canon 350 settings for astrophoto

EzyStyles (Eric) · #1 26-09-2006, 05:38 PM

Hi Guys,

Was wondering what settings do you set your camera on when taking astro pics?

- red eye reduction on/off?
- AF mode?
Metering mode?

I dont' know how to explain the metering mode so here's a pic of it.

thanks.

JohnG (John) · #2 26-09-2006, 05:51 PM

Hi Eric

My 350D is set: In Manual Mode.

Quality: RAW
Red Eye: On
Beep: On
AF: One Shot
Metering Mode: Same as what is in your picture
ISO: 800

Straight off the camera. Works fine for me, others may be different though.

Cheers

JohnG

EzyStyles (Eric) · #3 26-09-2006, 05:51 PM

thanks john. just double checking my settings

. another note is that when taking flats, you set the camera to AV mode but how would you take longer than sub seconds?

JohnG (John) · #4 26-09-2006, 05:56 PM

Not quite sure what you mean, when I take Flat Field shots they are normally about 1/400th to 1/250th of a second, I shoot a blue sky with a white T-shirt over the objective.

JohnG

EzyStyles (Eric) · #5 26-09-2006, 06:17 PM

i use the evening sky method. i thought shooting flats will be around the few second mark?

thanks

Striker (Tony) · #6 26-09-2006, 06:44 PM

Nope...approx between 100th - 500th of a second...maybe your leaving it to late Eric.

JohnG (John) · #7 26-09-2006, 07:13 PM

I agree with Tony, a couple of seconds is way too long, you will saturate the chip.

Cheers

JohnG

74tuc · #8 27-09-2006, 08:08 AM

Hi There,

When I use the 350D I set-up in the manual mode and customise the camera with the "custom setting " functions:

1. Set the mirror lock-up mode.
Please use a remote cable release - I got problems with camera shake when pressing the button.
or for long exposures(mirror lock-up)
Use a remote shutter release or cover the aperture with a cardboard square then open the shutter, remove the cardboard for the required exposure time, replace the cover when the exposure is complete then close the shutter.
or for short exposures (no mirror lock-up)
Use the self timer to take the picture.

2. Turn off the Auto-focus assist beam

3. Use the bulb setting for long exposures

Pse note: For long exposures the 350D takes its own dark frames and processes them so taking long exposures with this camera is a long process.

Regards,

Jerry.

Lee · #9 27-09-2006, 02:30 PM

I doubt red-eye will make a difference either way - from what I understand, red-eye reduction is just a bright light pre-flash to constrict a subjects pupuils so the flash doesn't reflect off the retina as much.
Metering is not important for long exposures, it is only used to adjust shutter speed based on how much light is available in terrestrial photography.
In terms of the camera, once you attach a telescope at prime focus, you can really only adjust ISO and shutter speed in the camera (apart from noise-reduction/saturation/sharpening).
Auto focus - depends on the lens - if your telescope, then you are on manual focus anyway - would be a damn cool telescope if it had auto-focus!

JohnG (John) · #10 27-09-2006, 02:43 PM

I think too much is being read into this. My camera has a duel use, ordinary photography and Astro. Like Eric, I use DSLRFocus and custom cables so really Custom Setting have nothing to do with it, everything is set within DSLRFocus, ISO, Exposure, Intervals, Lag, whatever.

Cheers

JohnG

EzyStyles (Eric) · #11 27-09-2006, 03:36 PM

cheers guys thanks. What about Parameters? I have mine set to Parameter 2.

JohnG (John) · #12 27-09-2006, 03:50 PM

I just use the default Parameter 1, I can't really tell the difference between 1 and 2.

JohnG

acropolite (Phil) · #13 01-10-2006, 02:09 PM

If you're shooting RAW, parameter 1 and 2 are irrelvant as they are applied during conversion from the raw image to JPG.