Another Question On Night Sky and Low Light Photography

Here is my lens: Nikon Zoom-Nikkor 18-105mm F/3.5-5.6 AF-S VR DX G ED Lens

I'll be going to some very remote areas in the southwest and want to take advantage of the non-light pollution. Any suggestions? I'm willing to pick up another lens if the price is right, I am on a budget of around 300. A good deal on a higher end used lens would work.

I've researched and it seems the lower the f stop the better. I'll be going to death valley which has about the best night sky in the US, and I'll also be up in the mountains. So I might switch lenses depending on if I want to zoom.

This forum has been great so far, THANKS.

nikonlion said:

Here is my lens: Nikon Zoom-Nikkor 18-105mm F/3.5-5.6 AF-S VR DX G ED Lens

I'll be going to some very remote areas in the southwest and want to take advantage of the non-light pollution. Any suggestions? I'm willing to pick up another lens if the price is right, I am on a budget of around 300. A good deal on a higher end used lens would work.

I've researched and it seems the lower the f stop the better. I'll be going to death valley which has about the best night sky in the US, and I'll also be up in the mountains. So I might switch lenses depending on if I want to zoom.

This forum has been great so far, THANKS.

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I'd suggest you consider the Nikon 35mm f/1.8G DX. It's about the only lens I remove my 18-105mm for on my '5100. It's a lens that would serve you well and not just in Death Valley.

It's also well within your budget, even buying new.

Another option is to rent a lens, depending how long you are away. I am saving for the Nikkor 24-70 f2.8. It is NOT cheap! But I would rather save and buy it once than buy multiple lenses hoping to serve a single purpose. If I dont have it before my next trip, which is unlikely, I will be renting it. A good chance to test drive it before making an outlay.

The 50mm is a great lens too but I find it better suited to portraits as I don't find it tack sharp, even stopped down a few from wide open - which sort of defeats the purpose of a fast lens for low light/night shots.

Yes I'm new to DSLRs but agree with Horoscope Fish I LOVE my 35mm f/1.8G DX Its amazing the light it can find in the darkness I wish it were a bit wider at times but at the price ($250 or so new) I'm finding myself using it a lot for all kinds of shots but taking it out a night to shoot the stars is my fav

nikonlion said:

I've researched and it seems the lower the f stop the better.

Click to expand...

Lower f numbers will have better light gathering, but at full open, the image will not be as sharp as an image a few stops higher.

To find the "sweet spot", fit a lens on and try it at different f numbers on the same scene, preferably focused at infinity.
If you wan't stars to be dots with no trails, you might need to use the lens fully open.

A remote release is essential.

You could justifably flame me. I don't know how I didn't encounter the Nikon 35mm f/1.8G DX with my googling. I've heard of people renting lenses, but at this price range I'd rather just buy.

I'm really new to photography. I bought my camera refurbished and my lens used. I've only put one lens on. Got any tips for "in the field" management of lens switching? Where I'm going will be plagued with dust. I can mitigate that some by changing lenses in my tent, but if dust gets in there I'd be lost on how to deal with it.

I'm planning printing off some instructions so when I'm in the field (and no internet) I can have them handy. Any and all suggestions are welcome, I'll post some pics when I return in a couple of weeks.

Rexer John said:

Lower f numbers will have better light gathering, but at full open, the image will not be as sharp as an image a few stops higher.

To find the "sweet spot", fit a lens on and try it at different f numbers on the same scene, preferably focused at infinity.
If you wan't stars to be dots with no trails, you might need to use the lens fully open.

A remote release is essential.

Click to expand...

I'll probably set the timer rather than buy a remote release. And I'd like to try both, dots and trails on the stars. I'll be trying some time lapse while I'm on the road.

Also, for the best quality it seems RAW is the recommended way to go. Thoughts on that? Although I am new I can handle some post production, I'm pretty tech savvy and I have the right computer and software.

Timer is a pain, ok for a few shots but the remote is cheap and easy.
I wouldn't go on a night shoot without it.

Rexer John said:

Timer is a pain, ok for a few shots but the remote is cheap and easy.
I wouldn't go on a night shoot without it.

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Alright, Alright, you talked me into it. I just ordered the lens and a timer.

