URGRNT:I NEED URGENT HELP

[Dom1961]

I have just taken my first 30min exposure, I've just viewed it and it's just white. If I take a 20s exposure it's still white with some faint blotches. What is happening?

[jambouk]

What camera?

What happens when you use live view or whatever for framing?

What target are you pointing at?

What scope?

Any filters?

[Tinker1947]

It likely over exposed, there's a big bright moon out there, try the same thing again when there isn't a moon and your get loads of stars....Check your focus as well....

[jambouk]

Is any light leaking into the scope from anywhere? A streetlamp, neighbour, moon, your headlamp, laptop...

[Dom1961]

I'm using a 100d with 18-55mm, no filters, originally pointing at polaris for 30 mins, now pointing at cygnus

[happy-kat]

30 minutes?

Be solid white.

Try 3 second iso 800 f5

Then build from there to 6 then try 7 etc.

Focus... Hard with kit lens as there is no infinity mark but hey this is first evening of trying to use your camera so work on focus in stages but perhaps your camera has a landscape mode.

Read the manual.

[Davey-T]

What camera settings ?

Dave

[Ant]

If you are looking at the image in something like maxim (and I think DSS has something similar), make sure you haven't got the histogram sliders incorrectly set.

This will change the view on the screen, but the image is actually fine.

Cheers

Ant

[ollypenrice]

30 minute exposures are for very dark sites at F ratios around F4 or higher. You did mean 30 mins, not 30 secs?

Olly

[Garethr]

+1 for the other comments Dom

need more info 

target 

camera

scope

ect

Gareth 

ps never even attempted a 30 min exposure 10 at most for me

[Dom1961]

Just noticed you are right, massive over exposure Idiot like I am I was thinking overexposure can't happen in the dark. I have since taken 10x30s and stacked them and have got sort of an image, I think some darks and flats may help that, how do I take flats? Shall I just point it at a white laptop screen?

[Dom1961]

Sorry about the whole urgent business, I thought I broke my camera

[jambouk]

Glad you got it sorted.

I'm no flat expert but lots of info online unless someone else comes along and helps.

James

[Uranium235]

Dom1961, on 29 Sept 2015 - 9:38 PM, said:

Sorry about the whole urgent business, I thought I broke my camera

It takes a lot more than a bit of over exposure to break a DSLR, they're surprisingly resiliant things

[MattJenko]

I use a computer monitor with a white screen and simply set the camera to AV mode which lets it choose an exposure time and it usually comes out ok. Take a lot of them.

[MartinB]

Learn to relax mate, this hobby generates a lot of stress! Screens which show anything but stars are the norm rather than the exception. Leaving lens caps on has been a particular bug bear of mine.