Merry Christmas!
I was wondering, does anyone have any tips for shooting the stars at night? Specifically, on focusing. I have a Nikon D70s and an AF-S 18-55mm EDII lens - [url]http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/lens/zoom/normalzoom/af-s_dx_zoom18-55mmf_35-56g_ed_2/[/url] - and for the life of me last night I could not seem to get any kind of focus on the stars (Manual, of course). This was the best shot of the night;
[t]http://i.imgur.com/yxBW0Hj.jpg[/t]
Any tips you guys could recommend? It's so dark that even looking through the viewfinder I just can't see anything, so it's incredibly difficult to get things in focus, argh.
Merry Christmas you fantastic photographers!
[QUOTE=Sobek-;46789417]Merry Christmas!
I was wondering, does anyone have any tips for shooting the stars at night? Specifically, on focusing. I have a Nikon D70s and an AF-S 18-55mm EDII lens - [url]http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/lens/zoom/normalzoom/af-s_dx_zoom18-55mmf_35-56g_ed_2/[/url] - and for the life of me last night I could not seem to get any kind of focus on the stars (Manual, of course). This was the best shot of the night;
[t]http://i.imgur.com/yxBW0Hj.jpg[/t]
Any tips you guys could recommend? It's so dark that even looking through the viewfinder I just can't see anything, so it's incredibly difficult to get things in focus, argh.[/QUOTE]
Focus to infinity? Or am I being stupid - it seems too simple!
[QUOTE=Stopper;46789477]Focus to infinity? Or am I being stupid - it seems too simple![/QUOTE]
The lens doesn't have a focus scale on it.
Next best thing would be to autofocus on the moon or a distant light source, like a really bright star, and use the center focus point. Once you've focused, flip the switch on the side of the lens to MF so it doesn't try to focus again, and be careful not to nudge the focus ring.
[QUOTE=Stopper;46789477]Focus to infinity? Or am I being stupid - it seems too simple![/QUOTE]
That's what I'd read previously but, I can't really do it on this lens visibly as mentioned... sucks.
[QUOTE=Roll_Program;46789508]The lens doesn't have a focus scale on it.
Next best thing would be to autofocus on the moon or a distant light source, like a really bright star, and use the center focus point. Once you've focused, flip the switch on the side of the lens to MF so it doesn't try to focus again, and be careful not to nudge the focus ring.[/QUOTE]
Hmmm, that was basically what I tried first, unfortunately getting an autofocus on the stars (doing it on a moonless night) is practically impossible... maybe it was just a 'try and try and try again' thing. Exactly what I WANTED to do though, cheers!
Going to try again tonight. The sky looks fantastic here at the moment with no moon and no clouds, so I'm keen to get my first starscape photo :D
*edit* Was just reading some good tips. Focus it to infinity on the moon or something during the day, then just lock it to manual and leave it like that until I do my photos at night. Also apparently on this lens, infinity is somewhere slightly before full clockwise-lock of the focus ring, so experimentation is needed to get it just right. Annoying!
use live view, zoom in and just get it right?
D70s... no live view of any sort.
during the day, focus on something really far away and mark this on the lens
then at night, take a bunch of photos at and slightly off this mark, and from whichever pic is the sharpest you'll find out where the infinity is
That's actually a fantastic idea, marking infinity on the lens for the future. I focused on the moon earlier and got it ready, unfortunately clouds have totally covered the sky tonight... ahh well. But thank you either way, hopefully tomorrow I can put things to the test and get a clear photo for once!
Autofocusing on anything more than a hundred meters away will practically be focusing to infinity on wide angle lenses. Don't worry about focusing on the farthest thing you can, like the moon. You should be able to autofocus on the brightest star, I could do it with a Nikon D50. Put the camera on a tripod, making sure it's very still, and put the star in the very center of the center focus point.
Also Merry Christmas to all you wonderful people [IMG]http://www.facepunch.com/fp/ratings/heart.png[/IMG][IMG]http://www.facepunch.com/fp/ratings/heart.png[/IMG][IMG]http://www.facepunch.com/fp/ratings/heart.png[/IMG][IMG]http://www.facepunch.com/fp/ratings/heart.png[/IMG][IMG]http://www.facepunch.com/fp/ratings/heart.png[/IMG]
Talking about shooting starry skies...
