My First 'Real and Proper' Try at the Andromeda Galaxy: How Did I Do?

Hi everyone!

I've been a hobbyist photographer and astrophotographer for a while now, typically enjoying capturing the Milky Way on my occasional dark sky trips. Last year, I had an incredible experience under Bortle 2 skies (a 3-hour drive, but totally worth it!) and was inspired to capture more than just wide-field landscapes. That's when I managed to grab my first Andromeda Galaxy shot with a 28-75mm lens, and I knew I had to improve.

Gear Upgrades and Early Attempts

To take my astrophotography to the next level, I knew I needed better gear. Telephoto lenses and star trackers are pricey, so I had to choose. I opted for a 70-350mm lens, believing it would offer more versatility for my general photography needs.

Last week, I returned to the darkest skies in Israel with friends for our Perseids meteor shower tradition. With the new lens, clear skies, a new moon, and minimal light pollution, everything was set for a great night. However, my excitement got the better of me. I skipped calibration frames and, thinking only 1-second exposures were possible, cranked the ISO to a whopping 25600 – definitely a learning moment I'm not too proud of! The result was a decent attempt, but I knew I could do better.

A Second Chance and a Proper Approach

Undeterred, my friends and I went back just a week later to try again. This time, I was determined to do things properly.

While the 70-350mm lens has a great focal length, its f6.3 aperture at 350mm isn't ideal for deep-sky objects. So, I decided to go back to my trusty Tamron 28-75mm G2. I knew a wide-field Andromeda shot might not be the most common approach, but I wanted to see what I could achieve, especially taking advantage of that f2.8 aperture.

And here we are! The image you see in the thumbnail is the result of this focused effort, cropped in from a 75mm frame.

Andromeda Galaxy

I'm really proud of this outcome, though I know there's always room for improvement.

My Setup and Process

To further enhance my astrophotography, I've just purchased a SkyWatcher Star Adventurer 2i Pro pack with a tripod. I'm eager to learn how to use it and explore its capabilities.

Here are the specs for the Andromeda image: