Settings Breakdown
Lower ISO than Milky Way shots since you're stacking many exposures. ISO 400-800 provides good star brightness while keeping noise manageable.
Wide aperture captures bright star trails. f/2.8 gathers plenty of light in each frame. Stopping down slightly improves sharpness across the frame.
Stack method: Take 30-second exposures continuously for 1-2 hours. Stack in software for smooth trails. Single exposure: Bulb mode for 30-60 minutes.
Focus on stars using Live View magnification before starting. Stars must be sharp points. Once focused, don't touch — tape focus ring if needed.
Programs camera to shoot continuously. Set 30-second exposures with 1-second intervals. Camera fires automatically for hours while you wait.
Point toward Polaris (North Star) for concentric circles. Southern hemisphere: point toward south celestial pole. Stars rotate around these points.
Pro Tips
Use Stacking Software
StarStax (free) or Photoshop handles stacking. Use "Lighten" blend mode to combine all frames. The software does the heavy lifting automatically.
Disable Long Exposure NR
In-camera noise reduction doubles exposure time, creating gaps in trails. Disable it. Handle noise reduction in post-processing instead.
Watch for Dew
Lenses fog during long sessions. Use a lens heater or hand warmer to keep the front element clear. Check periodically for condensation.
Bring Extra Batteries
Two hours of shooting drains batteries fast. Keep spares warm in your pocket and swap when needed. Don't let the camera die mid-sequence.
Light Paint Foreground
Take a separate exposure for foreground lit with flashlight or during blue hour. Composite with star trails for best foreground detail.
Avoid Airplane Gaps
Planes create streak interruptions. Either accept them or remove affected frames from your stack. More frames = more trail gaps to fix.