K10D & Northern lights

Thule · 03-20-2008, 01:16 PM

Hi all,

I was disappointed to notice how low quality pictures of northern lights I was able to get with K10D + Pentax SMC-DA 16-45/4. I used ISO 800 and 1600 + bulb mode -> about 60s exposure.

Sample picture attached <-> very heavily adjusted in photoshop to actually see anything. The original picture was all back

Has anybody been succesfull with K10D and northern lights? Which lens are you using and what camera settings?

Attached Images

jshurak · 03-20-2008, 01:19 PM

Originally posted by Thule

Hi all,

I was disappointed to notice how low quality pictures of northern lights I was able to get with K10D + Pentax SMC-DA 16-45/4. I used ISO 800 and 1600 + bulb mode -> about 60s exposure.

Sample picture attached <-> very heavily adjusted in photoshop to actually see anything. The original picture was all back

Has anybody been succesfull with K10D and northern lights? Which lens are you using and what camera settings?

that's a shame. Although, 1600 on the k10d with any type of long shutter speed is going to produce some pretty bad results. (IMO) could you have gotten away with 400 ISO and a longer shutter speed?

Thule · 03-20-2008, 01:27 PM

Originally posted by jshurak

that's a shame. Although, 1600 on the k10d with any type of long shutter speed is going to produce some pretty bad results. (IMO) could you have gotten away with 400 ISO and a longer shutter speed?

Tried that also, no luck. I also tried ISO 800 + 30s exposure / 60s exposure, about same result.

It was about -20 Celcius, sky was pitch black with thousands of stars blinking, the n-lights were razor sharp and bright moving very swiftly .... and all I was able to shoot was this

The lens should be quite ok I guess?

Thule · 03-20-2008, 01:41 PM

Here is another sample, not night yet. But you can clearly see that with about 30s exposure with ISO 100 there are even some stars visible.

Attached Images

Mechan1k · 03-20-2008, 02:00 PM

Need to see Duplo's images on the Northern lights he has taken.
It's possible.

Thule · 03-20-2008, 02:08 PM

Originally posted by Mechan1k

Need to see Duplo's images on the Northern lights he has taken.
It's possible.

Where can I find those pics? I would be interested which lens was used and what camera settings?

Mechan1k · 03-20-2008, 02:20 PM

Have a look here in his gallery.

Duplo Photography | Pentax DA 14mm f2.8 IF

He used a DA14 wide angle lens.
Also where he lives there'd be no pollution in the air either ... so he gets clean crisp shots.
Pretty sure his gallery shows EXIF details for the images as well.

nex1 · 03-20-2008, 02:37 PM

Hum, perhaps this is one of those rare instances film might be better? Tho I am sure others have taken digital pictures of the Northern Lights?
I took a photo of the Shuttle Launch the other week, high noise - but that was expected

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Name: smallSTS123.jpg
Views: 2030
Size: 14.3 KB

APEHAUS · 03-20-2008, 02:43 PM

I like your second shot.

nex1 · 03-20-2008, 02:44 PM

yah, same here, love the second one :-)

Patang · 03-20-2008, 03:37 PM

Hey Thule,

I was recently in Finnish Lapland (by recently I mean early January) and I was lucky enough to see the Northern Lights. I used my 12-24 f/4 lens on a tripod and used my remote shutter release. I had the lens set to f/4 on ISO 200, and the average exposure length I had was roughly 80 seconds. The images I got are in this thread https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/post-your-photos/19386-european-holiday.html#post163768 I had no experience shooting these lights either, it was just guesswork to begin with and then I learnt on the job, so to speak.

I would recommend you try a lower ISO and shutter speeds of 80 to 90 seconds at around 16mm and f/4. If you go to f/8, stay on low ISO but make the shutter speed roughly 180 seconds. If you're unsure, time it... or use multi-expose mode because it works wonders in this instance!

I hope that helps you out and that you manage to get some fantastic shots!

MikeH · 03-20-2008, 04:31 PM

This was taken with my *ist DS and DA 18-55mm kit lens. Exposure was about 30s, f/5.6 and ISO 400. I'm not sure what happened to your photo. Try a lower ISO.

Gadget_Guy · 03-20-2008, 06:35 PM

Hey Mike,

That is an AMAZING shot.

Very nice.... almost spooky

D.

vievetrick · 03-20-2008, 07:28 PM

I would suggest as already done LOWER THE ISO. no reason to shot (i think) higher the ISO100 when doing something like this one tripod with shutter release. Try again I am sure you will have better results.

Thule · 03-20-2008, 10:11 PM

Very nice pictures in Duplo's gallery!

In my case the air was very clean and clear, in Lapland near the arctic circle and temperature around -20 Celsius ( -4 Fahrenheit ). The lens was at f/4, but I noticed that others used ISO 100 so I guess that was my mistake here.

But I still don't understand that if I use the highest ISO 1600 and 60s exposure time and f/4, the original RAW image was all black to human eye (before photoshop)?

Well I have to wait for the next time, I will try with ISO 100 and 60s - 120s exposure times, let's see what happens.

one more shot from that day

03-20-2008, 01:16 PM	#1
Thule New Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: North Posts: 10	K10D & Northern lights Hi all, I was disappointed to notice how low quality pictures of northern lights I was able to get with K10D + Pentax SMC-DA 16-45/4. I used ISO 800 and 1600 + bulb mode -> about 60s exposure. Sample picture attached <-> very heavily adjusted in photoshop to actually see anything. The original picture was all back Has anybody been succesfull with K10D and northern lights? Which lens are you using and what camera settings? Attached Images

03-20-2008, 03:37 PM	#11
Patang Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 98	My experience Hey Thule, I was recently in Finnish Lapland (by recently I mean early January) and I was lucky enough to see the Northern Lights. I used my 12-24 f/4 lens on a tripod and used my remote shutter release. I had the lens set to f/4 on ISO 200, and the average exposure length I had was roughly 80 seconds. The images I got are in this thread https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/post-your-photos/19386-european-holiday.html#post163768 I had no experience shooting these lights either, it was just guesswork to begin with and then I learnt on the job, so to speak. I would recommend you try a lower ISO and shutter speeds of 80 to 90 seconds at around 16mm and f/4. If you go to f/8, stay on low ISO but make the shutter speed roughly 180 seconds. If you're unsure, time it... or use multi-expose mode because it works wonders in this instance! I hope that helps you out and that you manage to get some fantastic shots!

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03-20-2008, 01:19 PM	#2
jshurak Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: philadelphia Posts: 626	Originally posted by Thule Hi all, I was disappointed to notice how low quality pictures of northern lights I was able to get with K10D + Pentax SMC-DA 16-45/4. I used ISO 800 and 1600 + bulb mode -> about 60s exposure. Sample picture attached <-> very heavily adjusted in photoshop to actually see anything. The original picture was all back Has anybody been succesfull with K10D and northern lights? Which lens are you using and what camera settings? that's a shame. Although, 1600 on the k10d with any type of long shutter speed is going to produce some pretty bad results. (IMO) could you have gotten away with 400 ISO and a longer shutter speed?

03-20-2008, 01:27 PM	#3
Thule New Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: North Posts: 10 Original Poster	Originally posted by jshurak that's a shame. Although, 1600 on the k10d with any type of long shutter speed is going to produce some pretty bad results. (IMO) could you have gotten away with 400 ISO and a longer shutter speed? Tried that also, no luck. I also tried ISO 800 + 30s exposure / 60s exposure, about same result. It was about -20 Celcius, sky was pitch black with thousands of stars blinking, the n-lights were razor sharp and bright moving very swiftly .... and all I was able to shoot was this The lens should be quite ok I guess?

03-20-2008, 01:41 PM	#4
Thule New Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: North Posts: 10 Original Poster	Here is another sample, not night yet. But you can clearly see that with about 30s exposure with ISO 100 there are even some stars visible. Attached Images

03-20-2008, 02:00 PM	#5
Mechan1k Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 2,891	Need to see Duplo's images on the Northern lights he has taken. It's possible.

03-20-2008, 02:08 PM	#6
Thule New Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: North Posts: 10 Original Poster	Originally posted by Mechan1k Need to see Duplo's images on the Northern lights he has taken. It's possible. Where can I find those pics? I would be interested which lens was used and what camera settings?

03-20-2008, 02:20 PM	#7
Mechan1k Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 2,891	Have a look here in his gallery. Duplo Photography \| Pentax DA 14mm f2.8 IF He used a DA14 wide angle lens. Also where he lives there'd be no pollution in the air either ... so he gets clean crisp shots. Pretty sure his gallery shows EXIF details for the images as well.

03-20-2008, 02:37 PM	#8
nex1 Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 37	Hum, perhaps this is one of those rare instances film might be better? Tho I am sure others have taken digital pictures of the Northern Lights? I took a photo of the Shuttle Launch the other week, high noise - but that was expected

03-20-2008, 02:43 PM	#9
APEHAUS Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Whittier, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 93	I like your second shot.

03-20-2008, 02:44 PM	#10
nex1 Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 37	yah, same here, love the second one :-)

03-20-2008, 04:31 PM	#12
MikeH Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Edmonton, Alberta Photos: Albums Posts: 273	This was taken with my *ist DS and DA 18-55mm kit lens. Exposure was about 30s, f/5.6 and ISO 400. I'm not sure what happened to your photo. Try a lower ISO.

03-20-2008, 06:35 PM	#13
Gadget_Guy Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Burlington, Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 374	Hey Mike, That is an AMAZING shot. Very nice.... almost spooky D.

03-20-2008, 07:28 PM	#14
vievetrick Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Easthampton - Massachusetts - USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,183	I would suggest as already done LOWER THE ISO. no reason to shot (i think) higher the ISO100 when doing something like this one tripod with shutter release. Try again I am sure you will have better results.