My first Moon posting

After nosing around here for a little while, I stacked 15 pictures of the moon that I took last night. I did my best to stack these in Photoshop. I hope I can improve my technique a bit, but I'm satisfied with my first attempt at stacking. I've posted a crop as well to show some of the crater shadows.

Since I'm new to shooting the moon and new to the forum, I'd love any C&C I can get.

Shot with a Canon T1i and a 1970's Soligor 400mm 6.3 lens on a Promaster (made by Kenko) 2x teleconverter on a low-end Induro tripod.

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Not bad at all...be interested to see a single image and a similar close-up of the single image, to see what difference the stacking made.

Touch soft, perhaps a fraction out of focus, but otherwise really good. You should've seen my first ever attempt at a moon shot! You'd think it was a blurry streetlight behind a pane of dirty glass!

For a first you did very well ! When you stack in PS do you use full opacity ? If so pull it back down to around 50-75% . Full opacity covers the original fully .

Celestron wrote in post #8966418
For a first you did very well ! When you stack in PS do you use full opacity ? If so pull it back down to around 50-75% . Full opacity covers the original fully .

I set the first image to 100% and the next 14 images at 10% each. Would it make a difference for the better if I went towards 50-70%?

Adrena1in wrote in post #8966418
Not bad at all...be interested to see a single image and a similar close-up of the single image, to see what difference the stacking made.

Touch soft, perhaps a fraction out of focus, but otherwise really good...

I wouldn't be surprised if this was a bit soft in the focus as I'm sure that my equpment isn't the best for this type of photography (I'm just a poor newbie!). I have an old 400mm from the 70's (Soligor) going through a Promaster 2x teleconverter. The Soligor seems to be a bit soft compared to my Canon 70-200mm 4L, but the Canon just doesn't have the reach of the Soligor. Also, My tripod can get a bit shaky with the all-metal 400mm attached. Thank goodness I have a remote shutter release. Short of getting new glass, are there any techniques that would get a sharper focus?

The next 2 pictures are just one of the images that I used in my stacking....so there is one unstacked full image and one unstacked crop. I can tell that there is a bit more noise, especially in the crop.

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genzbenz wrote in post #8968710
I set the first image to 100% and the next 14 images at 10% each. Would it make a difference for the better if I went towards 50-70%?



I wouldn't be surprised if this was a bit soft in the focus as I'm sure that my equpment isn't the best for this type of photography (I'm just a poor newbie!). I have an old 400mm from the 70's (Soligor) going through a Promaster 2x teleconverter. The Soligor seems to be a bit soft compared to my Canon 70-200mm 4L, but the Canon just doesn't have the reach of the Soligor. Also, My tripod can get a bit shaky with the all-metal 400mm attached. Thank goodness I have a remote shutter release. Short of getting new glass, are there any techniques that would get a sharper focus?

Yes it would help bring out detail more and soften noise when stacking but do bring your Opacity up to at least 40% or more for sure .

As far as your focus help , are you using Mirror Lock-Up when shooting ? Using Mirror-LockUp helps take a better shot cause it helps reduce any vibrations you might have from Mirror slap .

Genz - are you stacking to get practised at stacking? You can still get fairly decent pics of the moon with single shot.
I've never used the stack method, so maybe i could improve some

I got a fairly reasonable pic, single shot, on a tripod, remote cable, mirror lock up

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I'm sorry but that image is poorly processed, Pete. Nice size of moon though.

Not by my standards

Could I give it a go with the original, Pete?

OT: Very nice images, you really kept the craters' detail!

Sorry Robin - no original left now, otherwise I would have gladly sent it to you

I cant take another with that lens / TC as they now live on the island of Crete

I'll have to get the Bigmos out, but obviously cant match the 700mm

I just acquired a 1.4x TC. When the moon is visible again, I'm going to try taking another shot with the 400mm + 1.4x TC + 2x TC to see how it turns out. I'm hoping to fill most of the frame without blowing the budget! I'll post as soon as we're halfway to a full moon again.

How does stacking TC's work out regarding the Math ?

So you have the 400mm Sol, and you fit the 1.4x , gives you 560mm, then you mount the 2x , giving 1120mm ?

Or

You add the 1.4x + 2x gives you 3.4 x 400 = 1360mm?

Fretless Pete wrote in post #9017555
How does stacking TC's work out regarding the Math ?

So you have the 400mm Sol, and you fit the 1.4x , gives you 560mm, then you mount the 2x , giving 1120mm ?

Or

You add the 1.4x + 2x gives you 3.4 x 400 = 1360mm?

Your first equation that equals 1120mm is the correct math.

Thanks - shame the math doesnt work out the other way

I got a lens similar to this one... So I'm curious to know if turns out to be as good at this one!