Nikon SLR Cameras

Can we do Star Trail photography with the Nikon D3200?

Guest
Guest

I really want to shoot the night sky.
I have read about star trail photography and it seems I have a particular attraction towards star trail photography. I bought the Nikon D3200 HDSLR camera but I don't know how to shoot the above types of photography with this camera.
Is there an inbuilt function or do I need other camera accessories or a laptop may be? Please specify the requirements to shoot these type of photography.

Guest
Guest

Your DSLR is capable of star trail photos. In fact every DSLR is.

The easiest way to do star trails is to take multiple 30 second exposures, and merge them in stacking software, or in an image editor.

Here's a tutorial: http://petapixel.com/2013/03/18/how-to-photograph-star-trails-from-start-to-finish/ that covers just about everything you need to know.

jimbo
jimbo

Yeah, I have a D3200. Like BK said, you can take 30sec exposures continually for a couple of hours and then stack them. You will need to download free software from startrails.com You put all your pics into there and it will merge them all together.
Otherwise, you can set your shutter speed to Bulb mode and then do a single long exposure. This is apparently not good for the sensor though, because it heats up. Either way, you need to buy an intervalometer or remote control so you can set the exposures (you can't really sit there with your finger on the button for 2 hours). Heres one I did with my D3200Can we do Star Trail photography with the Nikon D3200 - 1

deep blue2
deep blue2

Yes. Yes you can.

1. Camera on tripod.
2. Set exposure to M (manual) and set shutter speed to 30secs.
3. Using your kit lens, set the focal length to 18mm and the aperture to f3.5.
4. Set the ISO to 100 and make sure any Auto ISO feature is OFF.
5. Focus the lens to infinity and then switch to manual focus.
6. Set the self timer to 2 secs.
7. Take a shot, when the exposure is finished, take another.
8. Rinse & repeat with taking shots until you have a couple of hundred.

This method means you won't have to buy a remote release or intervalometer.

Stack the exposures using this free software;
http://www.startrails.de/html/software.html

Make sure you're in an area where the light pollution is low otherwise you'll likely get over exposed skies.

Guest
25.05.2017
Guest

Hi do you have noise reduction on or off?

Guest
16.11.2017
Guest

Much easier with film.