First Moon Pics

I am interested in taking some photos of the moon, i only have a 200mm f/4 lens. How are these for a first attempt?

well I'll comment on the first pic as I think that's the better of the 4.
You have two issues, focus is off and your ISO is too high.
Were you shooting these handheld? Is so, I would definitely recommend using a tripod for shooting the moon. As for ISO, the moon is going to be way bright, so you really shouldn't have to go over 200 anyone. 99% of the time 100 is perfect. Your shutter speed will slow down with the ISO coming down, your aperture looks about right, f/11. Ideal stats for shooting a full moon will be around 1/125, f/11, ISO 100.
I think you just need to work on using the tripod and focusing in live view. Just remember too, 200mm isn't all that much magnification so you my not get as many details as you wish.

Keep practicing and let us see how you're doing!

I did my first moon shot last night too. Only had my camera 1 day and this is my result. Taken hand held with kit lense. Its not as bad as i thought it would be. I will try again tonight with the tripod i bought today.

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Moon shots are bloody hard!

I've got a 300mm and 210mm, I've tried both with 2x teleconverters and can't get the shots I want.

Just gotta keep practicing I suppose.

I haven't tried focusing in live view though as some one mentioned before, might try that soon.

Here's my first take with the 500D and 55-250mm. It took many shots hand held to get it perfectly in focus.
1/200s, ISO 200, F/8,250mm

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Xcelx wrote in post #10142967
Here's my first take with the 500D and 55-250mm. It took many shots hand held to get it perfectly in focus.
1/200s, ISO 200, F/8,250mm

this is the best of the 3... with short lenses, you have to use a tripod to get it right.

the first shot is definitely the best of the set. They all seem out of focus, so try using a tripod. For a first attempt, this is a great learning experience. You obviously were able to capture the detail of the moon, so you just have to work on the white balance and steady camera.

Probably a good starting point for moon shots I find

1/250, ISO 100, f11

Definates - Sturdy tripod (weighed down preferrably) and remote shutter, Manual focus using 5x and 10x magnification in live view to get your focus shot on.

I was actually thinking of knocking up a quick 'dial' kinda thing to tape to my lens to make really fine focus adjustments easier.

This is what I got following the above rules (with a crappy lens)

ISO Too High, Focus is off, and/or, you were holding the camera in hand. But, look at it this way: It's your first attempts, and you can say you got something which you can definitely tell it's the moon. Certainly nothing to be ashamed of, I've had my humble beginnings as I am sure many others have.

As already mentioned by some of the others, a sturdy tripod is important along with the use of a remote switch. Using mirror lock up helps also. If you're using a lens with IS, turn it off. If you're using a lens with AF, turn it off and do it manually. I like to focus on the terminator, or some prominent feature such as Tycho.
Usually when I'm set up for any kind of astroimaging I have the camera interfaced with my laptop computer using the EOS utility Camera Settings/Remote Shooting program . Makes things much easier when it comes to checking the focus and exposure.
Because the illumination of the moon changes daily, the exposure used won't always be the same. There is a lot of trial and error involved when you first get started, but don't give up. Sometimes I'll bracket my shots. If anything I prefer to underexpose slightly. If you can shoot 4 or 5 shots in rapid succession with the camera set on high speed continuous shooting, then stack them all together.
Some people will bracket their exposures then stack them into a HDR Image using Photoshop. Sometimes they look good, sometimes not.

Meanwhile if your interested in DSLR Astrophotography and other things you can do check these out. You don't always need a telescope!
http://cs.astronomy.co​m/asycs/forums/t/45250​.aspx
http://cs.astronomy.co​m/asycs/forums/t/37823​.aspx
http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=6JvzlMhZavc

This is my first attempt, using a 5Dii and a 70-200 f4:

Trixster! wrote in post #10208587
This is my first attempt, using a 5Dii and a 70-200 f4:

Great shot, nice and sharp!

It's made me want a longer lens!

Trixster! wrote in post #10209502
It's made me want a longer lens!

Get yourself a small ED/APO Refractor, and the T-Ring and Adapter to hook your camera directly to the telescope.

I've got a Celestron C80ED f/7.5 Refractor that does a wonderful job for Prime Focus photography. It's still light enough that I can use it on a camera tripod if I want.

Trixster! wrote in post #10209502
It's made me want a longer lens!

There is always someone with a longer lens/better glass/better set-up (more $k's), that's what I like about this forum I get to see their cool/clear shots!

With that said I also have "longer lens itis" and might swing a 100-400 L in future (Dec-2010?) for outdoor nature/wildlife and improved moon shots over my 55-250 kit lens.

I do realize I'll never match this guys lens....

WOW! What kind of lens is that monster? Do you have to take out a mortgage on it?