Star Trails?

[poker]

I'll be camping in the desert so I read up on this site regarding star trails.

http://www.danheller.com/star-trails.html

I'll use a tripod and remote cable to keep the shutter open.

It also mentions f3.5 to f5.6 to keep things in focus. I can only keep the shutter open for about 8 minutes if the moon is out. I checked the lunar calendar and this weekend should be crescent a moon.

Any other tips would be appreciate.

[Greg McCary]

If you have an old film camera around take it and get some really long exposures. Longest I have ever done is in the 20min range. I have always been scared of frying my sensor if I tried really long exposures.

[mjs1973]

I have created a few star trail images using a DSLR in the past.

Enee Point

The longer the exposure, the more noise you are going to get. With digital, the key to getting cleaner star trails is to take several shorter exposures, and merge them together in post. Check out this thread for more info on how to do that with a free program you can download. I don't think the link to the Moose Peterson article works anymore but you can find the PDF here.

[poker]

If you have an old film camera around take it and get some really long exposures. Longest I have ever done is in the 20min range. I have always been scared of frying my sensor if I tried really long exposures.

Wow....have you just given me a reason to dust off my Canon A2? I'd have to buy a battery and film. Tempting indeed.....

[poker]

I have created a few star trail images using a DSLR in the past.

Enee Point

The longer the exposure, the more noise you are going to get. With digital, the key to getting cleaner star trails is to take several shorter exposures, and merge them together in post. Check out this thread for more info on how to do that with a free program you can download. I don't think the link to the Moose Peterson article works anymore but you can find the PDF here.

Thanks! I'll start reading

[mjs1973]

What cable release do you have? I used the Canon Timer Remote Controller TC-80N3 which I programmed to take a series of images. Once it was set, I sat in the truck and fell asleep. If you don't have a programable remote, you should be able to set your camera to the shutter speed/aperture you want and put it on continuous mode and let it rip. You can do this with several minute exposures as well, but you will increase the noise in the image.

Don't let clouds at night keep you from shooting. This image as a "failed" star trails image. This is a single, 7 minute exposure.

[SmartWombat]

Don't forget that most DSLRs have noise reduction on long exposure images that takes about as long as the image exposure itself to render the final file.
So if you don't turn that off, or use a lot of short exposures under the noise reduction limit, then you may have gaps in your star trails when you combine the exposures.

[poker]

What cable release do you have? I used the Canon Timer Remote Controller TC-80N3 which I programmed to take a series of images. Once it was set, I sat in the truck and fell asleep. If you don't have a programable remote, you should be able to set your camera to the shutter speed/aperture you want and put it on continuous mode and let it rip. You can do this with several minute exposures as well, but you will increase the noise in the image.

Don't let clouds at night keep you from shooting. This image as a "failed" star trails image. This is a single, 7 minute exposure.

I have a simple generic cable release. Thanks for the continuous mode technique. I wouldn't have thought of it nor did I read it anywhere.

The cloud photo rocks. I hope I have a good POI. Thanks!

[poker]

Don't forget that most DSLRs have noise reduction on long exposure images that takes about as long as the image exposure itself to render the final file.
So if you don't turn that off, or use a lot of short exposures under the noise reduction limit, then you may have gaps in your star trails when you combine the exposures.

My goodness...so much to remember. Maybe I should do what Greg said and use film

I'll remember to turn it off. Thanks.


Looks like I'll be bringing lots of gear this weekend. I hope to report back with nice pics.

Thanks.

[poker]

Anyone remember how to lock the BULB on the Canon A2? If I can't figure it out, I'll have to use my older camera but the glass isn't that great on it anymore.

--------

Never mind, I need a special cable release for it. I'll just use the ooooold Canon and hope the dirty glass doesn't affect my photos.

[poker]

Well...there's good and bad news.

The bad news is that I misplaced my cable release for my DSLR and couldn't find it for the life of me at 12AM in the car. I found it in the morning where all things get lost....between the seat and center console.

Good news is that I did a few shots using my old SLR and Koday Ektar 100. I did a couple 30 minutes shots, 1 hour shot, and a 4 hour shot....only because I fell asleep.

The other bad news is I didn't finish all 36 shots over the weekend so it will be a few days before I can turn it in for developing.

Stay tuned.

[poker]

Well, this is the only one that came out for me. Actually none of them really came out for me but I blame the myself and the camera. I think the old camera might have a leak in it. One of the potentially best star trails shot had a orange streak through it.

I learned a lot and will try again when I hit the desert mid May.

I painted the tree with my flashlight at the end of this 30 minute exposure.