More than a camera a tripod is a must. you also need control of the f-stop and appature controls (which is usually not possable on regular cameras digital or other). Long exposures are about the only way you'll get anything good from the night sky....
This is not the most detailed information, but if you take that to someone who knows cameras better, they'll be able top help you out easily...
You need a camera with adjustable f-stop and shutter speeds. You can pick up an old, used SLR from a camera store, probably. You need a shutter speed that goes longer than 1 second: if it has a "bulb exposure" or "B" setting for shutter speed, you've found the right camera.
A tripod is also a must, and a cable shutter release is a plus. The cable release will help keep the camera from shaking if your exposures go longer than 1 second.
In fact, buying an old SLR might be the best way to get these photos, because digital photos of the night sky are not as easy to make. Film is really the best option. When you take your film for processing, try to find a professional lab because a lot of 1-hour photo places will mess up the exposures on your prints. This article says digital is better, but since it behaves more like slide film, I'm not so sure. Try what you think is best. You can always scan your negatives somewhere and Photoshop the reciprocity failure out.
Shooting the night sky is tough, I could never do it very well.
This is good information. I'm writing a Fulbright proposal to spend a year in Norway writing a graphic novel. The city were I'm to be living is inside the Aurora belt and will be in total darkness for four months while I'm there. There is night sky phenomena the likes of which none of us have every seen in Michigan, Chicago, or Korea. I'm trying to find as many ways as possible of capturing this.
that's fantastic! If you can get a digital and a film camera, it might be the best way to do it. If you get a good amount of funding for it, you might consider shooting video, too. Bring lots of extra batteries, the cold will eat them up!
here's another link. You've probably been researching it yourself. I've never shot nor seen such phenomena, but it sounds like a great idea and I hope you can do it!
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This is not the most detailed information, but if you take that to someone who knows cameras better, they'll be able top help you out easily...
good luck.
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A tripod is also a must, and a cable shutter release is a plus. The cable release will help keep the camera from shaking if your exposures go longer than 1 second.
In fact, buying an old SLR might be the best way to get these photos, because digital photos of the night sky are not as easy to make. Film is really the best option. When you take your film for processing, try to find a professional lab because a lot of 1-hour photo places will mess up the exposures on your prints. This article says digital is better, but since it behaves more like slide film, I'm not so sure. Try what you think is best. You can always scan your negatives somewhere and Photoshop the reciprocity failure out.
Shooting the night sky is tough, I could never do it very well.
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