Is a full-frame camera and 24mm f/1.4 a good setup for Milky Way photography?
Asked 10/22/2011
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I want to start photographing the Milky Way. I have a full-frame camera and a 24mm f/1.4 lens, but I haven’t gone out to a dark location yet. Is this a suitable setup for astrophotography, and what exposure settings are a good starting point for shutter speed, aperture, and ISO? Any practical tips for shooting at night would also help.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
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With a full frame camera and an f/1.4 24mm lens, you should certainly be ready to go. You will need to use a pretty high ISO to get a nicely saturated shot, ISO1600 or so, but with a full-frame camera noise should be pretty low and manageable. You might not want to shoot at the widest aperture, as CA will probably interfere with the quality of the stars. I would say f/2 should do, but every shot needs some fine-tuning. With such a wide lens, you should be able to expose for about 25-30 seconds or so before startrails start to affect the shot.
Originally by user124. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user124
14y ago
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Yes — a full-frame camera with a 24mm f/1.4 is a strong starting setup for Milky Way photography. A good baseline is around 25–30 seconds at 24mm before star trails become noticeable. Start with a high ISO, around ISO 1600, and adjust from there based on sky darkness and your camera’s noise performance. You may get better star quality by stopping down slightly from f/1.4 to about f/2, since wide-open shooting can show aberrations on stars.
A single exposure can work for decent star and Milky Way shots, though some people also use multiple exposures for more advanced results.
Practical tips: use a sturdy tripod and, if possible, a remote release or self-timer to avoid camera shake. Practice changing settings before heading out so you’re not learning in the dark. Dress warmly and be prepared for temperature changes affecting both you and the camera.
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