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Thread: First Star Trails!

  1. #1

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    First Star Trails!

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    Decided to try my hand at some star trails last weekend. Was taken in the city, next to a campfire (hence the bright tree). Maybe an hour exposure or so, 210mm lens. I'm happy with how it came out, but was wondering what the best way to focus at night is? Was very difficult to do, obviously. I'm going to give it another shot this weekend, away from the lights of the city.

  2. #2

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    Re: First Star Trails!

    Focus on the stars. Believe it or not, you can see them on the GG if you let your eyes adapt to darkness.
    One man's Mede is another man's Persian.

  3. #3

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    Re: First Star Trails!

    focus at infinity during the daylight hours. leave the camera in that position.

  4. #4

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    Re: First Star Trails!

    I sort of like it the way it is...

    --Darin

  5. #5

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    Re: First Star Trails!

    Quote Originally Posted by Darin Boville View Post
    I sort of like it the way it is...

    --Darin
    Thanks! I actually like it a lot too, I'm pretty excited to take a bunch of night exposures this weekend when camping.

  6. #6
    Vaughn's Avatar
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    Re: First Star Trails!

    In daylight, focus at infinity with the same lens -- pick out a far mountain or something -- then mark your rails (with tape?) at where your front and back standards are. Do it for all your lenses, just in case you change your mind what lens you are using. Then just move the rails into the same position rather than focusing.

    If your camera has indents for zeroing your movements, check to see how accurate they are (probably close enough -- especially if you close the lens down 3 stops or so for sharp stars and a little more depth of field. If your camera does not have indents, you might focus straight-on a detailed wall and take note of the position of the standards, etc, when the wall is all in focus.

    The width of the star tracks are determines a lot by f/stop. Wide open and closed down all the way will tend to give you wider trails than the middle f/stops -- due to the various distortions lenses have. The middle stops will give sharper, thus narrower star trails.

    Have fun with them!

    Vaughn

  7. #7
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    Re: First Star Trails!

    Nice. Do you know why the star trails make a circle pattern?

  8. #8

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    Re: First Star Trails!

    Quote Originally Posted by pbryld View Post
    Nice. Do you know why the star trails make a circle pattern?
    Because the Earth is the pivotal point of the entire universe, which rotates at a rate of 15 degrees per hour.
    One man's Mede is another man's Persian.

  9. #9
    Land-Scapegrace Heroique's Avatar
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    Re: First Star Trails!

    Quote Originally Posted by pbryld View Post
    Nice. Do you know why the star trails make a circle pattern?
    Careful! Astronomical innocence can get you killed here.


  10. #10
    Vaughn's Avatar
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    Re: First Star Trails!

    In the image, the camera is pointed at the North Star, which is aligned very closely with the axis of the earth -- thus the circular movement of the stars.

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