Non-tracking Astrophotography from a Tripod and Camera

by Kevin Kell

Page Last modified on 2003 March 18

This page describes how to start taking astrophotos for the beginner.

Basic - what you need

  • a 35mm camera with a B (bulb) setting.
  • a cable release
  • a sturdy tripod
  • a dark sky site

    Setup Tips

    - Get a sturdy tripod and if possible, once in position, weigh it down to prevent it from vibrating in the wind. I typically use my camera bag to hold it down.
    - attach the camera firmly to the tripod (don't want the camera to slide around it's mount)
    - attach the cable release to the camera - frame your shot and ready your timer (for under a minute I usually use a watch, or count out loud).

    See also the Barndoor Tracking Photos

    This first group of photos illustrates exposure. In general, you can't use light meters to judge the exposure of a astrophoto, so most of the time we bracket (and quite a lot). This means selecting an exposure and then bracket that exposure with two more shots, one lower and one higher. Typically a bracket is at least 1 f-stop (double or half), or if the lens is already wide open (as in this case), we double or halve the exposure time.
    Remember: exposure=aperture (f-stop) x time (seconds)
    We won;t get into reciprocity failure at this point.

    Kodak Elitechrome 400 ISO slide film with a 50mm f1.4 lens
    Orion 10 Seconds 50mm f1.4 20 Seconds 50mm f1.4 40 Seconds 50mm f1.4
    Big Dipper 10 Seconds 50mm f1.4 20 Seconds 50mm f1.4 40 Seconds 50mm f1.4
    Cassiopeia 10 Seconds 50mm f1.4 20 Seconds 50mm f1.4 40 Seconds 50mm f1.4

    This page is maintained by kevin kell