Please someone Help, I hope I can get a solution. Video of stars?

[YoungPhotoGirl]

I have the Nikon D3100 and really need to take a video of the stars tonight, is there ANY POSSIBLE WAY to do this, even if it requires a DIY type deal?
Please any tips would be greatful

 

[Forkie]

I think the D3100 has a video mode. Which bit do you need help with (considering you are 12 hours ahead of the UK and it's 11:30 in the morning), I'm guessing it's a bit late now though, eh?)?

 

[KmH]

Unfortunately, the best time to video stars is when the moon is new, not when it is very nearly full like it is the next couple of nights.

Assuming you have is the 18-55 mm kit lens, you will need:

A dark site, well away from city light pollution, that has no earth based lights in the image frame.
A stable tripod, a bean bag, or some other stable place to set the camera. If necessary, hold the camera, but lean it up against a tree, building, car, etc to stabilize the camera.

Set the lens to 18 mm, the lens aperture to f/3.5, and the camera ISO to 1600.
Manually focus the lens to infinity. (auto focus won't work because there won't be sufficient contrast)
Set the movie mode to

HD 1,280x720 / 24 fps.

Good luck!​

 

[jrizal]

The 18-55mm is pretty much a low-end but pretty decent kit lens (that is it still takes great pictures), but doesn't have an infinity stop (at least one that I can see). Anyway, here's a short article from Ken Rockwell about focusing on infinity. Hope this helps a bit.

How to Focus at Infinity

PS if the Nikkor 18-55mm does have an infinity stop, kindly let me know.

 

[YoungPhotoGirl]

Unfortunately, the best time to video stars is when the moon is new, not when it is very nearly full like it is the next couple of nights.

Assuming you have is the 18-55 mm kit lens, you will need:

A dark site, well away from city light pollution, that has no earth based lights in the image frame.
A stable tripod, a bean bag, or some other stable place to set the camera. If necessary, hold the camera, but lean it up against a tree, building, car, etc to stabilize the camera.

Set the lens to 18 mm, the lens aperture to f/3.5, and the camera ISO to 1600.
Manually focus the lens to infinity. (auto focus won't work because there won't be sufficient contrast)
Set the movie mode to

HD 1,280x720 / 24 fps.

Good luck!​

Thanks so much! Will give this a go really appreciate the information

 

[NancyMoranG]

How did your video go? I would like to try it too. What settings did you use, I have the 7000.
thanks, Nancy