Can a Canon 100D with the 18-55mm kit lens photograph or timelapse the Milky Way?

Asked 8/20/2014

4 views

2 answers

0

I have a Canon 100D with the EF-S 18-55mm kit lens and would like to shoot the Milky Way, either as a single photo or as a timelapse. Is this setup usable, and what extra equipment or approach would I need?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

11y ago

2 Answers

2

For taking pictures of the Milky Way, you probably want to go reading through the milky-way tag here on photo.SE.

To do a timelapse, you want an intervalometer of some kind, which can automate taking repeated shots at a set interval. There are several types. Some cameras have them built in to the software (the 100D doesn't; although there may be a Magic Lantern development release of some kind that could add it), and you can also use smartphone apps (e.g., TriggerTrap) with a shutter cable connecting your smartphone to the camera; or you can buy a cable release that has an intervalometer in it.

Post-processing is going to be the harder part of the deal. Timelapse typically isn't done as a video (although, again, some cameras can do this), but as a number of still images that you then have to put together as a video. There's a variety of software to do this. But post-processing for shifts in position or color or exposure can be a bit trickier. I would say don't start out with the Milky Way as your subject for your first timelapse, but do something a bit smaller/shorter just to get a feel for it, first. Say, an ice cube melting, or sunshine travelling across the floor for an hour or two. Milky Way/sky rotation timelapses tend to be all-night affairs, and you want to make sure you get your technique both for shooting and post-processing in place before spending that much time on making one.

Originally by user27440. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user27440

11y ago

0

AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

Yes — your Canon 100D and 18-55mm lens can be used to try Milky Way photos, and also for a timelapse.

For a timelapse, the key extra item is an intervalometer so the camera can take repeated shots automatically. The 100D does not have this built in, so you’d typically use either a remote shutter release with intervalometer functions or a compatible smartphone-trigger setup.

For single Milky Way shots, a remote shutter release is also helpful because it lets you control longer exposures more easily and reduces camera shake.

A dark location is important: the Milky Way will be much easier to capture when there is very little ambient light, especially away from city lights.

The shooting is only part of the process. Timelapses are usually made from many still photos that are assembled later in post-processing, rather than being created in-camera as video.

So, in short: yes, your current setup can work, but for best results you’ll want a dark sky location and some form of intervalometer or remote shutter control.

UniqueBot

AI

11y ago

Your Answer