The GetDPI Photography Forum

Great to see you here. Join our insightful photographic forum today and start tapping into a huge wealth of photographic knowledge. Completing our simple registration process will allow you to gain access to exclusive content, add your own topics and posts, share your work and connect with other members through your own private inbox! And don’t forget to say hi!

Astrophotography - time to start an argument over what is "best".

It is a truism that if you as ten "Experts" what is the best solution, you will
get 13-answers - and Photograhy is no exception.

Of late, I have taken an interest in Astrophotography, and have watched dozens
of YouTube videos & read almost as many articles/blogs about what is the "best"
set of mechanics - aperture, "Rule of 600 vs. 500", ISO, camera, and even CCD
vs. CMOS. The end observation; if you do not do it the author's way, you are
doing it wrong.

Pause for a moment, and realize that I just described every "expert" debate on
every photography top, and I did not even have to use the ridiculously over
used, and little understood word "bokeh". Side note; I never want to hear or
read that word again.

I will not waste your time by listing all the contradictory methods I have been
told in the past month, but I would like to raise a few that defy convention.
In the end, I would like to separate true knowledge & skill at Astrophotography,
verses the novice advice which is pure convenience.

Aperture - most "experts" would have you believe that f/1.4 is the best aperture
to use, yet for everyone advocating that, we all can site 10, or even 50 reasons
NOT to use f/1.4 in any photography other than portraiture. Most articles state
that you should NEVER use anything slower than f/2.8, yet I have seen some
amazing images shot at f/4 or slower. Also, in the Medium Format section of
this forum, there was a raging argument about coma that invalidates every bit of
the "f/1.4 camp's rational". I could go on, and on.

Rule of 600 vs. 500 - beyond the arguments being simply stupid, they follow the
same pattern of - UV filter vs. no filter, Canon vs. Nikon, DSLR vs. Mirrorless,
Digital vs. Film, Prime vs. Zoom, and Democrat vs. Republican. Neither choice
has any more scientific merit verses the other one, and 99-times out of 100, is
solely based upon who told them (you) first about the topic, & what their belief
was.

ISO - this is the most debatable of all. Camera manufacturers have sold the
consumer market on two absolute must haves - High Megapixels counts & High ISO.
Most, if not the vast majority of articles/blogs, preach the sermon of High ISO
- 10,000 or 12,800 or even 25,600, and all the while using f/2.8. Yet, 4 of the
5-real "Experts" I consider knowledge on this topic use ISO 1600 or only on
occasion 3200. The one sensible thing each talks about is noise, and what is
their true motivator is their ISO choice.

Camera choice - I am going to stop with the point that most debates get down to
DSLR vs. Mirrorless. See my point about "Rule of 600 vs. 500" above.

So, what is the purpose of this length preamble?

If Astrophotography is something you do with consistency, can you tell me your
reasons for why you chose your choices, for either the results or the
compromises. And please, do not insult us by using the phrase "...personal
choice", because I find that to be a very pedestrian response from people who
have stop pursuing knowledge, and have simply taken a short cut.
 

bensonga

Well-known member
Hi James,

I know there are a few folks here who have shared some very good astro photos. Most that I have seen posted here are what might be called wide or rich field views of the Milky Way etc.

For the opinions of people that are really focused on digital astrophotography with DSLR and mirrorless still cameras (ie not dedicated CCD cooled astro cameras, web cams or digital video, all of which can create excellent images), you might want to ask your questions on this group also (if you haven't been there already):

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/digital_astro/info

I have followed the discussions and images posted there intermittently for many years. There are some very skilled astro photographers in this group.

Gary Benson
Eagle River, AK
Visual observations only...through some very big scopes.
 

Shashin

Well-known member
I would also try the Cloudy Nights forum: http://www.cloudynights.com/forum/74-astrophotography-and-sketching/

But a piece of friendly advice, I would not end your pitch by insulting people. Actually, personal choice plays a big part, and it is not because of people do not pursue knowledge. It can be because they know the gear takes you so far. You need knowledge so you are not at the mercy of the gear. But I am happy to send you to Cloudy Nights. Lots of talented astrophotographers other there, but an attitude won't get you far.
 
Top