Clear night so i had a go...

Frequency · Dec 20, 2012

Last one is good

Mr_Mac · Dec 20, 2012

#2 is a good one!

DannyLewis · Dec 20, 2012

FOr ISO in star field's I use 800 or 1600 it will reduce noise. I have went up to 45 seconds with the open shutter and not gotten trails.

STIC · Dec 21, 2012

JTPhotography · Dec 21, 2012

ISO 800-2400, keep your fstop under 4 and play around with exposure times. Hard part is getting precise focus.

thetrue · Dec 21, 2012

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/...naheims-ultimate-guide-night-photography.html
Invaluable information in that thread about night photography.

STIC · Dec 21, 2012

DannyLewis · Dec 21, 2012

set your focus to infinity on an distant object before dark and leave it alone until time to shoot

DannyLewis · Dec 21, 2012

I try to keep it about 45 seconds to keep from getting star trails. unless that is what your looking for.

COLTSFANATIC1 · Dec 21, 2012

How do you set the focus to infinity? can it be done with a D3100, I tried some shots like this before with minimal results, using bulb shutter, iso3200, and varied exposure times, and tripod. but it never seemed to be wide enough @ 18mm using a 18-55 kit lens? please help. OP im not trying to hijack i thaught id ask sinse its on the same subject. thanks

STIC · Dec 21, 2012

DannyLewis · Dec 21, 2012

I shoot with a canon T3i and the lens is a 100 400mm IS USM, ISO at either 800 or 1600 I prefer 1600, F 4.5 shutter Bulb at 30 seconds sometimes 45 seconds. I have a 2X TC but don't like it well enough to try the night sky with it.
To set your focus to infinity is to set the camera on a tripod and focus on an object as far away as you possibly can. I set mine to manual focus and pick something so very far away it seems out of the question to focus, then manually focus while holding the shutter button down halfway as I would for AF when I hear the beep or see the red focus point in the viewfinder it is set. Some lens have the sideways figure eight in the focus area on the lens that is infinity. I go there and then back off just a smidgeon. good luck with it all. Lets see what you come up with. I have a 1000mm and put the 2X TC on it but lost so many stops it is hard to deal with but have made a few good shots with it. Most of the stuff I shoot gets deleted but 2000mm is a pretty good distance and made some descent shots next time I use it I will post some here.

DannyLewis · Dec 21, 2012

Try ISO 1600 F stop wide open for 30 seconds you need a remote or use the timer for at least ten seconds so that after you push the button it has time for the camera to stop moving. must be on a tripod

COLTSFANATIC1 said:
How do you set the focus to infinity? can it be done with a D3100, I tried some shots like this before with minimal results, using bulb shutter, iso3200, and varied exposure times, and tripod. but it never seemed to be wide enough @ 18mm using a 18-55 kit lens? please help. OP im not trying to hijack i thaught id ask sinse its on the same subject. thanks