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Shooting star timelapse

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[J_Gasper]
Posts: 2983 - Karma: 1,594
So yesterday was my first attempt at shooting a timelapse of the stars. Then I realized its a lot harder then it looks. I had my shutter at 8 seconds, f/4.0? And took a picture every 10 seconds. For some reason, the intervalometer couldn't keep up and the LCD on the camera kept saying BUSY. I was shooting such a long shutter because anything lower then that I couldn't really see the stars to well. Does anyone reccomend certain settings? Do I need to space out the time of the amount of pictures I take to every 20-30 seconds? Thanks and of course +K for help
Feb 25 2012 9:40AM
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Mkvackay
Posts: 1903 - Karma: 5,460
this is what i do,

i almost always have my shutter open for 30 seconds (sometimes 25), and then have my intervalometer close the shutter for 1 second, then reopen for another 30. so basically your camera is working nonstop.

but the nice thing about star timelapses is, yes, it takes a long time, but if you shoot for two hours, you only shoot ~250-300 photos.

any star timelapse I have done in the past have been done using this technique. works well for me
Feb 25 2012 9:49AM
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[J_Gasper]
Posts: 2983 - Karma: 1,594
^word. Thanks for the quick response. Im gonna try that tonight. Do you ever have problems with your intervalometer skipping takes? Also, how long do you usually shoot for to get a considerable movement with the stars?
Feb 25 2012 9:58AM
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Mkvackay
Posts: 1903 - Karma: 5,460
no never have a problem. although since there is no battery meter on mine i usually keep an extra battery lying around, because if its low it can skip and do weird things.

and my "rule of thumb" personally is two hours minimum.
Feb 25 2012 10:06AM
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[J_Gasper]
Posts: 2983 - Karma: 1,594
^ alright thanks much. If you need to switch batteries will you notice it in the timelapse?
Feb 25 2012 10:14AM
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Mkvackay
Posts: 1903 - Karma: 5,460
probably. but i've never run out of battery when shooting stars, because the camera is only taking less than 300 photos, and keeping the shutter open for 30 seconds takes as much battery as keeping it open for 1 second
Feb 25 2012 10:17AM
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[J_Gasper]
Posts: 2983 - Karma: 1,594
Oh alright. Makes sense. Thanks for the help. +k
Feb 25 2012 10:32AM
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