carbo73
Well-known
Hi, I've both a Nikon F and a Leica IIIb. Any suggestions about a good wide angle lens to take startrail pictures? F-mount and M39, obviously. And what could be better for this kind of photography, a rangefinder or SLR?
Thanks in advance.
Thanks in advance.
narsuitus
Well-known
For capturing startrails on 35mm cameras, I have used 50mm normal lenses to fisheye lenses.
Due to the long exposures required for startrails, I prefer battery independent cameras vs. battery dependent cameras. The battery independent cameras I have used include the Argus C3, Pentax Spotmatic, Fujinon ST705, and Nikon F2.
I have also used battery dependent cameras with a battery pack.
When I have to leave a camera in a remote location for an extended period of time, I prefer to use an inexpensive camera that I can afford to lose.
Star Trail by Narsuitus, on Flickr
Due to the long exposures required for startrails, I prefer battery independent cameras vs. battery dependent cameras. The battery independent cameras I have used include the Argus C3, Pentax Spotmatic, Fujinon ST705, and Nikon F2.
I have also used battery dependent cameras with a battery pack.
When I have to leave a camera in a remote location for an extended period of time, I prefer to use an inexpensive camera that I can afford to lose.
Star Trail by Narsuitus, on Flickr
carbo73
Well-known
Thanks, Narsuitus!
David Hughes
David Hughes
Hi,
Nikon made an 8mm f/5.6 (from memory) lens to do just that but the price is astronomical these days...
Your favourite lens will do it or you might decide on a wider one to capture more; it really depends on what you want. That means an arc or a circle or part of a circle. Polaris at the top and the horizon at the bottom should or could be the deciding matter.
Best to experiment and see how it goes, imo.
Regards, David
Nikon made an 8mm f/5.6 (from memory) lens to do just that but the price is astronomical these days...
Your favourite lens will do it or you might decide on a wider one to capture more; it really depends on what you want. That means an arc or a circle or part of a circle. Polaris at the top and the horizon at the bottom should or could be the deciding matter.
Best to experiment and see how it goes, imo.
Regards, David
css9450
Veteran
I'd tend to mostly use wide angles but I'd imagine almost anything would suffice, although obviously a long lens is going to show just a narrow piece of the sky. I do a lot of night photography but its not specifically star trails, although the stars are almost always visible in the sky/background. If I was using my Nikon F I'd probably try my 20mm/f3.5 or 28mm/f2.8 Nikkors on it.
I was reading an account of a guy who set up to do a very long (like, 4+ hours) exposure at California's famous Tehachapi Loop. He said people often asked if it was dangerous... Coyotes, snakes, etc in the dark (this was back in the 1950s). His response: No danger at all - I opened the shutter, then jumped in my car, drove into town and caught a movie!
I was reading an account of a guy who set up to do a very long (like, 4+ hours) exposure at California's famous Tehachapi Loop. He said people often asked if it was dangerous... Coyotes, snakes, etc in the dark (this was back in the 1950s). His response: No danger at all - I opened the shutter, then jumped in my car, drove into town and caught a movie!