shooting the moon

[tim]

I tried to shoot the moon with some cool clouds in front of it last night, but it came out really overexposed, I couldn't see any detail on the moon at all. I'd hit the exposure lock (*)while I was pointing the center focus point at the moon, and I had exposure compensation at -2, but still no luck. How would I do this on the 300D? I have the hack firmware applied.

[Deckyon]

you need to use M mode. Set aperture to at least f/8 to f/22 and then change the shutter speed to give detail.

Here is a link to a day-time shot of the moon - about 1 hour before sunset.
http://www.sturmphoto.com/details.php?image_id=284
Aperture = f/64 (I had the 1.4x and 2x teleconverters on my 200mm lens set to f/22)
Shutter = 2 sec
ISO = 200
Manual Focus

[canaris]

The same happend to me, I own a D60 and a cheap Canon EF 28-90 F4-5.6 consumer lens. I guess it depends on the aperture and exposure time. Shooting the moon and trying to get some detail on the clouds around it is pretty tricky. I'm waiting for some good advice as well from the more experienced photographers in here.

[Jon]

The moon's always experiencing a bright, sunny day, so you need to fall back on the old "sunny 16" rule of thumb; 1/ISO setting at f/16 for the moon proper. If there are clouds in the way, you'd open up from there. But that's where to start.

[tim]

Why didn't I think of manual mode? Thanks! :)

[canaris]

Tim, show us some samples when you figured out the best settings :)

[tim]

Well do :) My longest lens is a 100mm macro, so it won't be hugely detailed.

[EXA1a]

you need to use M mode. Set aperture to at least f/8 to f/22 and then change the shutter speed to give detail.

Here is a link to a day-time shot of the moon - about 1 hour before sunset.
http://www.sturmphoto.com/details.php?image_id=284
Aperture = f/64 (I had the 1.4x and 2x teleconverters on my 200mm lens set to f/22)
Shutter = 2 sec
ISO = 200
Manual Focus
I know you wanted to get the deepest DOF to get the moon in focus as well as the tree. However, this is not the "normal" moon shot and it creates two sharpness issues:
1. at f64 you lose sharpness due to diffraction within the aperture hole
2. at 500-600mm focal length with a 1.6x sensor, the moon moves approx. 5-6 pixels per second. Therefore you get a 10-12 pixels motion blur at 2 sec, if you don't use a moving astro tripod (which most photographers don't have).
Conclusion: If you want to get the sharpest moon shot out of your equipment, use the sharpest aperture (around f8 to f11 for most lenses) and lowest ISO (100) at shutter speeds significantly shorter than 1 sec, and use a sturdy tripod and mirror lockup.
For Exposure, you can then follow Jon's suggested sunny f16 rule plus one or two stops:
ISO100, f8, 1/400 - 1/100 s
ISO100, f11, 1/200 - 1/60 s
Good luck
--Jens--

[FlyingPete]

Here is what a 300mm lens can do (I thought I had shot at 300mm, but the Exif says 280mm):
http://www.lowden.orcon.net.nz\Moon.jpg

This was me just messing around. Details:
ISO800, Shutter 1/800s F/5.6 280mm

This image is not cropped or enhanced, only reduced in size for web viewing, here is a link to the full version for a closer look to see the detail.
http://www.lowden.orcon.net.nz/IMG_0052.JPG

[tim]

http://www.lowden.orcon.net.nz\IMG_0052.JPG

That URL doesn't work in two ways: (1) It's malformed (slashes), and (2) The file's not found when you fix (1)

[FlyingPete]

That URL doesn't work in two ways: (1) It's malformed (slashes), and (2) The file's not found when you fix (1)
Hmmm tested the link before posting, worked fine, just fixed the slash, and tested again, still works fine from here. I can email it if you are interested?

[tim]

It worked when I clicked it just now.... damn computers! Nice pic :) Looks like you'd need a 1000mm lens to get a nice big pic of the moon though.

[FlyingPete]

It worked when I clicked it just now.... damn computers! Nice pic :) Looks like you'd need a 1000mm lens to get a nice big pic of the moon though.

Yes I was a little disapointed in how big it was, hoping on something a little bigger. There are some 500mm Mirror lenses with 2x adaptors knocking around on Trademe, potential telescope replacement?

[tpinchback]

http://img137.exs.cx/img137/7663/eyesweb5ev.jpg

1/10 f16 iso 100 shot with a 100-400 IS and a 2x teleconvertor

[FlyingPete]

1/10 f16 iso 100 shot with a 100-400 IS and a 2x teleconvertor

Is that cropped? If so, how big was the orginal moon image in the frame?

[tpinchback]

http://img159.exs.cx/img159/2355/eyesweb3lj.jpg

Yes it was cropped and rotated here is the orig. I think.

