My attempt at star trails - didnt really work.

[rbrocky]

right so the other night I went out for an hour to do some star trails.

Turned out like this

as you can see there is only a few stars there, and also alot of gaps between the starts...

My guessing for this is that after each photo it took a while for the camera to "process". Admittedly I don't shoot the greatest camera, only a Sony Alpha, but it can produce some decent stuff. I have a feeling that it may have something to do with running a micro SD through an SD adaptor as i lost my SD. I know its a crime to do such a thing but hey.

Any other ideas or things I could do?
I was taking photos with a shutter speed of 20-30 seconds long.

Anything you can suggest to get the "processing" time down? and therefore create a solid trail of light from the stars other than dots.

Anyways as a bit of fun at the end i produced this

HELP PLEASE was planning to have another punt tonight.

PS. I know the last pic is out of focus, I knocked the camera

 

[AK]

Can't see the pics.

 

[rbrocky]

Sorted

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

Focus probably was far too close in each pic.

Shoot RAW.. get a programmable remote.

What are the stats on each pic (Just tell me one - I assume they'll all the be the same ).

Why was the camera processing things ?!


There is a star trails thread somewhere...

* http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?622651-Guide-Star-Trails

 

[capturedbyjames]

I did the same once. http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?575677-Star-Trail-Fail&p=7681528#post7681528

Were you using interval shooting?

 

[Addicted]

Looks tricky and a ballache to be honest!

 

[Scott™]

You are mental shooting star trails in the summer lol. You must have to wait until midnight before you can start

 

[Habitual]

Fair play for having a bash and posting it man.

You've got to post your next efforts now.

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

When you attempt round 2 - drop me a PM !

 

[rbrocky]

Yeh there was an interval between shots, because the Camera was "processing"
This is my question, why processing? the longer the exposure, the longer the processing time?

could this be anything to do with the card im using? Micro SD?

And Scott, im up late everynight so I dont mind being there at 12 oclock at night.

Stats were
Length - 18
Exposure time -20s
F -8
Doesnt show me the ISO, i forgot what I shot it at.

Really need help reducing this Processign time, then I can get some decent shots...

 

[Addicted]

Could be down to the speed of your card yes, what Class is it?

I'm using SD Cards (SanDisk Extreme SDHC (45MB/s transfer rate)) and rarely see "Processing" now

 

[rbrocky]

Excellent, ill try a faster one see if that makes any dif

 

[doccrx]

The "processing" could be long exposure noise reduction, have a look in the menu see if you can turn it off.

 

[rbrocky]

but then it will be filled with noise?

or would i just have to compensate with a real low ISO?

 

[doccrx]

You probably would get a little more noise, but use a low iso anyway. Did your camera have the long exposure noise reduction option?

 

[rbrocky]

I think so, but forget you see! Im more of a recreational photographer than hardcore tbh!

 

[Pint]

When you attempt round 2 - drop me a PM !

Listen to this man. He's a star when it comes to helping out with these.

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

As the good Doctor says - knock the noise reduction off - up the exposure time to compensate for the low ISO.

Read up on how to take photos Exposure triangle for example would be a good place to start.

http://digital-photography-school.com/learning-exposure-in-digital-photography

 

[rbrocky]

Ok, let me get this straight, I take photos for fun! I'm not claiming to be a professional or anything. But do understand what happens when you adjust ISO, SS and Aperture
All im asking is how to reduce the "processing" time between taking long exposures.

 

[Xanda73]

The gaps are because the camera didn't see enough light. You need a faster lens/higher ISO/ longer shutter speed. Doing this may overexpose your foreground (the car) so I would suggest taking 2 exposures, 1 with & 1 without the car, but without altering teh camera position and then blending the sky in photoshop.

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

All im asking is how to reduce the "processing" time between taking long exposures.

It'll be a setting in the menus of your camera.

Might be 'advanced' somewhere as it's not something your average Joe would probably use.

 

[rbrocky]

Looked through them all.

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

Hmm.. What camera model ?

 

[rbrocky]

Sony Alpha 290

 

[Scott™]

The "processing" could be long exposure noise reduction, have a look in the menu see if you can turn it off.

It'll be a setting in the menus of your camera.

Might be 'advanced' somewhere as it's not something your average Joe would probably use.

This.

If you have it on, then your camera will take an age to process each image. Turn it off. This is what your Sony Alpha screen should look like?

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

Well....

http://www.docs.sony.com/release/DSLRA290.pdf

Pg 112:

Changing the noise reduction setting
When you set the shutter speed to a second or longer (Long exposure
shooting), noise reduction is turned on for the same duration that the shutter
is open.
This is to reduce the grainy noise typical in a long exposure. When noise
reduction is in progress, a message appears and you cannot take another
picture. Select [On] to prioritize the image quality. Select [Off] to prioritize
the timing of shooting.
MENU button t 2 t [Long exp.NR] t [Off]

:rasp:

 

[Scott™]

Well....

http://www.docs.sony.com/release/DSLRA290.pdf

Pg 112:

Changing the noise reduction setting
When you set the shutter speed to a second or longer (Long exposure
shooting), noise reduction is turned on for the same duration that the shutter
is open.
This is to reduce the grainy noise typical in a long exposure. When noise
reduction is in progress, a message appears and you cannot take another
picture. Select [On] to prioritize the image quality. Select [Off] to prioritize
the timing of shooting.
MENU button t 2 t [Long exp.NR] t [Off]

:rasp:

Gaylord.

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

Gaylord.

:S ?!

 

[Scott™]

<3

 

[rbrocky]

cool, ill have a look when it finishes charging

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

You wish, ScottdotTM. Learn to hyperlink properly, you banker. Did you cause NatWest's systems to crash ?!

I bet you did.

Anyway, OP (I don't know your name), give that a go and see what happens !

 

[rbrocky]

sweet as a nut!
You recon it would be anything to do with using a stupid micro sd in an adaptor as well?

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

No.