Only thing I would add to the advice above is increase the ISO a lot. The K5 handles high ISO well - 1600 should be no problem.

Dave

If you want stars as points rather than trails the 500(or 600) rule is a good starting point.

Max exposure in s. before stars begin to show as trails = 500 (or 600)/(focal length of lens x crop factor)

There is some debate as to which is more correct and when stars begin to show up as trails depends on the declination (the sky equivalent of latitude) of the star and it is not really a 'rule' - more guidelines, but a place to start.

With 18mm lens the max exposure on a KX is about 22s (using 600) or 18s (using 500)

I think it is a matter of using the widest aperture and upping the ISO until you get something, and needing a really dark sky; sensors are very good at picking up light pollution.

Dave

Have a look at GIMP 2.8.14., 32 or 64 bit versions are available. It includes a RAW converter, can do most of the things other photo editors can do, and more than some, and it is free.

http://www.partha.com/

Dave

DSS aligns the individual shots so there is no star trailing.

For those who want star trails then StarStax is worth looking at.


Dave

Have a search for the area on this site -

http://www.geograph.org.uk/

There are not many areas in the UK without at least one photo, so you can get an idea of what is around.

Dave

If you are willing to set off early then I'd recommend the following route -

A1 to Newcastle.

Five miles after crossing the Tyne take the A696 (the signs are for Jedburgh and Newcastle Airport)

Continue on the A696 until it meets the A68 just past Otterburn.

Join the A68 and continue on it until it meets the A720 (the Edinburgh City Bypass).

Turn west on to the A720 and follow it around the south of Edinburgh.

Follow the signs for the Forth Road Bridge, this will involve short sections of the M8, M9 and M90, but the signposting is good.

After crossing the bridge follow the M90. The M90 divides just south of Perth. Take junction 10 (marked Crainlarich, Stirling and Inverness) and follow it to the end of the motorway (about three miles) where it joins the A9.

Join the A9 towards Inverness.

If you are using the Scabster – Stromness ferry then follow the A9 to Thurso; Scabster is only a couple of miles west of Thurso.

If you are using the Gills Bay – St Margaret's Hope ferry, head towards Wick. You'll need to leave the A9 at Latheron (about 20 miles south of Wick) and take the A99. The junction is a little deceptive – the A9 runs straight into the A99 with the A9 going off to the left.

From Wick the A99 can be followed to John O' Groats and then the A836 to Gills Bay, about two miles west of John O' Groats, or more minor roads can be used for a slightly more direct route.

I mentioned an early start because just about all of the road from the A696 to the Edinburgh City Bypass is single carriageway and can get busy.


However, if you want to travel quickly then I'd go with Andy's route; the M74 is a superb motorway.


There are a lot of islands but Orkney is fairly compact. A trip around the mainland, including South Ronaldsay is about 120 miles.

Here is a link to a short guide

http://www.orkneyislands.info/

Dave

Red Snapper.

I have an RS324 with a pan tilt head. Not the lightest but probably not the heaviest. The foam padding on the top section made it comfortable to carry over my shoulder around a bird reserve with a 80mm scope attached.

Dave

Agree completely. Only used SRS a couple of times but the quality of service is excellent.

Dave

Great capture, Neil.

Foxes just can't help themselves. The smell of food will get their attention but almost anything new appears to attract them. It isn't unusual for us to find gardening gloves and hand tools that have been carried down the garden.

Hope the fox did not decide your sack was a good place to leave its scent.

Dave

Another vote for SRS Microsystems - excellent place to deal with.

If you want filter kits, reversing rings, T mounts etc have a look at this place -

http://srb-photographic.co.uk/

Dave