Shooting the moon.

[Aethyr]

I'm sure this has been asked a billion and a half times so please forgive me for making yet another thread about it.

I just made the HUGE jump from a Sony point & shoot 3.2 megapixel to the Rebel XT, and I just can't use the damn thing!

I bought this lens today: http://www.wolfcamera.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10101&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&productId=29911&bct=c1022%3Bc914962

I was trying it out earlier, trying to shoot the moon, but I can't get a good picture. I got this one, but I had to use the flash to make the shutter speed quick enough to compensate for my lack of tripod. When I try to make the shutter speed quicker by putting it in Tv mode, the picture comes out really dark. What are the best settings to use for taking pictures of the moon?

http://www.red-december.net/moon.jpg

[scottbergerphoto]

http://www.pbase.com/scottbergerphoto/image/28637982.jpg
Forget about the flash. It isn't doing anything for your exposure of the moon. It's lightening the foreground, which you don't want. You need a tripod, and fill the viewfinder with the moon so you can get an accurate meter reading. This picture was shot with a 1DM2 on a Gitzo G1228 tripod with Sigma 500mm f/4.5 EX APO, with a cable release, Manual Metering.
Scott

[Hellashot]

If you're trying to shoot zoomed at 300mm with a 1.6x camera, you either need to use a tripod, bipod, or brace yourself against something solid.

When I did moon shots, I basically ignored the exposure meter because of the nature of the shot. I shot many and picked just a couple in post processing. You'll want an appeture in the 16+ range.

The image you posted looks very compressed. Since you just got an XT you should know that all images need sharpening, to what level depends on if it's for onscreen viewing, 4x6 printing, or 8x10 printing.

[mdm]

My kids would think I was God if I could get a shot of the moon like that. I'm new to this also with a digital rebel 18-55 mm lens. I guess I would have to get a new lens to try something like that. What kind of shot would it be with my stock lens?

[Hellashot]

My kids would think I was God if I could get a shot of the moon like that. I'm new to this also with a digital rebel 18-55 mm lens. I guess I would have to get a new lens to try something like that. What kind of shot would it be with my stock lens?

The moon would look like a tiny ball with the kit lens.

[Aethyr]

Yeah, I tried it with my 50mm f/1.8 and it sucked. Haha.

I actually went back to Wolf Camera today and exchanged my Quantaray 70-300mm for the Canon 75-300mm with USM. I liked it better because it focused way faster and quieter. I'm going to try to get the moon again in a few minutes.

I know I need a tripod. *kicks self*

[PhotosGuy]

Start with this: Shutter speed = 1/ISO sec @ f-11to 16
For a 300mm lens, use at least 1/300 sec.

[kawter2]

Start with this: Shutter speed = 1/ISO sec @ f-11to 16
For a 300mm lens, use at least 1/300 sec.

MAN THAT SEEMS WAAAAAY UNDER EXPOSED TO SHOOT A MOON LIKE THAT!!!

[Aethyr]

Heh. I just went out and tried again, but it seemed like I was getting the darker part of the moon in focus while the brighter part was just washed out. So... I remembered that if I put it on shutter speed priority and set the shutter speed high, it will cause a dark exposure (don't know if that's the right word). I figured I could just lighten it with Photoshop if I needed to. Anyway...

ISO = 100
Shutter Speed = 500
Aperature = 5.6

Lightened just a bit with curves in Photoshop. Edit: This is a 100% crop.

http://www.red-december.net/moon031805.jpg

[PhotosGuy]

MAN THAT SEEMS WAAAAAY UNDER EXPOSED TO SHOOT A MOON LIKE THAT!!! It may be night where you're shooting from, but the moon is in sunlight! Think about it. ;-)

[Aethyr]

^ Yeah, underexposing it helps keep it from washing out. It's like directly shooting a light bulb.