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A Guide to Astrophotography: Capturing the Milky Way


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Home Forums Off Piste Photography A Guide to Astrophotography: Capturing the Milky Way

Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)
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  • #3489070
    Elle Zhu
    BPL Member

    @ellezhu

    Locale: Northern California

    What’s the most important thing they say when you buy a house? Location, location, location!  As it turns out, the same thing applies to astrophotography or night photography.

    I put together a layman’s guide to photography the Milky Way.  Please check it out!

    #3492124
    chris smead
    BPL Member

    @hamsterfish

    Locale: San Jose, CA

    Good stuff!

    I think the key for me is just a wide fast lens, with ISO 1600-3200, shutter 15 seconds or so.  Not sure if it’s me bumping the camera or something, but feels like if I go beyond 15 seconds my stars start becoming little lines.

    #3492186
    Elle Zhu
    BPL Member

    @ellezhu

    Locale: Northern California

    What focal length lens do you use?  The little lines you see are called star trails and oftentimes it’s because you are using too long of a shutter speed for the focal length of your lens.  There is a general rule of 600.  You divide 600 by your focal length and that’s the maximum shutter speed you can use.  For example, if you have a 24mm lengths, 600/24 = 25 seconds.

    #3492301
    chris smead
    BPL Member

    @hamsterfish

    Locale: San Jose, CA

    Wow I had no idea!

    I usually use an 18mm or a 28mm for astro shots.   I should be ok there…weird.

    #3492690
    Elle Zhu
    BPL Member

    @ellezhu

    Locale: Northern California

    Chris- it could also be that your lens is more susceptible to “coma” especially if it’s the stars closer to the edge of the photo make little lines.  This is usually is lens-dependent and certain lenses are more likely to experience coma than others.  What’s your setup for astrophotography?

    #3492697
    chris smead
    BPL Member

    @hamsterfish

    Locale: San Jose, CA

    You could be right. Here’s my full setup:  https://kit.com/chrisisawesome/backpacking-camera-gear

    My camera is a Sony A7rii, and I found that problem I believe on my 28mmF2 and assumed it was universal.  Perhaps I was wrong and I should try a longer exposure on my 18mmF2.8.   The image quality has been great really, as long as I don’t go too long on the exposure.  But now I’m curious if it could be even better.

    This has been super interesting!  I think I need to do some more testing before my next backpacking trip.  Thanks for the great info!!

     

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