Understanding shooting and processing concepts of beginner Astrophotography

[StarBru]

I'm basically an observer, and wanting to get started in astrophotography by using just a DSLR and tripod. I didn't think it was even possible to use just a DSLR and a tripod to capture the Orion Nebula, but this video hows you how!

This step by step beginning astrophotography tutorial video on YouTube really helped me understand the concepts of the gear, DSLR camera settings, focusing, calibration frames (dark, flat, and bias frames), stacking (Deep Sky Stacker tutorial), and processing (Photoshop tutorial). I'm excited!

[JayTee]

This guy is fairly easy to follow and gives more insight into PS processing.
https://astrobackyard.com/tutorials/ast ... utorial-1/

Here is another set of tutorials I've used in the past by Doug German.

[StarBru]

Thanks JT. I am at work today, but I will take a look at this tonight! I have seen a few of astrobackyard.com's videos, but not this one.

[Graeme1858]

I'm basically an observer, and wanting to get started in astrophotography by using just a DSLR and tripod. I didn't think it was even possible to use just a DSLR and a tripod to capture the Orion Nebula, but this video hows you how!

This step by step beginning astrophotography tutorial video on YouTube really helped me understand the concepts of the gear, DSLR camera settings, focusing, calibration frames (dark, flat, and bias frames), stacking (Deep Sky Stacker tutorial), and processing (Photoshop tutorial). I'm excited!

Glad you're excited Bruce!

This article from the S@N Magazine might give you some tips: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/astr ... hotography

Good luck!

Graeme

[StarBru]

Thanks for the link to S@N magazine, Graeme. Looks like a great astro mag. I'm soaking all of this into my brain!

[Juno16]

Hi Bruce,

Please share your images here as many of us started out shooting with just a dslr on a tripod and had a great time!

I saw the photos of your film cameras on another thread so I know that you know your way around a camera.

The rule of 500 is a great guide, but you might just want to just experiment. Try different exposure lengths, apertures, lenses, and iso settings. You will find out what works for you and your equipment.
Just setting a 10 second delay can really help settle the camera down before an exposure, or you can use an intervalometer. They work well and are cheap.

Focusing will be challenging, but you can get pretty good at zooming in to the stars image on the articulating screen. I'm sure a batinov mask could work on a camera, but I never tried that.

I remember one night while on vacation in Santa Barbara, I just played outside with my Nikon dslr and 18-55mm kit lens shooting the night sky while resting the camera on the porch railing of the rental house. I had a great time! I would use SkySafari on my phone to identify the objects in the photos.
I was using a Nikon D3300 that didn't have wifi, but I had a wifi module installed and would play with the images in PS Express on my iphone. I bugged the hell out of my wife showing her what I had found!

Now that you have read a few things, you ought to try out some shots! Have a blast Bruce!