- Joined
- Oct 26, 2024
- Messages
- 55
- Reaction score
- 203
- Location
- Kansas
- Can others edit my Photos
- Photos NOT OK to edit
A couple weeks ago I bought a used Nikon 500PF lens and I immediately took off for the eagle's nest...I just loved that outing...then I remembered the upcoming lunar eclipse and knew this lens would be awesome for that...
I got to researching Bahtinov masks, and decided I needed to design and 3D print one, to use for a focusing aid for astrophotography.
Last night while the moon was full, I simply used the camera's Autofocus to lock in on the full moon...but as it got closer to being fully eclipsed, it was harder to get the camera to lock on....( yeah, when bright and full, I focused then simply switched the lens to manual and proceeded taking pictures)...so I brought out the Bahtinov mask, popped in over the hood, found a bright star and played with it, using MF, life view, and slowly twisting the focus ring....it works incredibly well, achieving the perfectly aligned 6-point star, resulting in pin point focus on the stars....then I quickly snapped a few of Jupiter, moved over and captured the Pleiades...then back on task of the eclipse.
I don't use a Star tracker, just old fashioned tripod, and shutter speed/aperture/ISO manipulation....all those settings will be displayed with the pics.....I did use the a 5-sec delay timer, and "Shutter Delay Mode" to try and minimize camera shake for the ¼ second shutter speeds with this looooong focal length (500mm crop sensor, 750mm full frame equivalent)...and I used the VR....there was considerable wind last night here in Kansas, I I figured, WHY NOT....I've always used VR on all my tripod outings, regardless of whatever lens I use, FROM MY Nikon AF-P 10-20 VR, my Nikon AF-P 18-55 VR, and my Nikon AF-P 70-300 VR...seems like years ago I read where it didn't make any difference...
I also only use Lightroom Mobile on my phone for all of my photography editing, no computer, no Topaz AI denoising, no stacking, etc....I'm probably the most minimal post processing person on the web...I didn't even use LR Mobile's noise sliders....I just try to get all I can from the camera initially.
Side note, I actually dislike photographing full moon, due to the full on front lighting from the sun, there's just no crater shadows giving it depth and texture....but if you're gonna capture an eclipse, you're gonna have to take photos of that full moon, right!?
Everything discussed here will have a few photos to go along with it
Hope you enjoy, please comment/critic, anything you feel like...I think they didn't turn out too shabby...just shows ya what simple gear and minimal computer time will get ya....(Maybe that lens can't get called 'simple gear'...lol ...but I do love it
....but entry level camera body, the Nikon D5600)
I got to researching Bahtinov masks, and decided I needed to design and 3D print one, to use for a focusing aid for astrophotography.
Last night while the moon was full, I simply used the camera's Autofocus to lock in on the full moon...but as it got closer to being fully eclipsed, it was harder to get the camera to lock on....( yeah, when bright and full, I focused then simply switched the lens to manual and proceeded taking pictures)...so I brought out the Bahtinov mask, popped in over the hood, found a bright star and played with it, using MF, life view, and slowly twisting the focus ring....it works incredibly well, achieving the perfectly aligned 6-point star, resulting in pin point focus on the stars....then I quickly snapped a few of Jupiter, moved over and captured the Pleiades...then back on task of the eclipse.
I don't use a Star tracker, just old fashioned tripod, and shutter speed/aperture/ISO manipulation....all those settings will be displayed with the pics.....I did use the a 5-sec delay timer, and "Shutter Delay Mode" to try and minimize camera shake for the ¼ second shutter speeds with this looooong focal length (500mm crop sensor, 750mm full frame equivalent)...and I used the VR....there was considerable wind last night here in Kansas, I I figured, WHY NOT....I've always used VR on all my tripod outings, regardless of whatever lens I use, FROM MY Nikon AF-P 10-20 VR, my Nikon AF-P 18-55 VR, and my Nikon AF-P 70-300 VR...seems like years ago I read where it didn't make any difference...
I also only use Lightroom Mobile on my phone for all of my photography editing, no computer, no Topaz AI denoising, no stacking, etc....I'm probably the most minimal post processing person on the web...I didn't even use LR Mobile's noise sliders....I just try to get all I can from the camera initially.
Side note, I actually dislike photographing full moon, due to the full on front lighting from the sun, there's just no crater shadows giving it depth and texture....but if you're gonna capture an eclipse, you're gonna have to take photos of that full moon, right!?
Everything discussed here will have a few photos to go along with it
Hope you enjoy, please comment/critic, anything you feel like...I think they didn't turn out too shabby...just shows ya what simple gear and minimal computer time will get ya....(Maybe that lens can't get called 'simple gear'...lol ...but I do love it
....but entry level camera body, the Nikon D5600)
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