I think you might do better than that! I used x4 optical zoom on some shots.
But I will take a tripod next time. Looks like a fair chance of some clear skies in western Scotland over the next 3 days:
Ventusky - Wind, Rain and Temperature Maps
Thursday looks good all over the UK. They'll still be close. That site does a forecast too.
Only a cheapie camera really, but the Nikon Coolpix A100 seems to do the business. People are giving away cameras these days. £30 second-hand.
I have been reading the flippin' manual, RTFM! 😀
A handy tip is to use the 10s self-timer with a press on the button to override for 2s. Reduces camera shake.
Hope to do better than this hand-held snap over the next few days, it was darker than it looks:
Southsea Castle is a good location:
No lights. All set up now. I want a picture of Orion too. Wonder if I'll see the nebula and the nearby Pleides in Taurus? Could be a fun new hobby. 🙂
DSLR camera is a slightly different game. But plenty of tips on the internet.
I have been reading the flippin' manual, RTFM! 😀
The Nikon COOLPIX B500 digital camera does have an option to take great images of the night time sky. Try placing the camera in the "Night Landscape" mode. This feature allows you to capture a series of images when the shutter-release button is pressed fully down that combine into a single saved image. There is also a tripod setting option in "Night Landscape" in which only one image is captured at a slow shutter speed when the shutter-release button is pressed down all the way. In addition there is an option for getting dazzling star trails or a combination of land and star trails with the Multiple Exposure Lighten Scene Mode. Any of these options will allow you to get amazing images of any night time landscape or sky subjects.
A handy tip is to use the 10s self-timer with a press on the button to override for 2s. Reduces camera shake.
Hope to do better than this hand-held snap over the next few days, it was darker than it looks:
Southsea Castle is a good location:
No lights. All set up now. I want a picture of Orion too. Wonder if I'll see the nebula and the nearby Pleides in Taurus? Could be a fun new hobby. 🙂
DSLR camera is a slightly different game. But plenty of tips on the internet.
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Cloudy here again, Steve!
I also have a pocket size Nikon for casual use, the earlier Coolpix L29 model.
Same lens and zoom specs as yours, but 'only' 16.1 million pixels compared to your 20.1 million pixels!
I also have a pocket size Nikon for casual use, the earlier Coolpix L29 model.
Same lens and zoom specs as yours, but 'only' 16.1 million pixels compared to your 20.1 million pixels!
The DSLR user now has access to a mode that compensates for the turbulence of the Earth's atmosphere. The camera takes multiple images of a planet and the software deletes all the images made 'wobbly' by the atmosphere. It then combines the remaining 'steady' images into one almost perfect image of the planet.This feature allows you to capture a series of images when the shutter-release button is pressed fully down that combine into a single saved image.
I saw this at work during 'The Sky at Night' review of the last decade, which was shown on BBC4 recently.
Nice one here from Oz
Fantastic that you can see the moons of Jupiter. They are quite visible with a pair of binos
Fantastic that you can see the moons of Jupiter. They are quite visible with a pair of binos
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I have a Pentax KD3 - nice and can do a good shot on a tripod. The anti shake is done by moving the sensor unlike other high end DSLR’s. You can buy a GPS grip and then use Astro mode and what it does is tip the mirror in accordance with your location to track a celestial object allowing for sharp astronomical photos anywhere in the world. I don’t have the grip, but might be one to consider - about £300 IIRC.
I've also got a Pentax DSLR body, but it has no such facility as anti-shake, and don't even ask about a video mode!
It is Pentax's second DSLR, the *ist DS which is now around 15 years old - an eternity in the development of digital photography!
Only 6.1 million effective pixels, but they are large and sensitive pixels which do not bleed into each other.
Furthermore, it is powered by four AA batteries so no need to worry about replacing a depleted internal battery pack!
Call me old fashioned, but it still does the job for me in conjunction with my collection of Pentax lenses, add-on flash unit and remote release.
I really can't justify replacing the DSLR body at my age and, let's face it, my kids grew up years ago!
It is Pentax's second DSLR, the *ist DS which is now around 15 years old - an eternity in the development of digital photography!
Only 6.1 million effective pixels, but they are large and sensitive pixels which do not bleed into each other.
Furthermore, it is powered by four AA batteries so no need to worry about replacing a depleted internal battery pack!
Call me old fashioned, but it still does the job for me in conjunction with my collection of Pentax lenses, add-on flash unit and remote release.
I really can't justify replacing the DSLR body at my age and, let's face it, my kids grew up years ago!

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Questions must be raised about Bonsai. 😀
Are you an Aussie or a European?
Inquiring minds want to know.
Are you an Aussie or a European?
Inquiring minds want to know.
Currently ensconced in sunny Norfolk, England with my Dutch wife, born and raised in South Africa to a Londoner father and Saffie mother.
😀
(Pic I posted was culled from Twitter - apologies if it seemed I was directly involved in taking it)
😀
(Pic I posted was culled from Twitter - apologies if it seemed I was directly involved in taking it)
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@Galu I also have a K20D body, now retired - got it in 2008. Nice camera but it can cause photos under artificial light to get a green tinge in JPEG mode. I’ve just recently gone over to shooting in RAW - huge step up in picture quality.
About Andrew C Russell | Flickr
About Andrew C Russell | Flickr
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It's amazing how time flies by.
But to me Christmas is all about King's College, Cambridge:
BBC Radio 4 - A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, Christmas 2020
We know the words. 😎
But to me Christmas is all about King's College, Cambridge:
BBC Radio 4 - A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, Christmas 2020
We know the words. 😎
Here's a tip for low light spur of the moment, or you don't even own a tripod shots-
Take a pound bag of beans,rice, or grain. Slip it into a sock or mitten, safety pin or rubber band it.(fits in your pocket)
Place on unmoving object, press camera into it, there you go, nice and steady!
Take a pound bag of beans,rice, or grain. Slip it into a sock or mitten, safety pin or rubber band it.(fits in your pocket)
Place on unmoving object, press camera into it, there you go, nice and steady!
So, you dabble a bit in photography, do you? 😉I’ve just recently gone over to shooting in RAW About Andrew C Russell | Flickr
That's an impressive portfolio, we are not worthy!
P.S. I once tried photography in the RAW, but ended up in custody!

The Government has banned most of our activities, ATM.
But my stargazing is not currently banned. 😀
Let's see some pictures, folks. Maybe RAW rather then Jpeg. But I really don't know.
But my stargazing is not currently banned. 😀
Let's see some pictures, folks. Maybe RAW rather then Jpeg. But I really don't know.
Good tip, and less expensive than a camera bean bag!Place on unmoving object
Well, you asked for it, Steve!But my stargazing is not currently banned. 😀 Let's see some pictures, folks.
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Just about my opinion of the EU. They are just about to throw in their hand. 🙂
The EU is a dead loss to the UK. Costs us £Billions every year.
We might give those losers some British Fishies for a few years. But the British have always detested Europe. Horrible people. They all hate each other. 😀
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