José Francisco Salgado is an Emmy-nominated astronomer, photographer and educator. Driven by a passion to show and explain our universe, José Francisco’s work has taken him all over the world, even as his camera lens is aimed far beyond our atmosphere. José Francisco joined us when we took Nikon’s D810 and D810A down to southern California recently, to capture the stunning desert vistas - and night skies - of the landscapes near Death Valley.
The D810 is Nikon's highest-resolution DSLR, and the D810A is a specialized version specifically designed for astrophotography. As well as a higher base ISO sensitivity, the D810A's sensor is modified to capture the specific wavelengths of the light transmitted by distant nebulae. Watch our video to see how José - and the D810A - performed.
Waiting for the D810 full review? We're pleased to tell you that it's being readied for publication! For now we hope you enjoy watching this field test, with José Francisco Salgado.
If you want to learn more about astrophotography make sure to visit our Astrophotography Talk forum.
Thanks a lot for sharing this view behind. It is amazing to see the potential of a tweaked DSLR. The M42 looks great. So sad that middle Europe has less dark spots. My first astrophoto I have taken during our Honeymoon: https://500px.com/photo/126229267/milky-way-over-maldives-by-andy-loehr
Thanks for inspiration! Reagrds from Germany. Andy
Can't figure out the cover shot of the video. It looks like Moebius arch, but if memory serves me right, that one is too small for a human to stand inside it. What am I missing...?
Hi Basil. It is the Mobius Arch. It's not huge but it is big enough for one to stand up inside. Google it and you'll find other photos with people. Take a look at the video if you haven't done so already. Cheers!
Thank you! For the D810 review and the video. I am curious what white balance setting was used in camera and what corrections where made post processing. Whether its irony or synchronicity I don't know, I took my first star shots with a D810 last night, with camera in auto white balance. Got varying results. I could adjust in light room but would like some guidance.
Love the D810, have about 20,000 images since I bought it. No regrets no remorse!
My speculation is that the Pentax K-1 with pixel shift from IBIS could implement built-in star-tracking with 5 to 10+ minute exposures without star trails. That might allow low ISO captures of the Milky Way with a 14mm lens way longer than the rule-of-thumb of 600/FL.
Is there a comparision about this feature of K1 and something like D810 with external tools? I would like to know how much just an IBIS technology can improve and let to take higher time exposure pictures.
" pixel shift from IBIS could implement built-in star-tracking ... with a 14mm lens"
There is a serious problem with that notion: every short focus lens has significant geometric distortions (even a perfect lens suffers from the geodesic distortions of mapping a sphere onto a plane). It doesn't take much offset for stars to diverge. The result is zoom-like star tails that flay out from the center. This cannot be corrected in software.
Awesome reply and sorry didn't mean to dis you Jose Francisco. Your images ain't exactly chopped liver either! The B&W Canadian lunar tide photo in this video actually reminds me a little of the other Salgado's aesthetic, BTW. :-)
... and yet shooting test charts helps you figure out which tools to use to do your storytelling so that you can highlight the tools used for said storytelling.
Why did it matter you said Death Valley? For accuracy. Some people would like to know so they can go there. One place for example (most pictures) was Trona which is more than 60 miles from Death Valley.
Quote, “these tools engage people and will make some young boy or girl to follow a career in science,” not realistic, these tools are too expense for a young boy or girl to purchase. Interesting video though.
You have a point, HD, and I had a similar thought after I said that but then I remembered that when I was teenager I worked many hours at the local shopping mall so I could buy my first telescope (a Meade DS-10). Back in the 80s $1000 was a lot of money but I did it so this is not that unrealistic, especially if parents and grandparents help :). I'm glad you found the video interesting. Thanks for your comment!
Also, you don't need a 810A plus tracking to get excited about this. I remember taking astro shots with my 350D and 50mm 1.8. Sure, they looked like crap compared to what mr. Salgado produces, but man, was I proud! And it taught me a lot about photography to boot.
I've been doing deep space imaging with my D610, (a few of my better images in my gallery), and as I figured out what I was doing, (tracking object for hours, not minutes), I have come to appreciate it's abilities more and more and just how hard astrophotography is to do well. I tether my camera to my laptop and use a program called "Backyard Nikon", and IMO, that is the best way to achieve great focus and control over my image making process.
Not related to this article but inspired by it. Guys, can you make/sponsor similar videos on influential creative photographers, who literally create their subjects, like still life photography or fashion and celebrity studio photography?
Haha, nice one, Barney. But seriously, my choice would've been less busy sounding (very attention seeking strings!), more calm, so it doesn't compete with the narration. It's interesting, because normally i don't notice the soundtrack, but this time something was bugging me the whole time, and at the end i noticed. :)
Fantastic video, proof that there is a point in designing high-end cameras with very specific use-cases in mind. BTW Maybe I missed it but is there a link to the images you shot anywhere? They look fantastic.
A comment I would like to make in this regard is that it is perfectly possible to get great results with cameras much cheaper than the D810/A as well. Up to a focal length of around 200 mm (400mm at a push), all you need is a sturdy tripod, an affordable tracker (Vixen Polarie, iOptron SkyTracker, SkyWatcher Star Adventurer), and a fairly recent aps-c or FF body. For ultra-wide Milky Way stuff, you don't even need the tracker.
Indeed, Greg. Also, many are modding their DSLR's by removing the filters in front of the sensor (IR, Bayer) and replacing those with a full spectrum filter. I've seen people trying it at home with some success, although it's best to send it to a professional to do it.
Yes, some great shots in that forum you've pointed to, had not realised it was there.
My comment was not meant to suggest great shots weren't possible with other cheaper or custom setups, really more that there is nothing wrong with a camera, even if its expensive, that doesn't do everything and is aimed at a particular niche with features to fit, clearly they had a great time using it.
All that said, I don't doubt the person operating the camera has more than a small part to play in taking those great shots!
Hi Lars, for the time-lapse sequence of the Mobius Arch shot with the D810A I used the following settings: 20 sec, ƒ/2.8, ISO 6400. I pulled more information from the shadows using Adobe LR6. Finally, I panned the sequence vertically in post using Adobe After Effects and rendered the movie at 30 fps. The other sequences shown were shot in Chile in 2009 back when my main camera was a D3. Please feel free to write for other details. Cheers!
Usualy "field test" does not atrackt me because almost with any camera nowadays it is possible to shoot best photos in good light of streets in a town.
And we all know that those "field tests" are made by pros, not by everyday people - like me.
But this one is exception. The best one.
Great job DPR!
I know that Nikonisti are very happy & I am happy because I can feel their happines out of comments. Congratulation Nikonisti!!! :o))) ______________________ ps:
May be ... may be that they feel a very small piece of my happiness because of Pentax K-1! & they will understand Pentaxisti without anger and hostility.
@WeAreShouting - Your hard work paid off. I particularly liked the soundtrack and the integration of the timelapse sequences. It all came together beautifully.
Nothing against Nikon or the D810A, but this particular sponsored video at this time makes it look as if Nikon is worried about the Pentax K-1 taking over as the DSLR king of astro-photography, which it probably will. Hence this sponsored video, trying to convince astrophotographers to stay with Nikon.
Then again, I could be wrong and this could all be a coincidence.
I'm not a Nikon or canon shooter,and i don't care much about the gear. I like to say thank you, this video is inspiring, and sponsored or not, for me it's a pleasure to look. Thank you again.
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