Automatic Cameras

Automatic Cameras are less than idea for taking aurora photographs, if you can afford a new camera, you would be better off with an SLR Camera.

If you have an Automatic Camera, and want to use it, then the camera needs to be capable of the following:

• A manual override mode capable of a 30 second exposure, or an automatic mode that manages to take a picture upto 30 seconds.
• Wide angle capability. Wide angle lenses take better aurora shots, as you can get more in.
• If you have a panoramic mode, try using it.

Evaluating The Camera

You don't need an aurora to evaluate the camera though it does help. To evaluate your camera for night work, try taking a few pictures:

• Take a picture at night with the aperature set to maximum and a 30 second exposure. You are looking for vignetting (this is where due to the lens, you get a ring which gets darker towards the edge of the picture).

Batteries

If your camera uses batteries to hold the shutter open, when the battery can no longer deliver the current required, the camera shuts off. Quite often this will be before the battery is flat.

Here are some things you can do to eliviate the problem:

• Night tends to be colder than day. Try to keep your camera and spare batteries warm, as a battery delivers less current when cold. I keep my spare batteries in my inside breast pocket when working in the cold.

Practice

Practice makes perfect! You can get a lot of experience from just taking photos at night. Then when an aurora does happen, you're more likely to get that good shot. Take photos of the stars (you never know you might start a new hobby). Take photos of the city where you live. Try experimenting with man made objects in your pictures.