Looking for Help - Can not see any stars in live view - Forums

Topic starter

Sep 30, 2020

Hi, I am new to the hobby and I am looking for some help/advice.

When I go to shoot I see hardly any stars through my live view. I have tied using the digital zoom and I have been out on different nights (moon cycles to make sure its not an ambient light problem). I can still only see the very brightest objects in the sky maybe 5-6 stars in the whole sky. It is making it very hard to aim where I want to.
I am using a Canon ESO 200D (unmodded) with a 18mm f3.5 lens.

Can anyone help. Thanks

AC1000

Sep 30, 2020 · Edited: Sep 30, 2020

Hi BCrew,

I suggest the following:

First step is using the view finder of the camera and place a very bright star in the middle of the finder.
Then activate live view, apply 10x magnifying and turn the focus ring until the star has the smallest diameter.
Finally choose the wanted field roughly through the view finder, set highest ISO, lens aperture wide open and shoot
an image only a few seconds, then you can check the result where you are.
Hope this will help.

Cs Harald

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BCrew

Topic starter

Sep 30, 2020

That's a great help thank you. I have been using a bright star to focus with a Bahtinov mask. I'll use a test shot to check what I'm looking at.

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AC1000

Sep 30, 2020

Wish you much success!
Cs Harald

Michael Bate

Oct 2, 2020

Liveviews on DLSRs won't pick up anthing other than the brightest stars. I agree with AC1000 to centre the brightest stars you can resolve in liveview to focus. If you're trying to align a target, just take practice subs of 10-15 seconds to bring out more stars and adjust your camera accordingly. Without platesolving it's a bit trial and error but doing small exposures will help orientate your images,

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Mark Germani

Dec 13, 2020

Hi BCrew:

I have the same issue, particularly if I'm using a CLS filter. With that wide of a lens, I'm assuming you're shooting unfiltered. I've also had no luck using a Bahtinov mask and a camera lens (the spikes are TINY!) so I do it by eye without the mask. Just my two cents. Good luck!

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