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Old 19-06-2025, 07:09 PM
Leo.G (Leo)
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Leo.G is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Lithgow, NSW, Australia
Posts: 1,614
Focusing wide angle lens on stars

I'm constantly having issues trying to get my Samyang 14mm f2.8 ED lens (with petal hood which introduces problems with fitting a clamp on filter and no filter thread) focused while trying to photograph the Milky Way. I can get it near with a mark I've put on the lens with a white marker but I found out last night it's not near enough after taking numerous images and viewing them on the larger computer screen. Though some of that can be attributed to the sun like street light out front, across the road and obstructed by a tree but it still got in my frames from a dark spot in my back yard
We used to have sling shots and rifles todeal with them when I was younger if it shone through the bedroom window all night (my father couldn't spend his beer money on decent curtains, a 22 was far cheaper. I kid you not!)

The camera is a Nikon D810 and I've seen mention on other forums where live view is far from great in the dark,I get something akin to noise on the view screen regardless of ISO, aperture or exposure length.


I've seen mention of using a wire strainer as a crude (very crude) form of Bahtinov mask but had no luck with this and last night I was looking up a review on two toaster type mesh screens which are supposed to work (I can't recall the names but I'll look it up).
SharpStar 2 and the Focus on stars.
I just got an email, one of the 2 won't work with the lens hood (not removable, well, I do have a Dremel and small angle grinder so nothing is impossible)

I can't find them online in Aus and am guessing they are quite pricey, probably still cheaper than Optometrists and ophthalmologists.
Does anyone have any suggestions other than take a large screen out in my back yard and keep pulling the CF card out after every shot and checking the focus?
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