Astrophotography - pinhole?

[Rob MacKillop]

I have a friend who is a retired astronomer, who has asked me if I could try some long exposures overnight. Any experience of this?

I'm not keen at exposing at midnight, going to bed, then getting up at 4am to close the shutter. But midnight to 6.30am would be a possibility in the winter.

The result would be star trails, of course. But digital photography brings in a serious noise issue, which, I'm guessing, film shouldn't...

Rob

- - - Updated - - -

Sorry - should have Googled it first:

http://users.erols.com/njastro/barry/pages/pinhole.htm

 

[David Mitchell]

You could always use ND filters or welding glass to stop the lens down even more.

 

[Beth Carter]

no idea what it's about since i don't shoot film, but i've read film startrail shooters need to correct for film reciprocity failure.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

That's right, Beth. Thankfully I have the Pinhole Assist app which works all that out for me.