Do you reckon it'd be doable with a film camera? I've got a steady tripod, a bulb mode and can procure some high-speed film. Would it work well enough? Are there any special techniques to help with the film developing? I've also got a kinda old, kinda shitty telescope, (20cm diameter or so) that I could use.
Has anyone here tried it? Any good results?
merry christmas, everyone :)
prettige kerstdagen
[IMG]https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7541/15920193487_1e59b06443.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8648/16105229292_0ddfd1ace3.jpg[/IMG]
merry christmas from glasgow <3
I hope you all had/are having a awesome Christmas
anyone have any tips for just filming in general. i filmed this at 1/60, f4.0, and ISO6400 and it still looks pretty dark (and bad). do i just need to adjust the exposure?
[video=youtube;2Az5Cu1GABY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Az5Cu1GABY[/video]
[editline]26th December 2014[/editline]
wtf! my camera is capped to 40mb/s write so i won't be able to record RAW video :(
If you're filming indoors at night, you're going to need a fast lens. Pick up something with a maximum aperture of around f/1.8 for starters. You can also typically film at 1/50 for a bit more light.
In regards to ISO, 6400 is way too high. I don't know the specific sensitivity characteristics of your camera but typically you don't want to go above ~1600 for normal use and definitely not above 3200. Consumer amateur cameras like the rebel series just aren't equipped to handle the noise at those high sensitivities. This is why the ugly color patches appear in your video.
You can also look into Magic Lantern which is a custom firmware for some Canon cameras that will allow you some more control in video recording. I don't know if they have anything for the T5i but you could check it out.
[QUOTE=Most wanteD;46795750]If you're filming indoors at night, you're going to need a fast lens. Pick up something with a maximum aperture of around f/1.8 for starters. You can also typically film at 1/50 for a bit more light.
In regards to ISO, 6400 is way too high. I don't know the specific sensitivity characteristics of your camera but typically you don't want to go above ~1600 for normal use and definitely not above 3200. Consumer amateur cameras like the rebel series just aren't equipped to handle the noise at those high sensitivities. This is why the ugly color patches appear in your video.
You can also look into Magic Lantern which is a custom firmware for some Canon cameras that will allow you some more control in video recording. I don't know if they have anything for the T5i but you could check it out.[/QUOTE]
I have magic lantern installed actually, im just getting use to it. Things look way too dark at 1600 though, and i have no idea what to do to fix it. Here are my settings.
[img]http://i.imgur.com/gSoayrl.jpg[/img]
[editline]26th December 2014[/editline]
Just realized i had the shutter speed at 1/45. Changed it to 1/32 and it still looks pretty dark.
[t]http://i.imgur.com/Pw5svhB.jpg[/t]
[QUOTE=Kabstrac;46795955]Because your aperture is at f4.5, you need to lower it/use a faster lens (is f1.8 like most wanteD said)[/QUOTE]
Ahhhhhh ok i understand now. 4.5 is the lowest I can go so I suppose i might consider trading this 70-300 for a 35mm/50mm prime lens.
try leaving your house and filming something in daylight
what camera is it
my 6D is capped at 40mb/s and I still record raw video
[QUOTE=codenamecueball;46796719]try leaving your house and filming something in daylight
what camera is it
my 6D is capped at 40mb/s and I still record raw video[/QUOTE]
t5i. what res can you record at?
[QUOTE=TonyTheBean;46796770]t5i. what res can you record at?[/QUOTE]
1600x600 at 2.67:1
1404xsomething at 2.35:1
1088x800 at 4:3
i can get like 3 seconds of 1920x1080
[QUOTE=codenamecueball;46796784]1600x600 at 2.67:1
1404xsomething at 2.35:1
1088x800 at 4:3
i can get like 3 seconds of 1920x1080[/QUOTE]
all continuous?
yes
thanks, i should be good then. i guess all the resolutions on the raw chart having a "?" stamped on them kinda threw me off.
[QUOTE=TonyTheBean;46796937]thanks, i should be good then. i guess all the resolutions on the raw chart having a "?" stamped on them kinda threw me off.[/QUOTE]
might be because it's a t5i
[QUOTE=Roll_Program;46754011]Used Fujifilm X20.
You'll struggle to find a DSLR and lens combo which outperforms high end compacts for that price, used or new.[/QUOTE]
Found a Fuji x20 new for 300 Euro, do i go for it?
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