Moon

[Jon]

Had a try to take some pics of the moon rising through the clouds last night.

 

Any hints, tips or critique welcome - I'm not convinced by them

 

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[Denis]

I too took a full moon pic, last night, used my Sigma 70-300 and it came out all fuzzy despite a tripod How do you correctly photograph the moon??

[Guest]

the moon is difficult to capture as its a lot brighter than you would think. I used these settings

Make: Canon

Model: Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL

Artist: Richard How 

Exposure Time: 1/1000

F Number: f / 6.3

Exposure Program: Manual

ISO Speed Ratings: 200

Date Time Original: 2009:12:28 00:15:22

Metering Mode: Average

Flash: Off, Did not fire

Focal Length: 500.0 mmmm

White Balance: Auto

Lens: 150.0-500.0 mm

 

to capture this

[Jon]

Thats fantastic - way, way faster shutter speed than I'd have thought.  Some thinking needs to be done :-)

[ChrisLumix]

Unless you take a clear full moon (in which case it's easy enough - just spot meter off the moon itself, maybe opening up a bit), it's very difficult. Are you trying for the moon itself? In which case the clouds will be dark dark dark. Or for the nice hazy clouds? In which case the moon will be way over-exposed.

 

I think it is a case of bracketing your exposures with a burst, then doing your best to combine them in PP. But it won't look entirely natural as the moon won't look bright enough to cause that lovely corona effect. 

 

Good luck anyway.

[Guest]

I do have a clouds across the moon shot somewhere I think, I will see if I can find it and check the settings but I found the on board metering to be useless the camera just cannot work it out so I did it with the camera on manual and took lots of shots getting faster shutter speed every time until I got the shot I wanted, have to admit I was surprised at how fast you have to take it when its so dark outside

[Leon]

 

straight from the camera other than a crop

 

Camera Canon EOS 1000D Exposure 0.006 sec (1/160) Aperture f/13.0 Focal Length 238 mm ISO Speed 400

 

 

I dont think I have any in the clouds though, agree very difficult .

[colinb]

I too took a full moon pic, last night, used my Sigma 70-300 and it came out all fuzzy despite a tripod How do you correctly photograph the moon??

 

If the moon is high in the sky using a 300mm will give you something like the picture below at best, a longer lens like Phils  [oops sorry Richard] will obviously give you more detail, you really need to use manual focus set to spot focus and a high iso. best time is to catch the moon early evening as it comes up over the horizon rather than high like my shot.

 

Chronikon - You do really need to use a tripod, did you press the shutter release? You should use a remote or the cameras self timer and if you can lock the cameras mirror up this will also keep it steady.

 

 

Click image to view large

[ChrisLumix]

If the moon is high in the sky using a 300mm will give you something like the picture below at best, a longer lens like Phils will obviously give you more detail, you really need to use manual focus set to spot focus and a high iso. best time is to catch the moon early evening as it comes up over the horizon rather than high like my shot.

 

Chronikon - You do really need to use a tripod, did you press the shutter release? You should use a remote or the cameras self timer and if you can lock the cameras mirror up this will also keep it steady.

 

 

Click image to view large

 

That's a pretty good shot! Not perfect in relation to the moon's details, but I think it's as good as you're going to get, and still have a shot that looks natural. (In any case, if you want the moon's details, shoot it full in a clear sky, or else go for something like this where the overall effect counts for more.)

[Denis]

I did use the remote Colin, and the tripod. I'm a sod for deleting stuff I dont like at first. I should have kept it so people could have offered additional advice!

Next time eh?

[colinb]

I did use the remote Colin, and the tripod. I'm a sod for deleting stuff I dont like at first. I should have kept it so people could have offered additional advice!

Next time eh?

 

guess we all need a little more practice (well maybe not Richard) when the wind drops and it stops raining...

[bugmeister]

Interesting information here. I've never really tried to shoot the moon but maybe I should give it a try. Thanks for all the tips

[ChrisLumix]

Interesting information here. I've never really tried to shoot the moon but maybe I should give it a try. Thanks for all the tips

 

If you get it right, you'll end up with a beige picture of the moon that looks exactly like every other shot of it. 

[Jon]

It was a spur of the moment thing, but its caught my attention - wondering how to connect the camera to my brother's cheap reflector telescope :-)

 

Lots of things to try, thanks everyone.  Lets hope it stops raining at some point!!