Regarding camera settings to do...

[Raff9240]

Hi, I just acquired two cameras and read the manuals, but not sure if either
camera will allow me to keep the shutter open without me having to holding it
down continually. I wanted to take a photo of the stars or moon moving across the sky.

Also, how long shoud the exposure be? 3 minutes or more?

The cameras are: Canon D-70 and Fujifilm S1800.

I believe the bulb setting on the Canon would do the job. But I don't think
the Fujifilm camera will let me keeep shutter open without me holding the
shutter button down. I am not sure if a remote cable is neeed for both
camera? Any advise it all the above?
Thanks, Patrick.

[Tom]

I wanted to take a photo of the north star moving across the sky.

Also, how long shoud the exposure be? 3 minutes or more?

The north star, better known as Polaris, is directly north of Earth and actually won't move across the sky. All other stars appear to move around it, but it will stay perfectly still no matter how long you have an exposure.

[Abel]

I removed the email from the original post so that you dont get spam from web email harvesters..

[Raff9240]

Thanks for info. I change my question to taking photos of movment in the sky like moon and stars. Please review my questons and any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Patrick

[Nikonfan]

Anything longer than 25 seconds will show movement of the stars. The question is how much movement. Most cameras max out at 30 seconds. With my Nikons I can attatch a remote shutter release and put the camera in "bulb" mode. Then I can press the button on the remote. It has a clasp to hold it down for as long as you want. The problem I have found is that the sensor heats up the longer it's open and starts to show lots of noise even with a low ISO. To combat that many photographers take a series of shorter photos and combine them in a composite image.

[tc95]

+1 with what everyone else says...do a 30 sec exposure should give you enough movement...if you want more do several pictures and use an astrophotography image stacking program...there are a few free ones...and a few for less than $50.00...well worth it...expecially with long exposures...it will let you tie in the movement of two or more photos for a better picture...


DeepSpace Stacking

Registax Software

AstroStack

4 Steps to Creating Star Trails...

Info on Stacking Software...

Now on to a question you will probably have after playing with this set-up...what do I do to make the stars apear to not move...to get a better, cleaner, enhnaced, Photo....you need to get an equatorial...or my new toy the AstroTrac....over the last 4 years I have tried everything under the sun...the AstroTrac is easy light...works with any tripod...and gets you the clean star shots you want....it's not cheap...but works and keeps working...I have purchased the cheap $40.00 setup to a 1K equatorial...this is the best thing by far...

Good Luck...happy star shooting...



PixTus Adorama Link for Purchase....


Hope this helps you out...It did for me...there are lots of interesting reads on the internet...just google "Astorphotography Stacking Software" & "Astrophotography Tips"...should be enough to keep you up late for about a week....

[Nikonfan]

[QUOTE=tc95;1391624]
Now on to a question you will probably have after playing with this set-up...what do I do to make the stars apear to not move...to get a better, cleaner, enhnaced, Photo....you need to get an equatorial...or my new toy the AstroTrac....over the last 4 years I have tried everything under the sun...the AstroTrac is easy light...works with any tripod...and gets you the clean star shots you want....it's not cheap...but works and keeps working...I have purchased the cheap $40.00 setup to a 1K equatorial...this is the best thing by far...

QUOTE]

I found a really cheap way to make the stars not move. A tripod and a short exposure I assume you were referring to planets and nebula's. I'm jealous of your setup. I have a telescope and t-mount but I won't be investing the kind of dough that it takes for tracking. I just can't justify it but that would be sweet to have!

[tc95]

LOL...ya...I used to put it on my Nikon 800mm that I sold...now I use the 300 and 200...and a Tamron 200-500...The nice thing...I was able to get all this...PK...now I could not afford it...

PK = Pre-Kid...

[Raff9240]

Thanks to all who answered my recent questions. They were very helpful.
Patrick