📷 final_processed_29bgbaker (1).jpg
📷 Screenshot 2025-11-03 11.41.57 AM.png
I am looking for feed back on editing how i can do better some things to try and photograph
these are some of the pictures I took on my phone I am hoping to get better equipment
The second image, I really like that one. Has an old time feel to it.
The image with M31..well not much you can do there with what you have so its all good.
One suggestion though, use landscape mode.
I know its probably a habit to use portrait mode, but turn that phone on its side and get the wider angle views :)
These are great for the equipment you used for them and remind me of the excitement I had when I was taking pictures with my phone with my old Celestron C8-N for the first time.
That said, these are probably the best results you can really get out of the equipment you’re using. I don’t know the phone camera model you have, but there is only so much they can do. If you’re really starting to get into DSO astrophotography, maybe you can take an iterative approach and go with something like a DwarfLab DWARF3 or a DSLR with a decent lens. Those options would get you started, have a less steep learning curve, and probably be the most economical. Better yet, if you have an astronomy club in your town/city, sometimes you can borrow equipment when you become a member.
Helpful Respectful Supportive
What equipment are you using? I see you put a lot of effort into getting the best out of it. If you truly have the DSO passion (addiction), there might be a few fellow astro nerds that can clean out their old equipment closet and help you along.
Well Written Respectful Engaging Supportive
i am using google pixel 8
briggs baker · Nov 6, 2025 at 06:56 PM
i am using google pixel 8
As others have said, that is about as good as it is gonna get for what you are using, but having said that you have done a great job with what you have. I really like the second shot as well.
Supportive
Tripod and phone holder will help. Next level might be a used Nikon dslr.
Ed Dixon · Nov 7, 2025, 09:32 AM
Tripod and phone holder will help. Next level might be a used Nikon dslr.
That would be a good step-up, get some work in with a stock DSLR and then make the next step.
Have a look at Lucas Gonçalves Miranda’s gallery, https://app.astrobin.com/u/Lucasgoncalvesmiranda#gallery to get an idea of what can be achieved with a smartphone camera and good processing skills. You can find some amazing images that can easily rival those taken with professional cameras.
(Edit: for some reason, using the mention feature, @Lucas Gonçalves Miranda returns a 404 page? Even for my user name: @Die Launische Diva )
Well Written Concise
Before I bought all my equipment, I tried digiscoping with binoculars. I have a Meade 10x42 ED. This came out of my Pixel 6:
📷 OrionEAA.jpg
I am much better at processing now than back then and this is the DeepSkyStacker - stacked image I reprocessed in Siril today. Unfortunately, I did not save the raw files, just the stacked tif so cannot double check details but I think this was 600×15s shots, ISO800.
I used DeepSkyCamera Free and the exposure limit is 17s on my phone but I have read good things about Camera FV5 Lite too. You may be able to go longer with Pixel 8 and a different app.
Oh and before anything else, you need a good mount. This is with a SkyWatcher StarAdventurer GTi (it is an ok mount). No guiding or dithering. You can see the walking noise.
Helpful Engaging