Star Trails - Any tips?

[koffiejunkie]

So max is not the sharpest - generally 2 or 3 stops more ... But then it declines?

Yes - diffraction takes over. Most lenses tend to be at their shapest at f/5.6 or lower (on crop bodies) but that's not a hard rule. That said, the differences you see on resolution charts are often not field relevant. For example, my 24-105L doesn't do too great in tests, but in real life it has a very even sharpness across the frame, and even at 18MP, it's difficult to tell it apart from my 50mm f/1.8, and compared to the 70-200mm f/2.8 L I rented, it holds its ground at comparable focal lengths.

 

[Dolby]

Ok - I've mastered the art

I praticed last night and the series of 50+ shots works with startrails (the program). I won't post it thoug - as it's a boring foreground (my house) ... but at least a worked.

Star Trails - check
HDR - check
Water drops - check

 

[koffiejunkie]

Ok - I've mastered the art ....I won't post it thoug

Pics or it didn't happen

 

[Dolby]

Pics or it didn't happen

hehe ... ok, I'll post the photo tonight

You need black out the house in the foreground and imagine a single tree on the savannah. Seriously though - considering the moon was at 50% illumination and I'm within Johannesburg, I thought the result was pretty good.

Looking forward to my trip to Clarens though - as apart from very little light, new moon is 1 June .... so on the 3rd they will be very little light. I'm also sure I'll find a better foreground!

Btw - looking at the actual, professional photographer star trails on the net - I believe that just about all of them use the software? I doubt a single exposure would ever work - even on a 1DMKV camera with a L lens.

In the days of film - I guess a long exposure didn't harm quality?

 

[koffiejunkie]

hehe ... ok, I'll post the photo tonight

Naah man, I was just kidding

 

[koffiejunkie]

Btw - looking at the actual, professional photographer star trails on the net - I believe that just about all of them use the software? I doubt a single exposure would ever work - even on a 1DMKV camera with a L lens.

No, it depends on the light. The ones I posted were single exposures in heavy light pollution.

 

[Dolby]

Out of interest

http://mybroadband.co.za/photos/showphoto.php?photo=23643&cat=500

Series of stacked. Now the points against me are moon, Johannesburg and no real foreground. Also compressed on MyBB ... but I'll stop making excuses I personally thought it worked quite nicely.