Astrophotography Tips for a Crop Sensor and Kit Lens 

As someone with some serious bills who can literally only afford a crop sensor camera (which I bought broken in order to fix it) and an ef-s lens I sincerely appreciate this. I wish you all the success but it means a lot that you're still supporting those who are starting out. Your channel is amazing.

U were the best...will miss u deeply 😢

What a great video Alyn and a great way to encourage those starting out in astrophotography to get the most out their gear without breaking the bank. Also fabulous to see you back out under the stars and sharing your knowledge once again

I've been shooting astro for a few years now using an A6000, and though I've upgraded to a fast prime and a tracker over time, I've captured lots of images using the kit lens and stacking - some of which are still favourites. With a lot of the messaging out there being that you *need* a full frame for astrophotography, it's refreshing to see someone like yourself proving that knowledge has a larger impact than any gear when it comes to producing quality images.

So simple and so helpful video, I missed these astrovlogs. I have seen many tutorials on how to photograph the night sky with basic equipment, and this one of yours is ideal, it is not long or boring, you show the essential things in a very short time and in an interesting way. 👌

Excellent video Alyn, looking forward to trying this out.

Great video Alyn cheers 🎉😊

Nice to see you back on here shooting the night sky. As for the setup that you used. Thank you for showing some love to us crop sensor shooters. I love how you just proved that it more about technique then about the gear. Love this video brother.

Ahh man I've missed these vlogs, good to see that you're back Alyn ❤

This has been one of the most useful videos I’ve seen 💗 thanks so much for sharing

Finally, Our Favourite Astrovlog series 🌌 come once again. Thanks Alyn Bro 👍❤️

great video. i had always wondered about stacked panoramas and you have explained it very well

Mate, so glad you’re back at it! You’re great at what you do and a natural teacher

I loved this video so much!! Thankyou!!

nice to see you back!

It's good to see you back in the action Alyn. Hopefully Turkey is treating you well 😊.

Alyn, very good to see you going again & this was an absolutely outstanding video. My gear consists of a step up from what you used in the video, but still a crop sensor. It should be encouraging to those starting out to see such wonderful results. Thanks again & I look forward to the next installment! Good work.

Thanks for this. I gave up my full frame camera (a canon 6d) a few years ago when I found that I was mainly using my Fuji x-t2 which was lighter and fun to use in most situations. After that when Covid lock-downs came along, I got into night photography and realized I should have kept the Canon but the budget wouldn’t allow it. So, I have been using the x-t2, with the 18-55 and now the x-t4 with same lens or sometimes the Rokinon 12mm f/2. This video, for me, was very useful. I’ve been getting what I consider pretty good images (for an amateur) and have toyed around a bit with stacking (with limited success) and with horizontal panoramas (haven’t tried vertical) so I appreciate how you brought them all together. I also have an MSM but have not, so far, been able to come up with an image that blows my mind using it. I appreciate seeing how you edited them as well - very helpful. Of course, now I’m thinking I’m going to have to buy your presets … I have the book already. Anyway, Thanks for sharing!

Very much learning tips. thanks Alyn

Absolute magic. Thank you!

Wow, very impressive! Good to see you in the field again. I also have this camera setup but I just use it for travel and street art. Thank you 💫

This video is just a phenomenal class on landscape astrophotography for beginners! Amazing Alyn, thanks! 👏🌌

Really remarkable results for a basic camera and lens.

Absolutely fantastic 👏

alyn, nice to see your happy face again❤✨ i’m just starting to watch this now. thanks 😊

It's surprising how this single video has answered so many questions I had! Thank you very much!

I own both the Fujifilm XT20 (same sensor as the XT2) and the XT3. I own also the 18-55 kit lens which is the best value for money lens you can get for the Fujifilm X-mount series. I have taken fairly good nightscapes with it but I ended up purchasing a second hand (in mint condition) Samyang 12mmf2 manual prime lens and the results improved. Thanks for the video, it's all a newbie can wish for. Lots of info in such a compact video. Keep up the great work. Cheers

That is a really good video, I am not an astrophotographer but am interested in trying. This has really encouraged me to try. I do not have expensive gear but now know that it is worth having a go.

Alyn, this is the best introduction ever for those just getting started with nightscape photography. I will be sharing with those I find myself helping get started. It also demonstrates a relaxed, simple means, simple methods, option for those long on experience and heavily equipped who just need to take a break, and enjoy a low stress night under the stars. I’ve now dug out the Nikon Z50 purchased, along with the two kit zooms when introduced in late 2019, for use when I wanted to travel light, but wanted more than just the phone. Hopefully the incessant clouds will part by next new moon. Looking forward to seeing what the Z50 can produce at 16mm f/3.5.

