Does the Nikon D3000 have a setting for time lapse photos (like star trails)?
Does the Nikon D3000 have a setting for time lapse photos (like star trails)?
I'm not familiar with Nikon cameras (I'm a Canon girl), but I think that Nikon, too, lets you download the manuals for their camera from their website. That way, you can study it carefully before you buy it, or you can download it in case you already own the camera but lost your book.
For star trails you'll need a tripod and a locking remote. Place your camera in Manual and turn the AF to Off. Select "B" (Bulb) on your shutter speed. This allows you to keep the shutter open as long as you want. ISO 100 should be sufficient. Read this:
http://www.danheller.com/star-trails
This is a long exposure not time lapse, the D3000 is a 'crippled' entry level Nikon, you need a remote shutter socket to fit a cable release that they don't have.
Time lapse is when you take multiple frames a few seconds apart, when you load the frames into a video editor and play them back it speeds up time. You can't do that on a D3000 either for the same reason you need a remote release socket.
It's a shutter time setting called Bulb (B) which allows the shutter to remain open as long as you want (or wish to). All dSLR's have it.
To effectively use "bulb" mode in the D3000, you need to buy an optional ML-L3 infrared remote. They are not expensive, about $14 US from Nikon. The D3000, being an entry level camera does not have provision for a wired remote - but the IR remote will work in this situation.
The way bulb mode works is you have to depress the shutter and hold it down for as long as you want the shutter to be open; up to 30 minutes. It is all but impossible to hold your finger on the shutter that long, and not jiggle the camera - even on a tripod.
By using the remote (you have to put the camera into IR remote mode), you can use the ML-L3 remote to open then close the shutter. Using this remote, you depress it once, and the shutter will open and remain open (for up to 30 minutes). When you depress it a second time, the shutter will close. This alleviates the need to hold the shutter down for that period of time, and will allow you to get the star trails you are wanting to photograph.
When you use "bulb" mode (only available from Manual) and the IR remote, some Nikons display "TIME" rather than "BULB" for the shutter speed, and some display "- -".It depends on the model. When it displays Time or - -, you know the IR remote is setup to control the shutter.
You will have to experiment with different shutter times, ISO, and apertures to get the correct exposure, but the results should be worth the effort.
At any rate, the maximum amount of time you can keep the shutter open on any Nikon amateur DSLR is 30 minutes as the sensor can overheat if left open longer.
http://www.althephoto.com
You mean does it have an intervalometer - no it doesn't.
The best way to take star trials is NOT to do a single long exposure, but to take many shorter exposures and stack them using free Startrails software;
http://www.startrails.de/html/software.html
To get a good 'trail' you need to stack in excess of 150 exposures!
You will need a tripod and a remote release ideally - Put the camera on ISO 100, about f5.6 or so and set shutter speed to 30 secs. Use the ML-L3 remote;
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5708417.htm?CMPID=GS001&_$ja=tsid:11527|cc:|prd:5708417|cat:photography+%2F+memory+cards%2C+bags+and+accessories+%2F+other+photographic+accessories+%2F
Alternatively, with just a tripod, set up the camera as above and use the self timer - this will reduce shake when you press the shutter button & avoids the need for a remote.