[jerrypeisen]

Taken last summer at Kitty Hawk NC

http://www.pbase.com/vciinc/image/33325178

[scottbergerphoto]

This was taken with the 1D Mark II and Sigma 500mm f/4.5 EX APO HSM:

http://www.pbase.com/scottbergerphoto/image/28637982.jpg

I usually start with a partial or spot meter reading and adjust based on the histogram. You can also start with the Sunny 16 Rule as the moon is lit by the sun.
Regards,
Scott:)

[pcasciola]

Here's one I shot off hand with a 20D and 300mm f/4L IS. Gotta love that IS. I underexposed this one on purpose to bring out the detail in the craters.

http://www.casciola.com/pics/moon300mm.jpg

[Tom W]

How can I possibly avoid a moon thread:



http://www.pbase.com/photosbytom/image/36849324.jpg1/800s

1/800 sec, f/13.0 at 560.0mm iso400, EOS 1D Mk II

[tim]

Nice pics guys, but they could all be the same picture. I'll post my attempt later once I get home - less detail, but to my eye a bit more interesting.

[kndreyn]

That's a nice effect tpinchback. Is that your image transposed on that?



http://img137.exs.cx/img137/7663/eyesweb5ev.jpg

1/10 f16 iso 100 shot with a 100-400 IS and a 2x teleconvertor

[tim]

Oooh, didn't notice that! Subtle!

[kndreyn]

I had to blink a couple of times when I saw it. I've been shooting the moon also the last few nights and didn't see that in any of my shots. I got some really nice shots of the moon against a beautiful blui sky this afternoon.

Oooh, didn't notice that! Subtle!

[ron chappel]

Let's see if i can get this image linking thing working...

http://members.dodo.net.au/~l8r_ron/pages/kimunor-500mmf8%20j.html

and if it fails (once again) here is the url

http://members.dodo.net.au/~l8r_ron/pages/kimunor-500mmf8%20j.html

[pcasciola]

Ron,

If you use the img tag around the following URL it seems to embed just fine:

http://members.dodo.net.au/~l8r_ron/images/kimunor-500mmf8%20j.jpg

http://members.dodo.net.au/~l8r_ron/images/kimunor-500mmf8%20j.jpg

Maybe you had it in there with the space near the end, which needs to be a %20 for it to work as a URL.

Anyway, that is an amazing picture, especially considering you did it with a $50 lens!!! Wow.

[tpinchback]

That's a nice effect tpinchback. Is that your image transposed on that?

yes it is, i did an overlay in photoshop

[DocFrankenstein]

Nice shots. I'll soon add my moon too :D

[mattchase]

Doc, I don't think I want to see your moon!! ;)

[tim]

Ok, here's the shot of mine I like the best. I had a much shorter lens so you don't see any moon details, really.

http://mrwild.co.nz/unprotected/moon.jpg

[FlyingPete]

OK while we are doing moon shots, heres another:
http://www.lowden.orcon.net.nz/Moon2.jpg

So what another moon, well its not so much the image but how it was taken in this case
Equipment:
- 2MP Sony Cybershot DSC-S50
- A piece of cardboard tube
- Duct tape
- Tasco Skywatcher 700mm refractor Telescope
- 20mm eyepiece
- More duct tape
- Brick
- Small length of rope
- And finaly some duct tape (sorry left out the number 8 fencing wire :lol: )

[Canuck]

Here are 2 I took with the Sigma 120-300mm F2.8EX on a 10D in September and November respectively.
http://images.fotopic.net/?id=2161111
http://images.fotopic.net/?id=3188930

[kndreyn]

Shot handheld in the daytime with 1D MkII and Canon 100-400 L IS.

http://www.certainty.net/~kndreyn/bluemoon.jpg

[crazyfoo88]

shot with my drebel and a 12" dobsonian telescope :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v499/crazyfoo88/Astronomy/dustinmoonshot.jpg

[ron chappel]

Thanks Phil.I must admit i think i may have just made a silly mistake this time-I can't remember if i put the 2nd tag in !(blush)
Those lenses are indeed stunning for their cost easily the best value cheapies.They flog the cheap mirror lenses.
I must admit though that fooled with it in photoshop to get just the right amount of contrast,brightness and sharpness.This is the upper limit of what these cheap lenses can do

[tim]

Oh my god what did I start?! So everyone takes pics of the moon then?

I'm really wishing i'd kept the Sigma 70-300 APO II, for the price it was quite impressive.

[Tom W]

It's obvious that us Canon DSLR users (and a Sony user) enjoy shooting the moon! :)

[Canuck]

It's obvious that us Canon DSLR users (and a Sony user) enjoy shooting the moon! :)

It is obvious to me that you are an obvious sayer of the obvious! :D :rolleyes: Now tru saying that a few times fast :lol:

[LexLuther]

Another thing I would LOVE to take a picture of.. but the 70-200 is just too short, and I don't think getting a 1.4X would be enough. Ugh.

[Hellashot]

I shot the moon a few months ago. Captued in RAW and what came out best was definately under 1sec exposure with my 75-300mm at 300mm. It looked underexposed as shot, but through balancing and sharpening in PSE 3 it came out excellent. Use manual focus and had to disregard the exposure meter.

[tim]

OK while we are doing moon shots, heres another:
[IMG] And finaly some duct tape (sorry left out the number 8 fencing wire :lol: )

I wonder if anyone else got the number 8 fencing wire bit ;)

[FlyingPete]

I wonder if anyone else got the number 8 fencing wire bit ;)

Nah, don't think so, I should have used that to hang the brick under the tripod instead of rope, after all I do have a coil on the shed :cool: