200 CANON TIPS - ASTRO

Capture exquisite imagery at night with our pro advice for star-studded astro photos

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PRO ADVICE 

Expert insight to help you take your best-ever astro shots, filled with beautiful starry skies

1 Focus in the dark

Our favourite way to focus in the dark is to have a friend point a powerful torch at your foreground, so your AF can lock on easily.

2 Dark sky locations

Have a look online for ‘dark sky’ locations close to you: they will give you the best astro opportunities, with low light pollution.

3 Turn the noise down

Enable Long Exposure Noise Reduction for cleaner astro images – this will cause a delay between shots, so it’s unsuitable for star trails.

4 Sharp stars

Aim for shutter speeds less than 30 seconds long if you want the stars to appear as pinpoints of light; boost the ISO if you need to.

5 Use the rear screen

If you’re focusing on the stars to make them pin-sharp, zoom in on your screen in Live View mode so you can see the focus clearly.

Top techniques for astro shots

Three top tips for taking better photos of the night sky

6 Set up on a tripod 

A tripod is a must when you shoot at night: it will allow you to accurately compose and lock offthe framing for the long exposures needed to achieve a good result in lower light levels. Use the thickest leg sections first and hang your kit bag off it as ballast if you need more down force.