Night Sky Photography Settings

1. Set the camera to manual exposure mode.
2. Use a wide angle lens zoomed out for the widest view.
3. Set the aperture all the way open (smallest f/stop number).
4. Using the attached 500 Rule Chart find the shutter speed for your camera/lens and set your shutter speed there.
5. Set your ISO to between 1600 and 3200 to start.
6. Set your lens to manual focus.
7. Adjust the focus ring to its infinity setting. You can consult your lens manufacturer web site, or the owner’s manual for this. Or another way is to sit with your camera (set the aperture open all the way when doing this) and take test shots of something about 30 feet away and then review the image on your camera, using the review – zoom function and keep testing until you find that exact spot for your lens where its set for infinity, then make some mark or note or whatever so that when you’re out in the field at night you know where to set it, manually to infinity.
8. Put camera on tripod
9. Prepare your shutter release.
10. Compose your shot and start shooting. Try all sorts of variants: horizon in the middle, horizon near the bottom, etc.
11. Be sure to use the vertical orientation as well.
12. I find that ISO 2000 to ISO 4000 is the norm, adjust and review for what’s best for you.
13. Composing a new scene, go through the same steps:
    1. Horizontal orientation – bracket several shots with different ISO
    2. Vertical orientation – using different ISO
    3. Look for foreground objects to incorporate into the shot.
14. Periodically check your manual focus ring to see if its still set where you want it, sometimes it gets moved when you recompose your shot.

For star trails, set the ISO at 100. Using a timer or a cable release, take a 20 minute exposure. Point at the North Star for circles, away for lines.

THE 500 RULE FOR NIGHTTIME EXPOSURE