Serious question, do you really need a star tracker for wide field shots?

I had to pick between buying a star tracker or just using my tripod and stacking more frames. I went with the tripod and 50 stacked shots from my backyard in Phoenix. The noise is a bit much, but I saved $400. Anyone else get decent results without the fancy gear?

3 comments

3 Comments

milaw1423d ago

My old tripod leg snapped during a long exposure once, so the gear debate hits close to home.

jamesf4123d ago

Man, that's rough. My buddy had a cheap tripod collapse on a windy day once, and his lens hood actually got wedged in a rock crack. We spent twenty minutes trying to free it without scratching the glass, all while the light was getting perfect. It's those little gear panic moments that stick with you way more than any smooth shoot.

clark.alex23d ago

Totally get that! My old tripod head stripped out mid-shoot once, dumped my camera right in the dirt. Gear fails are the worst.