Milkyway at Pulau Gemia, Terengganu, Malaysia

[Gary]

Found this video created by Malaysian astrophotographer Gradient Lok.

Watch it in full HD for best effect:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHr3lcfcNgk

[jennifer1611991]

It was gorgeous!!:D Did you see that 180 degree turn of light at the horizon?:O If that was a meteor,I'm betting its not, then WOAH!:D

[starfinder]

It is extraordinary!

Strangely enough, I was thinking the other day of doing something like that at a dark sky site one day. But actually doing it is altogether another matter.

According to the photographer Gradient, this is how he created the movie:
i used 5dMk2,
Len: 24-70 F2.8 at 24 F2.8
ISO: 3200
Speed: 15sec
total images: 450 continuous images

This is definitely one of my favourite astro images/movies.

The moving clouds and airplanes add to the overall effect too.

I wonder if he used some automated method of taking the 450 images of 15s each, e.g. controlling his dSLR shutter through a laptop, or perhaps the dSLR has such a feature.

[Clifford60]

The camera has a function known as Time lapse photography. If yours don't have such function, you can buy a controller to do it, not very expensive. One or more mass sales guy in Clubsnap do sell the controller.

[VinSnr]

can any of the HD video camera do this?

Then no need to use camera and keep taking exposure.

[Tachyon]

can any of the HD video camera do this?

Then no need to use camera and keep taking exposure.

I suppose so, if you have a HD video camera.

For the rest of us who have a camera that can take HD video, it would require a lot of memory and power to run it at almost 2 hours of video at 25 fps. I took a 1.05 minute HD video using the 5D Mk2 and it consumed 379.6 MB of memory. At that rate, you would need a 45 GB memory card to store 2 hours of footage, not to mention the horsepower needed to post-process it. (In comparison, the 1D Mk4 was also similar at about 382.9 MB for 1.05 mins of footage!)

I still believe time lapse photography is still more suitable for these videos.

[Clifford60]

The time lapse video was taken 15 sec exposure each at ISO 3200, don't think 1/25 sec exposure each for HD video can produce the same quality.

[starfinder]

The camera has a function known as Time lapse photography. If yours don't have such function, you can buy a controller to do it, not very expensive. One or more mass sales guy in Clubsnap do sell the controller.

Tks for the info!

I have a Canon 350D and it seems that Canon itself doesn't have such a product for this lower-end dSLR. However, here are 3rd party ones that are supposed to be compatible for the 350D to 550D range:

Satechi TR-C Timer Remote Control for Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT, XTi, XSi, & ELAN SLR Cameras (US$60):
http://www.satechi.net/satechi-item.php ... #target_dv

Phottix Nikos Timer Remote C6
For Canon 350D/400D/450D/500D/1000D/G10 (S$90)
http://reddotphoto.com.sg/ecommerce/vie ... 2.3&pid=60
This Singapore company also sells similar ones for Nikon, Sony, etc models.

[Airconvent]

Saw alot of such videos previously. Just go to youtube and search for "milky way timelapse"

Loved the BGM for this one..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIoLNddhQDo

This one is beautiful but no music...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tl13g8lL_pQ

Over a volcanoe...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6B0Kd9vk11Y

[vivid]

I tried something similar with my f1.4 lense, long exposure but short enough to be under field rotation so it does not show up. If you are not a stickler for resolution (keep it under 900x600 pixels for web apps or even on LCD) you can use ISO1600 even for APS-C cam and not see much chroma noise. If you can use B/W it'd even be better as chroma noise won't affect much. Something like "night vision", just very short focal length.