I've just received my tripod for my Canon 30D, I have the EFS 17-85mm lens. I don't have a remote timer yet. how long can the exposure be? also anybody know what settings and steps I should take?
Thanks,
Tony
Last edited by acropolite; 21-08-2010 at 09:50 PM.
If you're using a 30D then use a fairly high ISO but I'd suggest you try it with ICNR. If you want to do star trails then leave ICNR off and take and apply darks later
right, i had a fiddle with the camera and im not sure if i have it. the setting is on Tv and i think it was set to 13". I dont think there is a 12. I had a go outside and the results are as shown as below. I think I did something wrong there...I dont know what. its just a gut feeling.
You'll need to change to Manual mode instead of Tv.
You have some camera shake there. You can eliminate that by using the time function. Set it for 5 seconds. That will give the camera time to settle down after clicking the button.
Here are some pics i tool while i was waiting for my dob to cool... i had a fiddle with the camera and i think i got it okay... it is horrible cos its not focused properly and i hate myself for that. you can just barely make out the colours...
i just want to thank all the people here which lead me to the dark side of imaging... I shall forever be cursed in buying lenses now...
Yay!
You'll have to cut your exposure time down a little now Tony. Got to get rid of the trailing.
You do need to concentrate on getting your focus too, as you know.
Take short, 8 second exposures, zoom in on the LCD screen on the camera and check. Adjust focus, then zoom in again to see if it has improved. Keep doing that, until you can't get it any better. It takes time, I know, but well worth it to capture a pleasing image.
You could put together a two plank hand driven barn door, a basic equatorial mount, and fix it to your tripod, which would give you about 5 - 10 minutes of reasonable tracking, providing it's polar aligned reasonably well. That might give you a few more photons and improve overall results - trailing and such. Doesn't have to be an expensive solution.
A couple of members suggested using live view for focus - if you have it.
The way they do it, is to get focus through the view finder, as best as possible, and then select live view and increase magnification to 10x and readjust. But we were discussing photographing the moon. Can't see why it wouldn't work on a bright star.
LOLOL
I made a barn door tracker Tony.
it really is very easy to make a basic model.
I'll see if I can find mine at the other house. If it hasn't been broken, or is at least in repairable condition, you're welcome to it.
A couple of members suggested using live view for focus - if you have it.
The way they do it, is to get focus through the view finder, as best as possible, and then select live view and increase magnification to 10x and readjust. But we were discussing photographing the moon. Can't see why it wouldn't work on a bright star.
I haven't tried it yet, too much rain.
30Ds don't have live views ... one of the downside of having 30Ds...
JJJ, i don't want to pry, or anything. If you might use it at all, than i can't take it...
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Yay! 