Thank you for panorama method. It's really interesting to try it tonight))

Great to see you back under the stars again! And finally some Fuji love, still use the X-T2 from time to time for astro 😁.

At last !! an astrovlog ❤

It's nice to hear that into again

Thanks for a great refresher video! Your book is a fantastic resource. When I got it I just let it fall open and the answer to a question I had was on that page. I’ve been on a trip without a tripod and have been using your Z Mount as an alternative. Your images and videos have been inspiring me for about 5 years. Your cave photo in Geyikbayiri was spectacular and I am still looking for a moonbow opportunity.

Great video. I have an a7iv with the 20mm f1.8. for astro. But I also have an x-t4 with a sigma 2.8 zoom. It's great to see you can get amazing results with a crop sensor. I think I might pick up a wide prime for the fuji. Great to see you back. Been following since your pen y fan video. Hope you're enjoying Turkey.

I loved this vlog, I can't afford to splash out on a full frame set up so this has given me hope that I can one day capture a decent astro photo with my m/43 G7. I'm looking forward to seeing the next vlog using a star tracker 👍

Great video!!

Great video Alyn, just one I was hoping to see some day. Can't wait for part II. Oh, I decided to buy that book of your friend ;-) Should get it the day before heading to Kruger, South Africa and feel a possibility to take my Sigma 14mm f/1.8 beast with me.

I missed your videos so much!

Great to see you back under the stars…🎉🎉🎉

This video deserves millions of likes ❤️

Great video, shows that it is more important to know what you are doing, over buying expensive gear.

Great video! Can definitely still get great shots with cropped sensors. It's what I use until I can get a second body, and a bunch of new lenses.

The Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 for Fujifilm is a great lens for astro and super affordable!

What's the intro music in your vlogs? I love it! Always puts a smile on my face. One of the best intros on RU-vid!

Ah, I've missed that vlog music! This is a useful intro video to astro with a kit lens setup that I can share with people who ask me how to get started in this genre.

this was great! i shoot on a d7200 crop sensor camera and always worry about the noise element. my fiance is always spotting me researching full frame cameras as a dream! thank you for thinking of the budget photographers!

Yeay! finally you use my camera, Alyn 😂🙌🏼🌌

Thanks!

Thank you 👍

Always such great content. I hear you, you don't use your camera in a while, you forget! Was in nearby Joshua Tree NP end of March and headed to Trona Pinnacles next weekend and I hope I don't have to wait on a guy doing donuts like you had to last April 😂

hi when you pan up and down to get the full image how do you keep the pictures aligned with eachother

Very good video!!! I use the Fujifilm X-E3 with the 18-55mm lens, the same one that you used, the Samyang 12mm and the Fujifilm 70-300mm. When I was in the island of La Palma, I photographed the Milky Way with the Samyang. I use the 35mm equivalent focal length when using the 300 rule, so I use 300 / (12 x 1.5) and that gave the same exposure time as you and similarly set the shutter speed to 15s. An aperture of f/2.8 was used instead of f/2.0 in order to improve the image quality. On processing a single image it looked really good, but on pixel peeping I could see some slight star trails. I don't think that the 300 rule is suitable for modern digital cameras because the pixel sizes are so small. It could be caused by tremor in the tripod as it isn't very sturdy, it is an old Velbon CX 440. I normally control the camera from a tablet using the Fujifilm app "Camera Remote", the large screen size helps with focusing and it controls the aperture, shutter speed and ISO. However, this doesn't link in with the auto AE bracketing or the self timer. When trying to stack the night sky shots with the Samyang 12mm lens, the stacking didn't work because of the lens' barrel distortion. A tracking mount should reduce this problem. I haven't used the 18-55mm lens for astrophotography, but have recently heard that it is a very good lens and will follow your example, but will probably use a faster shutter speed. You use the term "basic camera and lens", but Fujifilm cameras are really good.

Thank you so much for this video, i am strugling to chose a crop sensor camera or full frame. On one hand crop sensor is affordable but i was afraid that i would not be able to do astro while on other hand full frame camera and lenses will break my bank.

shooting star above your head at 5:32

i'm planning on getting my camera out tonight. Just waiting for it to get dark. nice video, Thank you

I have subscribed to your channel. 👍👍👍 Greetings from Thailand 🇹🇭🙋‍♂️

Thanks Alyn great video. I just wonder, is there any reason why the stacking features built in to the likes of Photoshop/Affinity Photo can’t produce similar results to the standalone apps you recommend?

