Star Gazing

mikeanywhere

My first attempt at ctaching the stars. Wasnt as good as I hoped but that was my own fault for not getting the settings right in the first place.

Oriel

Decent enough
How long was the shutter open for?

mikeanywhere

It was open for just under 5 mins

Roen

I'm guessing you tired to get Polaris top or center of the pic judging by the trails. It is good but don't digi cameras (with the exception of the 20Da) suffer from chroma noise during long exposure. You may be better off going back to the good old film for a subject like this.

Fajitas!

Roen wrote:

It is good but don't digi cameras (with the exception of the 20Da) suffer from chroma noise during long exposure.

Mightily...

Tarakiwa

I like it.

Personally I think that the telegraph pole is a bit distracting .......

msdurden

I think its cool, tho if i stare at it too long it makes me dizzy lol

slumped

anyone know if the D70 can be set to exposures longer than 30 seconds?

If so, how???

S

Fajitas!

The BULB setting, though you'll need a cable release to make any use out of it

CrowdedHouse

slumped wrote:

anyone know if the D70 can be set to exposures longer than 30 seconds?

If so, how???

S

You'll need the remote control fob ML L3 to do it

Or you can use the remote cord MC DC 1 if it's a D70s(better option)

Valentia

There is a way of avoiding the noise. Tripod, cable release and take a rake of shorter exposures and join them up. I've never tried it but if you have a look at Astronomy Ireland or others like it you will see it discussed there.

There is also a programme (can't remember the neme) where you take a long exposure with the lens cap on. Then take the shot you want. Fire the two pics at this programme and it will be able to work out what the noise is and remove it. Sorry I haven't more details but if I get a chance I'll go rooting Google.

rymus

bah, high tech trickery!

*rushes off to buy a film body*

Tried a few of these lately when I was out 'in the country' where the ol stars are alot brighter. Course in my haste I took the shots but only figured afterward that the wind was too strong that night to get a blur free exposure. It was too strong; the shots came out crap.

Valentia

rymus wrote:

the wind was too strong that night to get a blur free exposure. It was too strong; the shots came out crap.

Simple solution.....stop eating beans then!

Ruu_Old

It looks good to me, I can't imagine how difficult it is to get it spot on though.

mikeanywhere

Thanks for the comments everyone.

Again, I just wanted to reiterate that I dont have a tripod yet (cant decide which one to get so waiting until I see the one I want). All the pics that night were taken with the camera on a blanket on the boot of the car at an angle so I wasnt sure what was exactly in the shot until after it was taken. Well, we have to do the best we can in these circumstances and all and I think it worked!! :eek:

It was amazing watching all the shooting stars whilst the camera was doing its "thing"


Roen - The picture could have come out better as I shamelessly admit forgetting to change the ISO/white balance from indoor shooting earlier that evening. I wasnt aiming at anything in particular, was just trying it out after seeing some other posts on another forum. I also thought by having the trees in the foreground it made a better composition.

Tarakiwa - I agree but then I didnt realise it was in the frame until afterwards (see comment above explaining how shot was taken)

Valentia - if you could find the details, I would be interested in reading it as I have the bug for trying some more of these.


Grasshopper!!

rymus

mikeanywhere wrote:

Thanks for the comments everyone.

Again, I just wanted to reiterate that I dont have a tripod yet (cant decide which one to get so waiting until I see the one I want).

Get a manfrotto neotec! Go on, you know you're worth it! They're heavy but worth every cent. I love mine dearly.

mikeanywhere

rymus wrote:

Get a manfrotto neotec! Go on, you know you're worth it! They're heavy but worth every cent. I love mine dearly.

That was one I was looking at but I am torn between weight & stability issue. Which version tho??

rymus

I thought there was only one neotec model I got the 458B. It's heavy alright but it is stable. Even more so when you hook your camera bag onto it. The best thing about it is that the legs don't have any levers on them. They'll go out to any position you pull them to and stay rock solid there. Also the ability to spread the legs out and have the thing almost flat to the ground is nice for macro's.

mikeanywhere

There are different versions of it but I did see the one you mean. How does the leg stay in place if it has no levers to lock it in place.

Ona side note, do the legs splay out completely if you want a real low level shot?

What head would you recommend for it too??

whyulittle

mikeanywhere wrote:

Valentia - if you could find the details, I would be interested in reading it as I have the bug for trying some more of these.Grasshopper!!

I can't think of the name of it, but have a look over at www.irishastronomy.org. Friendly bunch and they know what they're at.

dazftw

Fajitas! wrote:

The BULB setting, though you'll need a cable release to make any use out of it

They are ways around a cable release...as you know! Plasters, tape and a nut(metal)

Or my latest attempt big elastic band and metal nut! :rolleyes:

mikeanywhere

DeafVision wrote:

Or my latest attempt big elastic band and metal nut! :rolleyes:

I see a thread starting about Blue Peter's "here's one I made earlier"

dazftw

mikeanywhere wrote:

I see a thread starting about Blue Peter's "here's one I made earlier"

lol it really does work though if you dont have €30 to spare on a remote release!