Aurora from Iceland, August 2012

[Dangerous-Dave]

Hi folks, just returned from a smashing fortnight in Iceland: 5 nights in a motorhome touring the south coast and 9 in a cottage on the Hvalfjordur. Naturally I took my camera gear and squeezed the Manfrotto 55XB into the suitcase, but I wasn't sure whether I'd get to see the aurora this early in the season. I need not have worried - every clear night was guaranteed a display of some sort, sometimes just an 'inert' auroral arc in the north but more often a good deal of activity. Our first night (16th-17th August) was particularly good, with displays of activity breaking out all over the sky - you didn't know which way to look!

1. Hamragardar campsite, near Seljalandfoss, 16-17th August 2012

2. Near Bifrost, Vesturland, 26-27th August 2012

3. Near Bifrost, Vesturland, 27-28th August 2012

4. Between Fossotun and Reykholt, 28-29th August 2012

Equipment used - Canon EOS30D, Manfrotto 055XB tripod, Samyang 8mm/f3.5 and Tokina 11-16mm/f2.8 lenses at ISO 1000. Aperture wide open, exposures range from 20-30s

cheers

D

[LukeSkywatcher]

Stunning images. Thanks for sharing. Seeing the aurora is top of my bucket list.

[Capricorn]

I hope the person asking about Aurora shots is reading it for the camera settings. :grin:

[Dangerous-Dave]

I hope the person asking about Aurora shots is reading it for the camera settings. :grin:

Aperture as wide as you can get away with

ISO as high as you can get away with (having a Pro range camera helps here!)

Exposure as short as you can get away with

jobsagoodun!

[Paulus17]

Lovely images Dave

I see in your kit you have a Tokina lens.

I am thinking of getting a wide angle for my Nikon,how do you rate the Tokina??

[Dangerous-Dave]

Lovely images Dave

I see in your kit you have a Tokina lens.

I am thinking of getting a wide angle for my Nikon,how do you rate the Tokina??

Hi Paulus. I think it depends on what you will use it for. The Toki is a superb, fast landscape lens, but it has CA and coma around the outside of the field of view which shows up on stars. The Samyang 14mm/f2.8 is a better choice for night time use where lack of filter thread and autofocus are not such an issue.

[Paulus17]

Thanks Dave.

I was hoping to use it for both landcape and star images.

I was looking at the Sigma but someone said the Tokina was better??

I'll take a look at the Sam though as well

Thank you.

[Dangerous-Dave]

I would avoid the Sigma 10-20 for night use, it has more coma than the Toki. It's also slower at f4.

[m.tweedy]

Nice shots Dave. Better than you saw that night outside Derwent Reservoir when I was flying up to see the Aurora.

[Dangerous-Dave]

Thanks Michael, it was miles better. The display on the 16th/17th was like strobe lighting at times,

It will be difficult to generate the enthusiasm for UK displays after this!

[m.tweedy]

Dave its the same as viewing from my back garden after getting back from Kielder. After a while you just enjoy what you have and make the most of it. I agree though after being spoilt it is difficult.

[SkyJamie]

Awesome pictures Dave

Jamie

[saturn5]

Superb series of shots Dave.You'll need a KP 8 or 9 to match that in the UK.