How can I photograph the Milky Way without star trails, and can I do it with a Nikon D50 and 18-55mm kit lens?
Asked 9/26/2022
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I’ve seen Milky Way photos where the stars look sharp instead of turning into streaks during long exposures. When I shoot 30 seconds or longer on my DSLR, I get trails. I’m looking for ways to avoid that, preferably without relying on heavy editing or compositing. Is this possible with a Nikon D50 and the 18-55mm kit lens, and what setup or technique is usually used?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
3y ago
2 Answers
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You would typically use an equatorial tracking mount. This is a motorized mount that tracks the apparent movement of the sky. The inexpensive systems run about USD 400. You can get an idea of what is offered at the BH Photo web site. Another technique is piggy backing the camera to a telescope with a tracking mount which is what I do when others/organizations allow me to do so. Typically, you set up the mount so it is approximately aligned (about 0.5° off) with the Pole Star.
The D50 coupled with the 18-55 kit lens isn't the best system for astro photos, but you can have fun with it if you have a tracking mount. For good results, you will need to take multiple images and stack them using a program like Sequator. There are better and more confusing astro stacking programs out there, but Sequator is relatively easy to use. Stacking will allow you to reduce camera image noise. Also, the features in an astro stacking program allow you to remove other artifacts which detract from the image.
Originally by user98537. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user98537
3y ago
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Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
To keep stars from streaking in long exposures, the usual solution is an equatorial tracking mount. It moves the camera to match the sky’s apparent motion, allowing much longer exposures with sharper stars. Another option is mounting the camera on a telescope setup that already has tracking.
Without tracking, star trails are expected once exposures get too long, especially at longer focal lengths. A wider lens helps because trails are less noticeable, but it won’t fully solve the problem for very long exposures.
Yes, you can experiment with a Nikon D50 and 18–55mm kit lens, but it’s not an ideal astro setup. You can still have fun and learn with it, especially if you use the lens at its widest setting and pair it with a tracking mount.
For stronger results, many astrophotographers also shoot multiple shorter frames and stack them in software such as Sequator. That isn’t the same as making fake composites; it’s a standard way to improve detail and reduce noise while keeping stars sharp.
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