Canon 60D Users, Unite! (4!)

I took this shot of the moon this evening using my new Tamron 70-300 VC lens. I have a question. I used tripod, VC (IS) off, manual focusing, triggering using IR remote. I was focusing using live view at 10x magnification. While focusing, everything looked VERY sharp on the screen at 10x magnification. After I took the shot, I previewed the picture on the same screen using the same 10x magnification and it was noticeable softer comparing to when I was focusing on the same screen at the same magnification. Why is that?? There should be no camera shake on the tripod using remote trigger, yet the image came out softer than when I was focusing in live view. I tried different f-stops with the same result. Any hints?

EDIT: I think I just found an answer to my own question here: "The moon moves. Because the moon rotates around the Earth as the Earth itself is moving, slow shutter speeds will cause blur on your moon photographs. Use the highest possible shutter speed with a relatively small F-Stop to get a good exposure (in this case slightly underexposed) image. With the desired slight underexposure, you should be able to get a fast enough shutter speed to hand-hold your camera. With a 300mm zoom you will need a shutter speed of at least 1/350 for a clear image." Sure enough, my shutter speed was 1/8 of a second! Makes sense now.

Maybe add mirror-lockup. Also, make sure your lens/body is balanced and distributed equally over the center column (also, put that down) fore and aft. Try not to shoot through clouds either, even the really high ones, they will soften your image. Lastly, make sure your lens isn't breathing on you.

GOOD LUCK!

Mike, thanks for your advice. Will try again tomorrow.

Yes, 1/8 is too slow. The moon travels at ~15 arc Seconds, per second. An arc second on Terra is a mile on Luna. I would stick to and try to achieve a low ISO enough to give you at least 1/125.

IMO, you don't need to stop down heavily on this target, especially at this focal length. You will be cropping heavily with the framing you posted. Small apertures like f16 and smaller aren't going to show any better center performance than f5.6 - f8 in most situations, and since your using the dead center of the chip... Well, you know the rest of that story.

Have fun, slap some teleconverters on and show us a close up, better yet, if you get hooked, head over to CloudyNights.com, we'd be happy to have you there

quackk xD

Y2K wrote in post #14899039
I took this shot of the moon this evening using my new Tamron 70-300 VC lens. I have a question. I used tripod, VC (IS) off, manual focusing, triggering using IR remote. I was focusing using live view at 10x magnification. While focusing, everything looked VERY sharp on the screen at 10x magnification. After I took the shot, I previewed the picture on the same screen using the same 10x magnification and it was noticeable softer comparing to when I was focusing on the same screen at the same magnification. Why is that?? There should be no camera shake on the tripod using remote trigger, yet the image came out softer than when I was focusing in live view. I tried different f-stops with the same result. Any hints?

EDIT: I think I just found an answer to my own question here: "The moon moves. Because the moon rotates around the Earth as the Earth itself is moving, slow shutter speeds will cause blur on your moon photographs. Use the highest possible shutter speed with a relatively small F-Stop to get a good exposure (in this case slightly underexposed) image. With the desired slight underexposure, you should be able to get a fast enough shutter speed to hand-hold your camera. With a 300mm zoom you will need a shutter speed of at least 1/350 for a clear image." Sure enough, my shutter speed was 1/8 of a second! Makes sense now.

I noticed this a few years ago when I bought a telescope, while looking through a high magnification eyepiece, the moon will only be visible for a short while before you have to re-allign the telescope.

hdr from a single raw file, processed in photomatix.

You guys all have AWESOME photos! Can't believe they're taken with the same camera that I have. I have so much to learn :P

gordon67 wrote in post #14901308
I noticed this a few years ago when I bought a telescope, while looking through a high magnification eyepiece, the moon will only be visible for a short while before you have to re-allign the telescope.

Yes! I noticed it too now when I think about it. When I was focusing in live view at 10X magnification the moon kept sliding slowly on the screen. Makes perfect sense now. Thank you all for input, will have to try again with faster shutter speed.

Lots of nice shots here.

groovy girls wrote in post #14898434
I purchased a new 60D about 2 weeks ago. I feel I can't take a good photo but I am really trying. My biggest issue is with fine focus but I am assuming this is part of the learning curve

For some reason your image isn't linked to anything so we can't see a bigger version and try to see what's going on. Some equipment and shooting info would help too.

If the 60D is your first DSLR it will take more than a couple weeks to get a good feel for it. I've had mine for a couple months and am still learning new stuff about it. If you haven't already, read the manual.

A couple things come to mind. If you're using multi-point AF try switching it to single point, maybe just the center spot. If you're using One-Shot focusing try the AI and servo settings, especially if your subject is moving.

And then read the manual again.

groovy girls wrote in post #14898434
I purchased a new 60D about 2 weeks ago. I feel I can't take a good photo but I am really trying. My biggest issue is with fine focus but I am assuming this is part of the learning curve

Select a focus point instead of letting the camera pick it for you. Also, start a 365 project. That forced me to really learn how to use my camera and try new things!


Here are some shots from my 1st wedding gig!

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/dslrnewb/774921​5204/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/dslrnewb/774909​7688/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/dslrnewb/774912​5292/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/dslrnewb/775356​1360/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/dslrnewb/774897​4898/

A few from the last week.

My lovely wife.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …pturesbycolin/7​839362892/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …pturesbycolin/7​839369432/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …pturesbycolin/7​835471392/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …pturesbycolin/7​839373804/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …pturesbycolin/7​835468622/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …pturesbycolin/7​835491758/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …pturesbycolin/7​835500224/

First time using OCF and i love it!!!

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/denbow98/785484​6090/