WestTexas Sky wrote:
I use my A7R for nights all the time.
Keep it simple to start and skip the tracker, just use your camera.
Camera, tripod, remote release and flashlight are the basic tools.
I find that I need to use the flashlight to focus with the A7R as it lacks the night sensitivity of the A7S. Find infinity and you should be good. Make sure AF is off.
I go with neither High ISO Noise Reduction nor Long Exposure Noise Reduction.
My basic formula for a 14mm is:
ISO 6400
30 seconds
F/2.8
If your exposure is too bright then drop the exposure to 20 or 25 seconds to limit any star trails.
If you think the exposure is too dark on the stars you can push that up 1-2 stops in Lightroom. I usually use the brush and just bump the sky if needed.
Finally check out Lonely Speck for more tips. Ian Norman runs a great site dedicated to night photography.
Have fun and good luck.
The A7r1 is a great astro camera.
Keep it simple is good.
Everything is harder alone in the dark with animals making various noises.
I have no problems repeatedly focusing on a bright star at night with the A7r1 in magnified live view. It is very easy. Turn the camera to Bulb, aperture open, and ISO 6400. Then make sure you turn the focus ring close to infinity or you wont\' see anything on your screen. Out of focus stars disappear. Fine tune the focus for the smallest star possible. I am envious that I cannot see the milky way on my screen like the A7s.
I would strongly suggest a different exposure method using the following sequence to optimize your signal to noise ratio. Open the aperture as wide as IQ permits. Use the ~500 rule to set your maximum shutter speed. Then ADJUST your ISO to produce a luminence peak at approx 30% from the left. Don\'t change your shutter speed or aperture for exposure. Adjust the ISO.
If you are tracking, set the ISO to 800 and adjust the shutter speed to achieve the desired luminence peak of 30%.
A properly exposed night sky without any additional light source (city glow, moon, street lights, etc) should result in bright stars that are not overexposed and deep sky that needs a little adjustment in the black point to darken. If you push your exposure brighter anywhere, you worsen noise unnecessarily. Aim for the peak at ~30%.
+1 to Lonely Speck.
Here is a jpeg from RAW straight out of camera with the only vignetting correction. This is pretty good detail for the stars. There is even a supernova in Sagittarius. Anyway, this is how bright the image should appear to optimize your noise. With black point adjustment your stars will remain bright but the deep sky will get cleaner instead of noisier.
WestTexas Sky wrote:
I use my A7R for nights all the time.
Keep it simple to start and skip the tracker, just use your camera.
Camera, tripod, remote release and flashlight are the basic tools.
I find that I need to use the flashlight to focus with the A7R as it lacks the night sensitivity of the A7S. Find infinity and you should be good. Make sure AF is off.
I go with neither High ISO Noise Reduction nor Long Exposure Noise Reduction.
My basic formula for a 14mm is:
ISO 6400
30 seconds
F/2.8
If your exposure is too bright then drop the exposure to 20 or 25 seconds to limit any star trails.
If you think the exposure is too dark on the stars you can push that up 1-2 stops in Lightroom. I usually use the brush and just bump the sky if needed.
Finally check out Lonely Speck for more tips. Ian Norman runs a great site dedicated to night photography.
Have fun and good luck.
The A7r1 is a great astro camera.
Keep it simple is good.
Everything is harder alone in the dark with animals making various noises.
I have no problems repeatedly focusing on a bright star at night with the A7r1 in magnified live view. It is very easy. Turn the camera to Bulb, aperture open, and ISO 6400. Then make sure you turn the focus ring close to infinity or you wont\' see anything on your screen. Out of focus stars disappear. Fine tune the focus for the smallest star possible. I am envious that I cannot see the milky way on my screen like the A7s.
I would strongly suggest a different exposure method using the following sequence to optimize your signal to noise ratio. Open the aperture as wide as IQ permits. Use the ~500 rule to set your maximum shutter speed. Then ADJUST your ISO to produce a luminence peak at approx 30% from the left. Don\'t change your shutter speed or aperture for exposure. Adjust the ISO.
If you are tracking, set the ISO to 800 and adjust the shutter speed to achieve the desired luminence peak of 30%.
A properly exposed night sky without any additional light source (city glow, moon, street lights, etc) should result in bright stars that are not overexposed and deep sky that needs a little adjustment in the black point to darken. If you push your exposure brighter anywhere, you worsen noise unnecessarily. Aim for the peak at ~30%.
