Starry Sky & Aperture Question

[Trainwizard]

I took some starry sky photos last week wide or close to wide open (intending to do star points, not star trails).

Should I use apertures of f8 or higher on my next stargazing visit? I have a feeling noise pollution is worse wide open, even though it's inevitable since I live in a big city.

I took the following at 5.0 sec, 10mm, f4, ISO 800.


DSC_0053

This next one was shot at 4.0 sec, f/2.2, 35mm, ISO 800


DSC_0050

 

[D-B-J]

Noise pollution is in now way exacerbated by changing your aperture. It is what it is, and you are only changing how your camera records it. Typically, I start with f2.8, ISO1600, and 25 seconds. I shoot, and adjust from there. You typically don't want to go over 20 or 25 seconds with that wide of a lens, as you'll start to see the movement in the stars.

Jake


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[pgriz]

Skyglow and light pollution are the enemies of nice star shots. One way around that is to take many short exposures, and then use stacking software to put them together into a single image showing star trails. It helps to get as far away from lights as possible if you do want to shoot the sky without all the skyglow.

 

[bc_steve]

Noise pollution is in nway exacerbated by changing your aperture. It is what it is, and you are only changing how your camera records it. Typically, I start with f2.8, ISO1600, and 25 seconds. I shoot, and adjust from there. You typically don't want to go over 20 or 25 seconds with that wide of a lens, as you'll start to see the movement in the stars.

Jake


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I'd say you can get away with a longer exposure when using a wider lens. 20-25s is as long as you'll want for 35mm but at 10mm, I think 30s is fine.

 

[jsecordphoto]

You're gonna have a tough time with that much light pollution. I drive as far as I can from any towns or cities, and like D-B-J said, I start at iso1600-2500 f2.8 25 seconds and adjust from there.