Camera set up for Wide Field Astrophotography with DSLR
Equipment
· Film or digital camera with manual mode and long exposure, preferably a DSLR
· Tripod (can be any size)
· Remote control or cable release
Location
· Away from bright lights
· Safe and undisturbed, scout in daylight if possible
· Beware insects, frost and condensation
Camera Settings
· Manual mode
· Fixed exposure time (5,10,15,20 seconds or “Bulb”)
· No flash
· Widest aperture possible
· ISO 400 or higher (higher than 800 can be useful for faint objects but will introduce more noise)
· Highest resolution picture mode possible
· Set white balance to daylight saving mode
Focus
· Precise focus is very important
· Use manual focus
· Bring a bright star to the sharpest point of light possible
· Focus on the Moon or pick a light that is as far away as possible
· Focus in daylight and “tape” the lens so the focus cannot shift
· Check the “diopter” adjustment by taking images in daylight to make sure the viewfinder focus is sharp
Triggering the camera
· Use mirror lock-up if available to let any vibration settle before capturing the image
· Use a remote control or cable release
· If a remote is not available use Self-timer mode
Exposure times
· Rule of thumb – Stars at the celestial equator still look like points on the image when using
· A 35mm format camera
· With a 50mm lens
· And a maximum exposure of 20 seconds at the celestial equator
If you image with wider lenses (e.g. 18 or 25mm) you can extend the exposure up to 30 seconds
If you image closer to the North Star (celestial pole) the exposure can be extended up to a minute
By Danny Thomas
Dec 2012