The Crown of Arch Rock

JimFox

JimFox

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From a few weeks back on my 3 nighter Milky Way journey to Joshua Tree National Park. I love the Milky Way, I love the Night sky even without the Milky Way. And then throw in that I am trying to grow my YouTube channel, and most of my subscribers like Milky Ways, I have been making a concerted point to be able to spend 3 or 4 nights every new moon capturing timelapses (from individual photos) of the Milky Way, from Sunset to Sunrise.

This was the 2nd of 3 nights. I was operating on just a 2 hour nap in 48 hours, but that's the life of a Milky Way photographer. :)

You are viewing Arch Rock near the White Tank Campground. That is the only campground left in Joshua Tree that is first come first served. So I was there at 9am and was able to get my favorite campsite, it's right at the start of the short trail to Arch Rock. So it's super convenient. I also met @AaronRashid there, when he came up during the night to photograph the Milky Way.

This is a single shot as most of mine are. No stacking or multiple images. Taken with my very favorite combo, the Nikon D850 and Sigma 14mm f1.8. Sometimes I couldn't use it, as my D850 was pulling double duty as it was also my Deep Space Astro camera. But now that I have bought a dedicated Astro camera, the ASI2600mc Pro, I no longer have to shed a tear when I am doing my timelapses but I couldn't use my D850. I had even thought about buying a used D850, so I could have a full time D850 again. It was a major factor in deciding it was time to get an astro camera. The cost of the astro camera was about the same price as a used D850, so I thought that was a better use of my money. :)

Enough blabbing..... sorry... :)

Nikon D850
Sigma 14mm f1.8
25 secs
ISO 3200
f2.0
Single image
Very minimal processing.

All comments are welcome,

Jim

PS. I really kind of like how this one turned out. I know I am putting out a lot of Milky Way images since they are a huge emphasis of mine, but this might be my favorite one this year. It took almost no processing, which is always nice. :)

PSS. But if you have any suggestions, please feel free to share them.

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TimMc

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Great photo. I read comments that some are having trouble seeing the Milky Way in live view on the rear screen on Nikon Z cameras. How well do you see it on the 850?
 
Ben Egbert

Ben Egbert

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Jim. I agree this is probably your best to date. I really like the overall brightness and the way the MW follows the curve of the rocks. The minimal light pollution (probably masked by the rocks) and the rock details make this one.

So this was taken with minimal ambient light on the rocks and you pulled this light level out at f2, ISO3200 25 seconds?
 
JimFox

JimFox

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Staff member
TimMc said:
Great photo. I read comments that some are having trouble seeing the Milky Way in live view on the rear screen on Nikon Z cameras. How well do you see it on the 850?
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Hey Tim, I appreciate that.

As for your question, I don't use LiveView. That's my old school guy coming out. :) Now on Play back to review an image on the Rear Display, you can see the Milky Way. I don't think Live View could accurately represent a 25 second exposure on any camera really. I guess I haven't been paying much attention, but I hadn't heard of that issue before. Who is having trouble seeing the Milky Way in LiveView? And just off the top of my head, I would have to say I wouldn't expect to be able to see the Milky Way very well in Live View. If you are in a dark sky site, like Joshua Tree, I would think you could faintly make it out. Live View isn't a 25 sec exposure, so I wouldn't think you could.

Interesting question Tim, something I hadn't even heard or thought about until right now.
 
AaronRashid

AaronRashid

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This turned out incredible Jim! It’s so vivid and detailed! I’m going to be heading back up to Joshua tree next week for more astro stuff.
 
Josh Dye

Josh Dye

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Great shot Jim! Curious though? Why’d you choose to shoot f2.0 on the 1.8 lens? Is it to reduce star distortion issues?
 
JimFox

JimFox

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Staff member
Josh Dye said:
Great shot Jim! Curious though? Why’d you choose to shoot f2.0 on the 1.8 lens? Is it to reduce star distortion issues?
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Thank you so much Josh!

I used to shoot it at f1.8 stars look great! I started going to f2.0 when I picked up the Samyang f2.0 for the Sony A6400 just so they both would have the exact same exposure. I guess in reality f1.8 or f2.0 won’t make much difference in light so I could shoot it at f1.8 still, it’s just I am about detail and consistency from my engineering background, so I like having them the same exposure.🤣
 
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TimMc

Well-Known Member
Jim the live view discussion was on DPReview Complicating the issue was the use of an f4 lens and probably, but not acknowledged the closing down of all lens on the z system to f5.6 until shutter release
 
JimFox

JimFox

Moderator
Staff member
TimMc said:
Jim the live view discussion was on DPReview Complicating the issue was the use of an f4 lens and probably, but not acknowledged the closing down of all lens on the z system to f5.6 until shutter release
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How interesting. I guess since I don't use Live View it would be a non-issue for me. But the little I have used LiveView on my D850, I wouldn't expect a 25 second long exposure to be accurately represented in real time on a Live View display anyway. There is only so much they can amplify the signal I would think.

Did anyone demonstrate any other models of cameras being able to display accurately a 25 second long exposure on their LiveView display in real time? Canon has been way ahead of the curve on LiveView displays for years now, so maybe the R5 could? But man, that would seem to be a hard thing to do to get a display that is constantly updated to some how in that instant update gather the same amount of light that would be gathered in a 25 second exposure.

Was there ever a conclusion to that discussion? Or is it on going?
 
JimFox

JimFox

Moderator
Staff member
Ben Egbert said:
Jim. I agree this is probably your best to date. I really like the overall brightness and the way the MW follows the curve of the rocks. The minimal light pollution (probably masked by the rocks) and the rock details make this one.

So this was taken with minimal ambient light on the rocks and you pulled this light level out at f2, ISO3200 25 seconds?
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Hey Ben, I am glad you like it.

This was taken with No ambient light, the sliver of a moon had set hours earlier. I don't really know what to say except that the Nikon D850 must have some magic going on inside it. :) I actually darkened the ground layer from my initial Raw conversion as it was looking too bright, almost like a day time shot. That's how good the Nikon D850 and Sigma 14mm combo is.
 
T

TimMc

Well-Known Member
JimFox said:
How interesting. I guess since I don't use Live View it would be a non-issue for me. But the little I have used LiveView on my D850, I wouldn't expect a 25 second long exposure to be accurately represented in real time on a Live View display anyway. There is only so much they can amplify the signal I would think.

Did anyone demonstrate any other models of cameras being able to display accurately a 25 second long exposure on their LiveView display in real time? Canon has been way ahead of the curve on LiveView displays for years now, so maybe the R5 could? But man, that would seem to be a hard thing to do to get a display that is constantly updated to some how in that instant update gather the same amount of light that would be gathered in a 25 second exposure.

Was there ever a conclusion to that discussion? Or is it on going?
Click to expand...
Canon and Sony were listed as giving a better live view . The discussion was only about mirrorless so the live view of the 850 was not included. Eventually the push came towards needing more than an f4 lens for astro work, no matter which camera.
 
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