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Old 16-11-2005, 06:14 AM
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iceman (Mike)
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Gosford, NSW, Australia
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Focus and settings for widefield astro shots (350D)

Hi guys.

I like to do widefield milkyway shots while the camera is sitting on the EQ platform, and obviously hope to do the same with the 350D now that I can do bulb exposures longer than 30 seconds (30 seconds was the limit of my Sony DSCP100).

With the Sony digicam, I'd use the following settings:
- ISO 400 (the max)
- 30s exposure (which would also take a 30s "noise reduction" shot)
- Focus: infinity
- 10s self timer (to avoid camera shake when I pressed the shutter)

And I'd take 3-5 or more of these shots in a row, and stack them in registar or similar, and then process in photoshop. If all went well, I'd end up with results like this which I was fairly happy with given the equipment.

So now, to do the same thing with my 350D, what settings should I choose?
- Manual or Program mode?
- ISO 800 or more?
- Bulb mode, obviously I need a remote (one is coming soon) to hold the shutter open for 1 minute or more
- My widest lens is the 18-55mm, and I've also got the 75-300mm.. I don't know that my platform will track accurately enough for anything at the tele end of the 300mm, but we'll see.
- What aperture value should I set? Widest open for the least exposure time?
- Manual focus mode? Do I just turn the focus ring while looking through the viewfinder to try and see when it looks focused?
- Noise reduction on?
- What else?

Appreciate any help you can give!
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