Star trails 2nd attempt

[rastis95 (Scott)]

Hi all,

Have been doing some tweaking and trying new settings on the 500d. Here is my 2nd attempt, some tweaking done to reduce the huge amount of light pollution i get, will have to have a go at a dark sight soon.

Canon 500d
EF-S 18-55 IS
ISO 800
f/4
Noise reduction off
30 - 2 min subs
Stacked using startrails 1.1
Modified using Canon digital photo professional

All comments appreciated

Cheers
Scott

[MrB (Simon)]

Huge improvement over your first, well done!

[Lumen Miner (Mitchell)]

Looks good!!

Check out my thread on Star trails from Sydney...

I'm taking 30sec frames and stacking with star max. No gaps can be seen, so far.
The bonus of that is, you can set to continuous and walk away.
Do you have a remote?

I have the camera out there now shooting away... should be done in an hour or so (when the battery dies).

[rastis95 (Scott)]

Thanks Simon and Mitchell,
Simon, the shorter subs has helped to a large degree to overcome the light pollution, still to try a different f stop to see what effect that will have, but with all astrophotography its a learning curve and im loving it

Mitch i don't have a remote yet but (not too far away though) have been using the software from canon to remotely control it. Ive been using the time delay function to take a series of subs, last night i had it set to take 2.00 min subs with a 5 sec gap and to repeat 30 times. So far its working good, problem is you need power for the laptop to control the shutter but battery power in the camera seems to hold up really well. I see your using star max might have to try that one out .

By the look of the weather here ill be playing with levels and curves for a couple of days, all good practice.

Cheers
Scott

An after though, is there a program that can stack the startrail images in raw format (canon cr2) its a pain converting

[Lumen Miner (Mitchell)]

Originally Posted by rastis95

Mitch i don't have a remote yet but (not too far away though) have been using the software from canon to remotely control it. Ive been using the time delay function to take a series of subs, last night i had it set to take 2.00 min subs with a 5 sec gap and to repeat 30 times. So far its working good, problem is you need power for the laptop to control the shutter but battery power in the camera seems to hold up really well. I see your using star max might have to try that one out .

That "5sec gap" is probably the breaks in the trails, your experiencing.
When done with star max, I maybe have a few lil' tiny gaps. I blow the picture up, sample the adjacent pixel and fill the gap manually. I then return the image to normal size.

Any reason for the gap? cooldown etc? I would remove the gap if possible.... The time between shutter actuations is important, no shutter lock up either... takes too long.


You get about 3 seconds grace before a break starts to occur.

I built my remote in about 1/2 an hour. I found a mini earphone connector, added a third cable to the tip terminal and hey presto... a remote...

Problem is, on continuous mode, with remote, it will only let you do max 30 sec, well on an old 350d like mine that is. Not sure about newer models.

I did another trail last night, when the clouds lifted. Used the bad battery though so only got an hour worth... Will try again tonight with the better battery, try for 2 1/2 hours.


I am really enjoying, searching through the unstacked frames, for space junk trails... I'm finding heaps!!

[MrB (Simon)]

Originally Posted by Lumen Miner

I built my remote in about 1/2 an hour. I found a mini earphone connector, added a third cable to the tip terminal and hey presto... a remote...

Problem is, on continuous mode, with remote, it will only let you do max 30 sec, well on an old 350d like mine that is. Not sure about newer models.

Does your remote have a button or a switch?
I built mine with a switch.
If you click past the 30" exposure you will find 'bulb'
With this setting and a switch remote, the shutter stays open as long as the remote is switched... or your battery dies.

[Lumen Miner (Mitchell)]

Originally Posted by MrB

Does your remote have a button or a switch?
I built mine with a switch.
If you click past the 30" exposure you will find 'bulb'
With this setting and a switch remote, the shutter stays open as long as the remote is switched... or your battery dies.

Yup mine has a dual switch, focus, expose.

Problem with "bulb" is you have to watch the camera and the time. Whereas, if you drop it to 30sec, hit continuous, you can walk away and leave it for 2 1/2 hours till the battery dies....

You can not expose for more than about 10 mins without over exposing a star trail.

[MrB (Simon)]

Photo.
This remote is a work in progress.
Plans are to make it programmable with a microcontroller and LCD screen.

[Lumen Miner (Mitchell)]

Hey scott, got any new shots?
I can't wait for you next go!

[rastis95 (Scott)]

Once this weather clears up im off to a dark sight and having another go, Time will tell.