Hey folks,

Having re-watched the BBC Stargazing shows recently, I thought i'd head out and get some pics of the night sky from my back garden (i'm aware of the light polution stuff, but wanted to get the technique down before finding a proper dark sky). I'm using a Cannon 550D with a 12-24mm sigma lens.

I've tried various settings, but settled on 30 sec aperture, F5.6 with ISO400. (I also tried this on my 50mm @f1.8 over 30 seconds, and got the same results) these are some examples of my pics (last 3 pics are over 15 seconds):

IMG_1895 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
IMG_1894 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
IMG_1893 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
IMG_1892 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
IMG_1891 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
IMG_1890 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
IMG_1889 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
IMG_1887 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Sooo, what am i doing wrong?

__________________
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Lest we forget .

Try changing your f stop for the same exposure settings, ie 30s and iso 400, try at either end of the f stop, 5.6 or lower, but I suspect f11> may produce sharper results.

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Race Torque Dyno 399 NM, 248Kw @ 20PSI

Straight roads are for fast cars, twisty roads are for fast drivers. I have or am neither.

http://tttmsp.smugmug.com/

Thanks Jeckle, will give it a go now...

__________________
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Lest we forget .

Oh and some of them aren't that bad, quite good for a "city' shot.

Also use a weighted down tripod, and the shutter delay, (the 2 or 10 seconds delay) between pressing the shutter and the time the camera takes the photo to reduce camera shake, or a remote.

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Race Torque Dyno 399 NM, 248Kw @ 20PSI

Straight roads are for fast cars, twisty roads are for fast drivers. I have or am neither.

http://tttmsp.smugmug.com/

30 seconds will show the stars as blurred from their slight movement over 30 seconds.

These are 10-20 seconds @ iso 320, F4.5 on a 50mm f1.8 lens:





Mind you they were both taken 100km out East of the city lights

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[CENTER][SIGPIC][/SIGPIC][/CENTER]
[CENTER][COLOR=#ff0000]Built Ej207: Semi-closed RA Cases - Wiseco Forgies - Manley rods - BC 272 cams - GDA Heads - billet f/whl - Vi-pec - WbO2 - 800cc Yellow tops - TD05-20G - 409Hp ath @ 1.75bar on E85[/COLOR][/CENTER]

That's with a wireless remote, took a few more.. they are better. but with the higher f stop i seem to get less detail:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/michael...ma/6760310343/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/michael...ma/6760311443/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/michael...ma/6760312503/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/michael...ma/6760313601/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/michael...ma/6760314791/

__________________
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Lest we forget .

Your pics of the night-sky always rock Rossco (and were part of the reason i wanted to watch BBC Stargazing and have a crack myself!).

__________________
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Lest we forget .

Try shooting iso 500 or even 800 (with shorter exposures).

Shoot in raw & correct the exposure in your editing suite.

What cam are you using?

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[CENTER][SIGPIC][/SIGPIC][/CENTER]
[CENTER][COLOR=#ff0000]Built Ej207: Semi-closed RA Cases - Wiseco Forgies - Manley rods - BC 272 cams - GDA Heads - billet f/whl - Vi-pec - WbO2 - 800cc Yellow tops - TD05-20G - 409Hp ath @ 1.75bar on E85[/COLOR][/CENTER]

He is using a 550D

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TEAM オレンジ

Dyno queen

Cool definitely try iso 800.

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[CENTER][SIGPIC][/SIGPIC][/CENTER]
[CENTER][COLOR=#ff0000]Built Ej207: Semi-closed RA Cases - Wiseco Forgies - Manley rods - BC 272 cams - GDA Heads - billet f/whl - Vi-pec - WbO2 - 800cc Yellow tops - TD05-20G - 409Hp ath @ 1.75bar on E85[/COLOR][/CENTER]