Advice on star trails
Discussion
Now is aan opportune time to get some star trail photos, but what is the best way to go about this?
1. Take a 60+ minute single exposure?
2. Take lots of shorter exposures and stack them? (I don't know how to do this I've only heard it mentioned)
Is approach #1 bad for the camera at all? Presuming leaving it in the cold for an hour can't be the best thing in the world you can do for it and you risk the lens frosting over...
1. Take a 60+ minute single exposure?
2. Take lots of shorter exposures and stack them? (I don't know how to do this I've only heard it mentioned)
Is approach #1 bad for the camera at all? Presuming leaving it in the cold for an hour can't be the best thing in the world you can do for it and you risk the lens frosting over...
I think Deep Sky Stacker is used for this, may even be free too (pretty sure it is)
I'm just starting this myself, so can't really help on this. I did just recently attend an astrophotography imaging day, I'll try and look at the DVD we were given this evening. Seem to remember that lots of individual shots was better than one long one, but could be wrong.
A good alignment on Polaris was important too.
I'm just starting this myself, so can't really help on this. I did just recently attend an astrophotography imaging day, I'll try and look at the DVD we were given this evening. Seem to remember that lots of individual shots was better than one long one, but could be wrong.
A good alignment on Polaris was important too.
Gemm said:
My thoughts entirelynellyleelephant said:
I think Deep Sky Stacker is used for this, may even be free too (pretty sure it is)
I'm just starting this myself, so can't really help on this. I did just recently attend an astrophotography imaging day, I'll try and look at the DVD we were given this evening. Seem to remember that lots of individual shots was better than one long one, but could be wrong.
A good alignment on Polaris was important too.
Star trails depend on the camera staying still and the stars appearing to rotate; astro photography often uses a motorised tripod head to track the stars. Don't know Deep Sky Stacker but sounds more like a tool for stacking cumulative rather than additive images. Whether there's any practical difference between Deep Sky Stacker and startrails.exe (from http://www.startrails.de/ ) I don't know.I'm just starting this myself, so can't really help on this. I did just recently attend an astrophotography imaging day, I'll try and look at the DVD we were given this evening. Seem to remember that lots of individual shots was better than one long one, but could be wrong.
A good alignment on Polaris was important too.
AndWhyNot said:
nellyleelephant said:
I think Deep Sky Stacker is used for this, may even be free too (pretty sure it is)
I'm just starting this myself, so can't really help on this. I did just recently attend an astrophotography imaging day, I'll try and look at the DVD we were given this evening. Seem to remember that lots of individual shots was better than one long one, but could be wrong.
A good alignment on Polaris was important too.
Star trails depend on the camera staying still and the stars appearing to rotate; astro photography often uses a motorised tripod head to track the stars. Don't know Deep Sky Stacker but sounds more like a tool for stacking cumulative rather than additive images. Whether there's any practical difference between Deep Sky Stacker and startrails.exe (from http://www.startrails.de/ ) I don't know.I'm just starting this myself, so can't really help on this. I did just recently attend an astrophotography imaging day, I'll try and look at the DVD we were given this evening. Seem to remember that lots of individual shots was better than one long one, but could be wrong.
A good alignment on Polaris was important too.
Decent result. Like the comp with the hint of foreground element. Be interested to hear settings too - unless you're shooting at equivalent to ISO800/ f/2.8 minimum light sensitivity I'd suggest the meteor is an iridium flare (reflection off a satellite). A meteor has to be mighty fierce to show up in star trails - sure they're bright but they're fast moving so don't burn on to the sensor in the same way stars do.
mathewb said:
It also has a feature for making a timelapse video, which would be awesome, if it worked.
I to am new to the star trails bug .... The video function worked for me no idea what the setting were though.
Here's one of mine about 50 images stacked
still got a lot to learn
I used a torch to light the trees and a single exposure with flash to get me.
M-J-B said:
mathewb said:
My first attempt, last night. The tiny, very subtle streak in the lower left hand corner is a meteor
Very good, what settings etc?99% sure it is a meteor, as the point of the exercise was to capture one of the Geminids on Monday night.
Gassing Station | Photography & Video | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff