My First Moon and Post ...Your's is way better!

[bradn801]

Hi guys love the site and all of your posts. This is my very first attempt at a shot of the moon with my new Canon EOS XS. Mine sucks compared to yall's moon shots. I need advice and direction on what I am doing wrong. I did all of the focusing and setting with the Canon Utility software that came with the camera as it was attached to my laptop, with the camera on the tripod.

Here are my settings
Tv 1/50
Av f/20
ISO 100
Focal length 300 mm

Please give this noob some advice!
Thanks for looking and thanks in advance for your comments

Bradn801

[Nighthound]

Focus looks a bit off and a bit underexposed but really very good for your first attempt.

Did you trip the shutter with the timer or a shutter release? Was there any wind?

You'll want to get your shutter speed up, no need to shoot at f/20. f/6-f/8 will help and you can go to ISO 200 without hardly any compromise in quality.

If you're using a shutter release, use the camera mirror lock setting if your model has the feature and always shoot in Manual mode.

Which 300mm lens are you using?

[bradn801]

Thanks for the response, I tripped the shutter with the Canon Utility program on my laptop, there was a slight breeze. I do not know about the Mirror Lock setting i will have to look. The lens is a Sigma AF 100-300mm 4.5-6.7 DL Lens.

I did take the shot in manual mode. I zoomed the pic a little before posting it. the original was cleaner but smaller.

thanks

Bradn801

[Celestron]

I agree with Steve , about the settings and all . If your using the monitor screen as your viewer for focus that maybe the reason for soft focus outside the fact that Sigmas tend to be a little soft on focus . I have the 135-400mm APO and i have the same problem alot . Look in the camera viewer for focusing verification before tripping the shutter and use your timer if possible and don't touch the camera or anything when tripping . One last idea i'll add . What format and size are you using . If your increasing the size from the original to get a bigger moon that will hinder the focused look cause it starts to enlarge pixel size beyond it's original size . Best thing would be to shoot in large jpeg like i do or in RAW if you have the proper software to edit RAW images . Then reduce from the original instead of increasing the size . It helps make things a little crisper and better focused actually .

[bradn801]

I will try your advice next time..we are in for a long haul of clouds here in Southeast Texas for a few days.

Celestron I am originally from Midland Texas!!! Moved to Brenham about 4 years ago. I miss west Texas!

Thanks

Bradn801

[Celestron]

I will try your advice next time..we are in for a long haul of clouds here in Southeast Texas for a few days.

Celestron I am originally from Midland Texas!!! Moved to Brenham about 4 years ago. I miss west Texas!

Thanks

Bradn801


Bradn801 , Midland is still here and growing BIG ! When was you here last ? I'm not sure where Brenham is but i lived in Winnsboro , 22 miles south of Sulpher Springs before i moved to Midland . Lived in Midland 33-yrs now . Lived in Winnsboro for 6 yrs from 1966-1972 , then i went in the Army for 3 yrs then got out and moved to Midland and been here since . Got family still there . Lived in Lubbock from 1954-1966 . Thats where i really call home . My growing up stomping grounds and the best memories of my life entirely !

[ssracer]

Might want to try some PP as well, little sharpening and contrast might help. I had never tried it until someone suggested it on here. Just using the canon DPP program I was able to take one of my shots from this:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3266/3162458767_95f7c8a9d6_o.jpg

to this:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3115/3148463145_4428d669de_o.jpg

Same picture, just with some post processing on the RAW data.

[sjfEOSxs]

tremendous work... can you explain what you mean when you say "... with some post processing on the RAW data"? ...

[ssracer]

I shoot in RAW + L, so I get a RAW (.CR2) file and a high quality .JPEG file for each image.

The raw file allows you to edit the picture data without causing much harm to the actual image. In this case I opened the RAW file using Cannon DPP and adjusted the contrast, brightness and sharpness to bring out more of the detail. I then converted that to a JPEG file.

[sjfEOSxs]

Thanks ssracer.... very helpful... now it is time to wait for the next clear night.