[Partagas]

Hi there I have a 15mm limited now, im loving the focal length, nice and wide.

But how do I get the starburst effect from the sun and lights?

Cheers

Partagas

[Kona]

I got my first success at it a few days ago, at f/11. You have to close down quite a lot to get it. Which means you need to expose properly for whatever lights you're capturing. It's not difficult, but it took me a few tries to pull off.

[halfspin]

The key is a nice clean atmosphere. The lightest cloud cover or haze will thwart them.

[JinDesu]

Shoot F11+. My DA 21 will get starbursts under the right conditions at F8. Making the aperture smaller will increase the size of the starbursts. Only lights that are in focus will generate starbursts. While F11 on a DA 15 has a deep depth of field, it still helps to aim your focus for the regions where you want the starburst to pop out. Bright conditions can make it hard to starburst - you want an exposure where your light source is brighter than it's surroundings. Exposure bracketing can help to shoot multiple exposures and see which looks best.

[Rondec]

You have to be stopped down a little bit (at least f5.6, preferrably f8). Also, as other mentioned, you have to have a strong, unobstructed light source. If the sun is partially behind a cloud or it is hazy, then the sun won't star burst.

[Kozlok]

The light source must be very bright and distinct. Here's one from a humid day, no starburst, even though I was at the perfect f11 (although the starburs is ALMOST there!):




And on a blue sky day, a miraculous starburst @ f8:



And this one is interesting, in the clear, lower part of the sky, the starburst is very pronounced, while in the cloudy upper sky, almost none @f8.

[mikeSF]

i agree with the previous comments, especially that it is better if nothing is blocking the sun. keep practicing and underexposing a little helps with the definition of the center and spikes.

[Partagas]

Loevely samples and helpful responses

Ok I think my problem was the haze around here

Will try again over the next week when im overseas

Thanks

[robbiec]

DA15 @ f/16 (is that cheating? )

[bass3587]

I just learned something new! Thanks everyone!

[Partagas]

DA15 @ f/16 (is that cheating? )

its never cheating when you get the results you deserve (or create)

[reeftool]

Stopping down usually brings them out. One of the reasons I love the DA 15 for car shows are the starbursts. All that shiny paint on a sunny day can be brutal with some lenses but the DA 15 puts a starburst at almost every hot spot. These were shot at f/10 according to the exif.

[scratchpaddy]

Great samples, everyone! Yes, stopping down is key. Since I don't have this lens yet, my inferiority complex wants me to point out that it's not the only lens you can get lovely starbursts with. Try it with any lens stopped way down, and you might be surprised.

I got some good results with my cheap-o Tamron 70-300 even on a hazy Atlanta evening (@ f/18, but I don't think it's necessary to go quite that far):

[Sandy Hancock]

F/8.0 is perfectly adequate if conditions are good.



And like others have said, f/11 won't get you there if there is cloud about. But remember you can get good shots without starbursts.

[JimJohnson]

To do this easily you can buy starburst filters. You can also often create them in post processing. But for a really cheap experiment, stretch a section of white or nude woman's nylon stocking over the lens' front element. You will get starbursts off most point light sources.