Time Lapse on the AF100

[Rhyz]

I encourage you to watch it all, but I would really like to try working with night sky. Skip to 1:00 to see what I'm referring to.

Can someone explain:
a) If it's possible to mimic this on the AF.
b) What settings/gear do I need to accomplish this for the AF (aside from anything motion related such as the slider).

I made a first attempt at 5.5k elevation with no city lights around me. I used a Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8. I had shutter at 1/2, ND1, open aperture. It didn't help that there was a forest fire relatively close and smoke was in frame quite a bit... but I still think it could have turned out a lot better than it did. Do I need a faster lens or was the AF just not built for this?

 

[tacotim]

I don't think you will really get the results your looking for in this type of scenario with the AF100. The af100 timelapse at 1/2 second shutter is great for a urban night stuff, streaky headlights, etc, but not stars in the sky kind of stuff. A DSLR with an intervalometer is what you need, longer than 1/2 sec. shutter speeds and high ISO, and shooting raw doesn't hurt either. If you are determined to get this done on the af_100 then get the fastest lens you can (like the 25mm f0.95), use the abel cine clean scene file settings, and juice the iso up to 1600 or more.

I encourage you to watch it all, but I would really like to try working with night sky. Skip to 1:00 to see what I'm referring to.

Can someone explain:
a) If it's possible to mimic this on the AF.
b) What settings/gear do I need to accomplish this for the AF (aside from anything motion related such as the slider).

I made a first attempt at 5.5k elevation with no city lights around me. I used a Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8. I had shutter at 1/2, ND1, open aperture. It didn't help that there was a forest fire relatively close and smoke was in frame quite a bit... but I still think it could have turned out a lot better than it did. Do I need a faster lens or was the AF just not built for this?

 

[Rhyz]

Thanks for the great info Taco... although not the response I was hoping to see :-(

Can anyone else elaborate on this? Will a faster lens be enough to get the results I am looking for (or even close)? If I invest in a DSLR, will the Tokina f/2.8 be enough or will I run into the same issue? I have a Canon 50mm f/1.4... but it's not as wide as I would like.

 

[tacotim]

The tokina would be great on a DSLR, and with the GH3 just announced, you can get a screaming deal on a gh2 right now, that would fit the bill nicely. As far as wondering if a faster lens would do the trick on the af100, i'd suggest doing some tests with your 50mm. It won't be the wide field of view you want, but you'd be able to find out if you are able to get satisfactory exposures at that fstop. If that seems to work, you might like the 12mm f1.6 SLR Magic lens.

Thanks for the great info Taco... although not the response I was hoping to see :-(

Can anyone else elaborate on this? Will a faster lens be enough to get the results I am looking for (or even close)? If I invest in a DSLR, will the Tokina f/2.8 be enough or will I run into the same issue? I have a Canon 50mm f/1.4... but it's not as wide as I would like.