Equipment options to Photograph the Milky Way??

[TimBarber]

Hello

I was wondering what different set-ups people are using to photograph the Milky Way i.e Lenses, filters, Tracking mounts or fixed?

I would very much like to hear about other peoples opinions and set-ups.

I use a canon 60D

Fixed tripod

18-55mm kit lens

With this set-up my results are not especially good so any add ons i could use to improve my set-up and thus the images i'm getting would be good to hear.

Thanks in advance

My first attempt (i was disappointed)

[swag72]

Have a look in the Widefield section http://stargazerslounge.com/forum/38-imaging-widefield-special-events-and-comets/ There's a shed load of Milky Way images there and people generally say what equipment they've used and how much data they've taken.

[TimBarber]

Brilliant, thanks i will have a look now!

[davew]

Have a look in the Widefield section http://stargazerslounge.com/forum/38-imaging-widefield-special-events-and-comets/ There's a shed load of Milky Way images there and people generally say what equipment they've used and how much data they've taken.

Very good advice

Look at the work of Photosbykev, Spider72, Nightfly, Space Ranger and Saturn5 ( To name just a few ) Note how they frame their images with some wonderful foreground interest and what settings / lens sizes they use,

Dave.

[TimBarber]

Thanks Dave, i agree that a decent foreground really adds a good depth of interest to these shots.

[Alien 13]

When using a fixed tripod it is often useful to shoot with an ISO of 1600 and the max shutter time that you can use before star trails become obvious as a general rule of thumb..

T in seconds = 400/Lens focal length

The kit 18-55mm lens is actually very good if a bit slow and should be ok wide open.

Alan

[TimBarber]

Thanks Alan good advice

[hazegood]

When using a fixed tripod it is often useful to shoot with an ISO of 1600 and the max shutter time that you can use before star trails become obvious as a general rule of thumb..

T in seconds = 400/Lens focal length

The kit 18-55mm lens is actually very good if a bit slow and should be ok wide open.

Alan

That's the third versin I have heard f the rule for exposure time, have read 500, and 600. before,  think bets way is take a sub, see what the result lks like n live view, adjust accordingly

[Alien 13]

That's the third versin I have heard f the rule for exposure time, have read 500, and 600. before,  think bets way is take a sub, see what the result lks like n live view, adjust accordingly

I think the 400 is more realistic but its only a guide a real sub will tell you if its acceptable for the image you want.

Alan