14ers.com

jameseroni wrote:Just getting into this.... is it true that it's hard on the sensor in the camera if the exposure is greater than 5 minutes? Is a special filter required for longer exposure times?

First I've heard of that.

I wouldn't be surprised if it was hard on the old film SLR's, but I would bet that with 'modern' cameras, it's a non-issue.

I have heard about sensors getting overloaded during long exposures. I must have read it on a photography forum but don't recall where. I would be curious to know for sure. I would think with a full format camera there should be no problem.

jameseroni wrote:Just getting into this.... is it true that it's hard on the sensor in the camera if the exposure is greater than 5 minutes? Is a special filter required for longer exposure times?

I think the issue with long exposures in low light photography tends to be excessive noise. I'm guessing that's why people stack several shorter exposures to create star trails.
Leaving the sensor exposed for extended periods in daylight can overheat the sensor and cause image degradation. I have experienced this when shooting in live view for too long.

I don't use any filters at night...my good lens only opens up to f4, so I need all the light I can get.

Yep, although sensor noise does not mean that the sensor is damaged, just that it is "hot."

I would not be concerned unless your long exposure is shooting at the sun...

Thought I'd post my most recent nightscape - a 360 pano of the Milky Way and a cabin near Grand Mesa, Colorado.


Milky Way and the Grand Mesa cabin by Matt-Payne, on Flickr

Fantastic pictures. Matt Payne, yours are truly incredible. I am starting to take night sky pictures and I was just wondering what kind of settings/shutter speeds you use. I have taken a few but all I can see is the big dipper. Any pointers? I will try to post my picture.

shaberer0511 wrote:Fantastic pictures. Matt Payne, yours are truly incredible. I am starting to take night sky pictures and I was just wondering what kind of settings/shutter speeds you use. I have taken a few but all I can see is the big dipper. Any pointers? I will try to post my picture.

Thanks.

You need a tripod for starters.

You also need a decent camera and lens. The lower the f stop the better (on the lens). I use a f/2.8 lens for most my night shots... with 30 second exposures... ISO 800-3200.

Thanks! I will give that a shot. I have a Sony DSLR camera with two lenses ranging from 18-200 mm.

Would a lense with an fstop of 4 be low enough to get a decent shot? Or should I try to get to the 2.8 range.

letourneau41 wrote:Would a lense with an fstop of 4 be low enough to get a decent shot? Or should I try to get to the 2.8 range.

You can do that, but ideally f 2.8

This has some great info that should get you started to help you think in terms of f and shutter speed and ISO (the exposure triangle).

http://theamusing.com/photography/startrails.html/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I shot this Sunday 8/20 from the Grays Peak trail head:



f/5.6 (not sure why I wasn't using something lower...)
30 second exposure
ISO 6400

Its not the greatest, but its not bad for only my second night out. I'd love some feedback/suggestions for improvements, though.