dang's Photoblog
Shooting the moon...
Posted by dang (Atlanta, United States) on 12 February 2009 in Miscellaneous.
We all do it sometimes, but I've often wondered what exposure settings others use. I'd love to see your moon photos (please add a link), and hear tips.
Taken using a 500mm manual lens (cropped around 50%) which cost about $50.00 used.
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Thanks!
MadScientist from Düsseldorf, Germany
I think yours is perfect, everything else would need a telescope!
12 Feb 2009 9:21pm
@MadScientist: Thanks!
I hope someone adds information about telescopes. There's some amazing astro shots around, but it's overwhelming searching for reasonably priced set ups.
Laura from Birmingham, United Kingdom
so much detail and perfectly exposed. I often use quite a quick shutter speed as you've done and ISO200-400 to not over expose or get noise in the sky.
12 Feb 2009 10:03pm
@Laura: Hi Laura,
f/11 for this shot is pretty high, doesn't show because it's not read by the camera. Of course, the lens has a minimum of f/8. For detail I stopped down a bit, and used a tripod to avoid motion blur. I often see shots with blown highlights, and think it's due to over-exposure, or contrast being pushed too high. I just wondered what techniques others use, and the reasoning behind them.
Thanks!
Monique from Koh Samui, Thailand
I've never tried shooting through our telescope, I want to but I never take the time. This one looks great, the lighting and sharpness are perfect. You can see my shot at the full moon here http://monique.aminus3.com/image/2008-12-13.html
13 Feb 2009 3:48am
@Monique: Thanks for the link, nice job with your 300mm. I've thought of getting a telescope for a long time, but there's so many lights around my area. Think I'd still have to try if I had one available, and hope you get yours out soon. I'd love to see the results.
Thanks again.
Barbara from Florida, United States
A magnificent image of the moon, Tom, and if there were insects on the moon you would capture them.
I have made my attempt at photographing the moon in years back but unfortunately it is too long ago to offer any useful information for you.
It would be interesting to see if you receive any further feedback. I will check back.
13 Feb 2009 1:11pm
@Barbara: Thank you, Barb. Hope you'll give it a shot after all the fog goes away around Clearwater.
;-)
Twelvebit from Victoria, United States
Now why can't I find a 500mm lens for a price like that?
13 Feb 2009 4:45pm
@Twelvebit: They only sell for about a hundred bucks (US) new, including tripod mount. You're welcome to email me, or look on my site for an article about it. There's a couple of different versions, and it's important to find the right one if you look on auction sites. Of course, a 300mm with a Kenko 300 PRO 1.4X will probably do better, but the converter would cost more. ;-)
Thanks!
Sarah Schneider Photography from Lancaster, United States
This is just amazing.. =)
13 Feb 2009 5:01pm
@Sarah Schneider Photography: Hi Sarah,
Be sure an check the shot Monique did with her 300mm too: http://monique.aminus3.com/image/2008-12-13.html
A 300 can be hand held as long as you keep the shutter speed up. It's a bit difficult to do with the 500, since it would need a minimum shutter of at least 1/750th without a tripod.
Thank you.
Rabbit from Richmond, United States
Now just think as a little kid I thought my dad could just reach up and get that ball ball in the sky for me. I cried and cried and couldn't understand why he couldn't reach it. After all he did use a LADDER to get on top of the house why not just get the moon for your little girl while you're up there.
13 Feb 2009 9:29pm
@Rabbit: Ah... but maybe that gave you the incentive to keep reaching upward! ;-)
Cute story, Thanks!
Twelvebit from Victoria, United States
I've got a Kenko 2x and a Nikon 70-300mm, both the cheapo and VR versions. I thought maybe you'd picked up an old 500mm at a garage sale or something. I know the lens you're talking about, which I think goes regularly for about $90 on Amazon. I couldn't tell from the reviews whether or not it is worth $90. I was mainly concerned from the reviews that it would be too soft, but it doesn't look too bad here.
13 Feb 2009 9:50pm
@Twelvebit: Oh, the 2X should do fine with your lenses for this. If you decide to get one of the 500's, stay away from the mirror lens if it's the one you're thinking about. These are a lot larger, but still light weight and have a simple 4 element design. They've been made for years under various brand names...
Concerning the exposure, I think you're right. I've often seen similar shots tried at a quarter second, or longer. About all that shows is a big, round blur. ;-)
Twelvebit from Victoria, United States
BTW, the blown highlights in most people's moon shots is probably due to underestimating the brightness --as normal avg weighted or matrix metering is likely to do. So, you can spot meter, or, do what I do, which is simply look at the histogram and make the necessary exposure adjustment. Frankly, as long as you can look at a histogram and take another shot, the metering is pretty much irrelevant. These days I even take a test shot, look at the histogram, and then adjust to various lighting conditions beforehand so I don't blow a shot of a scene that might fool the metering. And I usually have -1 stop exp comp dialed in when I'm shooting with matrix metering.
13 Feb 2009 9:56pm
isidro from Spain
buena captura!! te a quedado muy bien el encuadre y la nitidez
16 Feb 2009 11:35am
Sandrine from Cincinnati, United States
Awesome shot! This is an eclipse... I've had a hard time taking pictures of the moon...
http://sandrine.aminus3.com/image/2008-02-24.html
17 Feb 2009 12:57am
@Sandrine: Looks pretty good to me, love the red glow. I haven't shot an eclipse, maybe next time.
Thanks!
David from Melbourne, Australia
this shot is awesome...i tried it previously as well
http://dcwhuang.aminus3.com/image/2007-09-01.html
however, your shoot is so much more sharper!
19 Feb 2009 4:05am
@David: You'll get it next time. The first time I shot the moon with a DSLR still makes me chuckle. I'd just gotten my first Canon (a 300D) and wasn't familiar with it's settings. I hadn't read the manual, but there was a full moon, so I grabbed a 300mm and went outside. I adjusted settings, looked through the viewfinder, focused and clicked my first shot... but to my surprise the flash popped up and fired. The noise was so distracting I jerked, and received a nice black frame as reward. :-)
Thanks for the comment, and link.
Lee from Fort Frances Ontario, Canada
Great capture. Looks great. Let me know what you think.
http://wildlife.aminus3.com/image/2209-01-23.html
23 Feb 2009 10:53pm
Lee from Fort Frances Ontario, Canada
Sorry for the typo error. Try this.
http://wildlife.aminus3.com/image/2009-01-23.html
23 Feb 2009 10:56pm
Canon EOS REBEL XT
1/320 second
F/0.0
ISO 400
0 mm