I have some star/night timelaps questions

[William_Robinette]

Has anyone had much experience with filming star-filled night skies? I am planning a project that will require some nighttime time-laps of stars and the twilight/dawn portion of the day. I have done regular time-laps' but most have been during day or if they were at night, they were city oriented so I haven't dealt with the heavens too much.

Actually because I have always lived around a lot of light pollution I haven't even taken that many pictures of stars. I know I have to get away from light pollution and the like but with regards to camera settings what are you guys working with for later having a 24p presentation? I am shooting on a Canon 7D so I will be able to downscale from nice large RAW files so I'm thinking I can go somewhat high with my ISOs. But shutter speed and delay between exposures I need some help with.

Anyone with any advise? Thanks!

 

[Olaf99]

The following is in the forums at Timescapes and was from a member called "unozig": http://timescapes.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1747

"...from ISO 1600,2000 and 3200; f1.8,f2.8 and f4! 20 or 30 secs all with a 1 sec interval. Try ISO 2000, f2 (1.8) and 20 secs as a starting point."

Edit: Added Quotations

 

[William_Robinette]

Thanks for that! I'm going to give it a shot tonight and see how it goes.

 

[Musical Memory]

What kind of timer are you chaps using?

 

[Ryan Patrick O'Hara]

The following is in the forums at Timescapes and was from a member called "unozig": http://timescapes.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1747

"...from ISO 1600,2000 and 3200; f1.8,f2.8 and f4! 20 or 30 secs all with a 1 sec interval. Try ISO 2000, f2 (1.8) and 20 secs as a starting point."

Edit: Added Quotations

Why is there a (1.8) in parenthesis?

 

[Olaf99]

@ RPO,

I can't say for sure because I was quoting someone else. I know the original poster in that thread listed a 50mm 1.8 lens as one of three lenses he had available.