astrophotography with a wee camera

Thu, Oct 11, 2012

I've been messing around with the Sony DSC-HX9V in anticipation of the northern lights reappearing and took it out last night to get the exposure for photographing stars. Seems the best setting is ISO 800, 30s and f3.3 (the widest angle), with a 2s self timer to make sure the camera doesn't shake when it takes the picture. Going above 800 makes it more grainy so you have to reduce the exposure time. 1600 at 10s seemed to be good for picking out the brightest stars but 800@30s gave the most pleasing pictures. Not too many stars. Just about right. The first pic shows Cassiopeia high above Perseus with the Pleiades just coming up above the horizon. The second pic is the Plough.

I think ISO 1600, 30s, f3.3 is quite good too, although you lose the definitions of the constellations but you make up for it with the sheer number of stars and colours you can capture. Plus it shows some of the landscape too. I think I may use this setting when bivvying or camping on the tops. The next two pics are the same areas of the sky but 1600@30s.