I got this timer from Neewer, seems to have good reviews on Amazon:

I can't comment on that shutter release I have the nikon brand for my 7000 and its great so light and tiny only problem is its light and tiny LOL I'm certain you'll love the 35mm and you might find you use it more than you'd think and do less lens changes. In my 7000 I set my remote mirror up for less shake and Rexer John called my attention to setting the length of time before the camera shuts itself down in custom settings. My camera was preset to 1min and I was a bit frustrated when I tried doing something other than night skies Good luck with your new lens and shutter release

I'm actually against the 35mm 1.8 lens.

35mm on a D5100 is actually a 52.5mm lens (DX 1.5x crop factor). This limits your exposure time to 11.5 seconds before streaking occurs. The 1.8f aperture is not worth the trade off on the exposure time, and the 52.5mm focal length really cuts out a lot of the scenery.

I highly recommend the Tokina AT-X 116 PRO DX II. It has a focal length of 11mm-16mm (this is really a 16.5mm-24mm lens). This ensures long exposures and enables you to get a lot of scenery in. It also features an aperture of 2.8f which is better then the 3.5f you currently have.

-Wahugg

Wahugg said:

I'm actually against the 35mm 1.8 lens.

35mm on a D5100 is actually a 52.5mm lens (DX 1.5x crop factor).
-Wahugg

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​The 35mm is a DX lens. Crop factor does not apply.

Here is another vote for the 35mm that you bought.

Moab Man said:

​The 35mm is a DX lens. Crop factor does not apply. Here is another vote for the 35mm that you bought.

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From my understanding, all DX len's state the focal length in 35mm standard.

For example the kit lens he has is a DX lens, how ever it is not a true 18-105mm. It's really a 27mm-158mm. If he were to put the DX lens on an FX sensor, he would have extreme vignetting, but his focal length would be a true 18-105mm lens.

In the EXIF data for a DX camera, there is one line that states the focal point the camera took the photo at based on the lens setting, for example 18mm. Then directly beneath it, there is the 35mm equivalent focal point length which would have been 27.

-Wahugg

EDIT:



This photo was shot with a D5100 and the kit DX lens with a focal range of 18mm-55mm.

The red box shows that the lens was set to 55mm when the photo was taken.

The Row highlighted in blue shows the 35mm equivilent because the photo is being taken on a DX sensor. Just because a lens is DX doesn't mean the focal points listed on it are what you are actually shooting at. Unless stated otherwise, you have to remember the 1.5x crop sensor factor

Wow, lot of good information. I got to admit I'm not sure whether I made a good buy or not at this point. Kind of waiting to see if anyone counters Wahugg who seems to be very knowledgeable.

And for what it's worth, the lens Wahugg mentions is out of my price range currently but I'd still like to know more about this crop factor.

The 35mm lens is a great lens! I'm sure you'll find great use for it as it is incredibly sharp and well suited for lower light. However for star shooting, the longer focal length will really limit you on long exposures which you need. The longer focal length will also limit what kind of shots you can take, as you can't fit as much into it, and sometimes you can't back up enough to get the frame you want.

So you should be happy that you got a new lens for low light situations and for such a great price!

​-Wahugg

Thanks, my buyers remorse is fading. I'm not trying to shoot any particular star really. I'll be in Death Valley and last time I was there I remember the being able to see so deeply into space. I just want to capture that in a picture as much as possible (on a budget). So I guess it's more of a macro view I'm looking for. Also looking to do some time lapse. Any setting recommendations would be appreciated.

Regarding the time lapse. I want to do a sunrise. There's part of the trail up in the mountains where you can actually see twinkling from Las Vegas. I want to get that in with the sun rising. Obviously light will start off very low and then increase. Which of my lens should I use?

Nikonlion there is a topic for low light under the Learning Photography topic. There's lots of great info there. Yes there is always a better lens we wish we had but for that budget the 35mm will give you the thrill of capturing the night sky and it will also be handy to have in your bag for many other shots. I can capture the entire big dipper right now but just barely with my 35mm. I posted pics in low light a little while ago of my first northern lights shots no they're no pro shots but I was happy to capture and will continue to practice and learn. We have to start somewhere and I think you'll enjoy the thrill of waiting for that exposure to end and your photo to flash on your screen I know I do The 35mm and remote was a great purchase and you'll be happy

Checking it out now, thanks snaphappy. Saw the D5100 sub-forum and just jumped right in I guess.