View Single Post
  #15  
Old 10-11-2013, 03:16 PM
trshale (Katrina)
Registered User

trshale is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Mackay
Posts: 1
Hi Ingrid, I started out with the exact same setup earlier this year and had many nights of muddling though and teaching myself so I thought I pass on some info. I have since changed my lens to a Nikon 35mm f1.8 and I'm continuing my learning by mucking around with the full manual setting.

To start with change the dial on your camera to the aperture priority (A) this takes some of the confusion and work out so you can focus on learning small bits at a time instead of being overloaded with information. Then I make sure that the lens is focused to 'infinity' which you can set by flicking the switch on the side of the lens to 'M' and twisting the focus ring all the way to the right and looking through the view finder (not the live view screen) at a bright star I then ease the focus ring slightly left and is should bring the star/stars into focus quite nicely.

You also need to be aware of where you are pointing the camera . If it is pointing towards the north or south poles just remember that your exposures should be no longer than about 15 sec otherwise your stars will streak a few mm and ruin the shot as they move faster due to the Earth's spin. If you have a shutter release remote you can make proper star streaks without the need to stack multiple exposures as the camera will only do a max of 30sec exposure without it. And at 30-50 bucks it is worth it.

If you have any other questions just ask and I'll try to help.
Reply With Quote