Can a consumer camera capture good aurora photos?
Asked 8/23/2012
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2 answers
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I know aurora photography is difficult because the lights are dim and also move, so long exposures can cause blur while shorter exposures can get very noisy. On inexpensive compact cameras, the lens is often slower and high ISO performance is limited compared with a DSLR or mirrorless camera. Are there any practical techniques for getting decent aurora photos with a consumer-grade camera, or are the limits of small-sensor cameras and slow lenses too restrictive?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
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Starting with the required DLSR settings to take an aurora photo and working back, we can see what would be needed for a compact camera to capture such a picture.
A clear aurora photo would use an exposure of around 5-10s at f/4 with ISO 1600 - this is obviously dependent on the intensity of the aurora, so is only a guide.
If you apply the limits found on most compacts, you can manipulate the figures to see what would be required. So, if the highest feasible ISO value is 800 (without excessive noise), you would need to increase the shutter speed to between 10s and 20s to obtain the same exposure value. Equally, if the widest aperture is f/5.6, you would need to go even further to around 20s or longer. This, however, is entering into the 'too long' category, which as you rightly say would result in too much movement to get a clear picture.
So you'd need to check what your camera is capable of. Using the guideline exposure above, calculate the shutter speed needed based on the highest usable ISO and widest aperture on your camera, and decide for yourself whether it would work.
Originally by user456. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user456
13y ago
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Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes, but only within limits. A typical starting point for a clear aurora photo is about 5–10 seconds, around f/4, at ISO 1600, depending on how bright the aurora is.
The problem with many compact cameras is that they usually have both a slower maximum aperture and poorer high-ISO performance. If your camera is limited to ISO 800, you may need roughly 10–20 seconds for the same exposure. If the lens only opens to about f/5.6, you may need 20 seconds or more. At that point, aurora movement is likely to blur.
So the main “trick” is using the shortest exposure that still gives enough light, but a consumer compact may simply hit its limits before getting a sharp, clean result. A tripod and manual control help, but they do not overcome a slow lens and noisy sensor.
In short: a consumer camera can photograph brighter aurora displays, but for consistently sharp, detailed aurora images, better low-light performance and a faster lens make a big difference.
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