1:57 I would avoid it specifically because it is carbon fiber, I like the steel leg pods because they are more stable and handle wind better.

Awesome Video - quick question at the end you referred to Lightroom stacking rather than sequator - does Lightroom do a good job of stacking ?

Why we don't see the trails on the last image ? Thanks a lot for your work

Great as always, and thanks for the tips. Quick question could you use HeliconFocus instead?

You know what I’m really curious about, is the Sony 11mm 1.8 cropped sensor lens. Especially compared to the Sony GM 14mm 1.8 and how how work on a Full Frame camera. How much light are you losing from the little 11mm compared to the larger 14mm, especially since they are both f/1.8

The best

Great video! Tip to the foreground: Make a new mask with sky option and invert it.

Hi Alyn, I also loved the video and never tire of the intro! At the end did you stack in LR? Not sequator. Why did that work and not give a blurry foreground?

What kind of video camera you used to be able to catch stars on video so well?

Great video. I would love to take an image like this. Unfortunately, the area where I live had become too light polluted in last few years. A 15 sec exposure gives nothing but a white sky :(

I've been shooting astro with a Nikon D500 + Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 + startracker for a while and if you can find clear, dark skies it could be a killer combo. With proper polar alignment I could get pin sharp shots even with a 3 minute long exposure. The only thing I'm missing is a fast, sharp, wide angle lens :| Time to move to FF.

That's the lens I got cheers along with a Canon 700D .

Rest in peace alyn, meet you soon up there❤

Great video! Were the stacked images all at 15 seconds? So 15 x 16 is 4 mins per view, how do you line up the pano?? Ta

Hello, I gave 16 shots with the 18-50 and Fuji XT3. Do I have to remove hot pixels from all images before using Sequator or do I remove them on the image created by the software? Thank you.

If using a 2x crop factor system andnusing the 300 rule, do I divide by lens focal length or 35mm equivalent focal length. I would use a pan 12m f1.4, so do I divide by 12 or 24? Thanks😊

Great video! Was just wondering which bortle you were in, 2?

Hi @alyn may i know if using Sigma 16mm F1.4 , camera Sony A6600, to apply the shutter speed using 300 rule will get around 18.75sec , camera setting only has below is 15sec or above is 20sec , may i kindly ask which sec should be using ? Thks ❤

GREAT

I've got your astro presets etc and managed to load presets into lightroom but not the other set. I'm on monthly subscription. Is there a way to add them?

My cannon 18-55mm Lense kit only goes up to f/4?

how can you film the stars like that in video form?

Hi. Do you have a promo code for your Lightroom Presets? I'm a student interested in astrophotography currently saving for a A7RIVA and I realize that post production is very important. Thank You in advance for your positive response.

Alyn, did you use a intervalometer at any point in this video?

Great video for begginers, thanks. Another thing, is there a way to buy your book from EU? I'm in Portugal and a purchase from UK or USA costs 23% more no matter the value...

is there any stacking software for android? I don't own a computer.

Is it really a crop sensor if the lens is calculated for this sensor size? For my understanding it is a crop sensor if the lens calculated for FF and used on an APSC

Do you have a version of presets for Photoshop?

Welcome to Turkey 🌠

It shocks me that people are surprised with what you can extract from a crop sensor! I have been using cfop6for the last 8 years, and although I would love to go ff, I travel a lot and don't want to carry that weight. I honestly think my astro shoots are good, but had a guy downing me for using crop sensor while he has a a7rIV with expensive lens, but his images (mostly the foreground) are always super noisy6and he's always blowing up his highlights. I don't see the point of him having sucj6and expensive kit for such a low quality work. Don't let people gatekeep you, use what you have and have fun!

Then genuinely make me happy.

legenda em português 🇧🇷

Hi

Didn’t what to make this comment but in your final image you used DxO pure raw but you didn’t mention it I’m a big fan a love your work but it’s just a bit disingenuous for beginners who wouldn’t notice that I’m sure a stacked panorama is good enough for this camera but people should be aware

I love this basic tutorial. But I never heard of a crop sensor or a kit lens. Would love a definition of each. Thank you!

Since I learned to stack, I no longer stack

In your book do you go over some of your processing techniques as well?

*Tilt* up, not pan!