a Canon 550D with a 18-55mm lens. I manage to borrow a tripod and remote from my boss so I could try the night sky shots, but i only have it for the next 5 hours.

Has anyone shot with the 18-55?

Advice highly appreciated


Thank you for your time
 
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