Cheat sheet · Night & astro

Camera settings for Milky Way photography

Capture the galactic core with a fast wide-angle lens, the widest aperture you have and the longest shutter speed before stars trail.

ModeManual (M)
Aperturef/1.4–f/2.8Wide open, or ⅓ stop down to tame coma
Shutter10–25 sUse the NPF rule for your lens
ISO1600–64003200 is a good start on full frame
FocusManual on a bright starLive view, magnify 10×
White balance3800–4200 KNatural-looking sky
FormatRAWEssential for noise reduction
StabilisationOffOn a tripod
Quick start: Capture the galactic core with a fast wide-angle lens, the widest aperture you have and the longest shutter speed before stars trail.

Starting exposures#

Typical scene brightness for this situation is around EV -6. Use these as a first test shot, then check the histogram.

ApertureISO 100ISO 400ISO 1600ISO 6400
f/1.42 min30 s8 s2 s
f/2.8> 4 min2 min30 s8 s
f/5.6> 4 min> 4 min2 min30 s
f/8> 4 min> 4 min> 4 min1 min
f/11> 4 min> 4 min> 4 min2 min

Step by step#

  1. Check the moon phase — shoot within a few days of the new moon.
  2. Find a dark site (Bortle 1–4) and plan the core's position with an app.
  3. Frame with a foreground while there's still blue-hour light.
  4. Focus manually on a bright star at 10× magnification, then tape the ring.
  5. Take a test shot at ISO 6400 to check composition quickly, then drop to your working ISO.
  6. Shoot several frames to stack for cleaner files.

Gear checklist#

  • Sturdy tripod
  • Fast wide lens (14–24 mm f/1.4–2.8)
  • Remote release or 2 s self-timer
  • Red head torch
  • Spare batteries (cold drains them)

Pro tips#

  • The galactic core is visible from roughly February to October in the northern hemisphere, best in June–August.
  • Expose to the right without clipping stars; lifting shadows later costs more noise than a brighter capture.
  • For a clean foreground, blend a longer, lower-ISO exposure taken at blue hour.

Common mistakes#

  • Using autofocus at night — it hunts and misses.
  • Leaving long-exposure noise reduction on (it doubles every exposure).
  • Shooting near a bright moon.
Star trailsStack many 20–30 s exposures (or one very long one) while the Earth rotates to draw circle… Northern lights (aurora)Fast lens, high ISO and shutter speeds of 1–8 s keep the aurora's structure sharp instead … Meteor showersShoot continuous Milky Way-style frames for hours and keep the ones that caught a meteor.…

Frequently asked questions#

What are the best camera settings for Milky Way photography?

Aperture: f/1.4–f/2.8 · Shutter: 10–25 s · ISO: 1600–6400. Capture the galactic core with a fast wide-angle lens, the widest aperture you have and the longest shutter speed before stars trail.

What gear do I need for Milky Way photography?

Sturdy tripod, Fast wide lens (14–24 mm f/1.4–2.8), Remote release or 2 s self-timer, Red head torch, Spare batteries (cold drains them).

Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources