Pro tip: Why my weekend in the mountains made me ditch the fancy astro gear

Honestly, everyone says you need a star tracker for good Milky Way shots. Tbh, I hauled my camera to a campsite far from any town lights. Ngl, I just used a steady tripod and a simple lens, and the pics blew me away. You're wasting money on gear if you aren't willing to go where the sky is actually dark. Most astro photos look the same because no one leaves their comfort zone.

3 comments

3 Comments

keith_lane7d ago

Believed for years that you needed a star tracker for clear shots. But last fall, I camped in the desert with just my old DSLR and a kit lens. The sky was SO dark, the Milky Way looked like a painting. Got shots that are as good as my tracked ones, and I didn't fuss with alignment for hours. Now I tell people to save their cash and find a truly dark spot first. This post is SPOT ON.

sagehart7d ago

Find a truly dark spot first... yeah, that reminds me of when I drove out to the middle of nowhere just to stargaze. Didn't even bring a camera, but the view was insane... made me realize how much we miss in the city.

anthony7497d ago

Totally get what sagehart is saying about just needing a dark sky. I was stuck on the idea that I needed the newest, fastest lens to even try. Reading that post was a real wake-up call. Now I just drive out to the hills with my old camera bag, no extra junk. It's way more about just being there than getting the perfect shot.