Moon pics

[Tonym]

I have been trying to get some pics of the moon when its at it fullest and can only get a very average shot of a white ball with no definition of any features on the moon, I am using a 50D with a 100/400 lens and tried using auto and various other modes on my tripod but still not happy with the results. What lens do people use to get the pics that show craters ? I have a telescope so maybe I need an adapter to use it as a lens.

[jwheat65]

It's brighter than you might think. I took this at 400mm, 1/60, f11, ISO100:

3/4 Moon by John Wheat, on Flickr
BTW that's why you never see stars in the background...

[Tonym]

thats what I've been trying to get, thanks for the info I will give it a go

[dieselpower]

Your camera's meter might be skewed by the massive amount of black around the moon. Try utilising spot metering and meter directly on the moon to get a more accurate reading. In my experience the meter is still not 100% accurate so don't rely on it, but it might at least get you away from the 'white ball' and towards the detailed shots you're chasing.

[Bennymiata]

The best way to take moon shots with your set-up is to mount the camera and lens on a tripod and use your live View to focus correctly, and also to give you an idea of how the shot will come out.
You will find that you need to dial in -2 to -3 compensation on your exposure, otherwise, you will just get a white ball.
This was taken with a 60D, same lens as yours at 400mm using -3 exposure compensation, with a bit of sharpening and cropping.

Moon003Ss.jpg

Hope this helps.

[roburg]

One other point to keep in mind is that the full moon is not the best time to see the craters. If you look at the posted photos the shadows at the day/night line accentuate the craters, so a few days before or after the full moon is usually better. Its also clearer sometimes once its well and truly above the horizon (but not too high to get a crick in your neck!).

I have taken quite a few moon shots with the 40D and 100-400 combination, and the earlier advice about using the tripod and stopping down is very good. I also use a remote shutter to reduce any camera movement to keep them sharp.
Have fun

[ameerat42]

I dunno? Post an image? Am.

[spicer]

I have also had a hard time getting shots of the moon, The bigest thing that helped me was realising that a moon shot is not your typical nigt time photo. You need to have a relativly short shutter speed so as not to let in too much light but then long enough that you dont just get a black image. Just have a play, unfortunatly like most photography there isn't one answer to getting a great photo.

[ameerat42]

OK. Tapping our collective feet and looking at our watches, and still no image! (OK, not a good phase, but try this next time.)

Tonym. Set up your camera with the lens set to 400mm. Wait for the moon to be at least "half full" (that is, 1st or last quarter, or even fuller).
Put your camera onto a steady tripod (preferably attached to the tripod collar of the lens).
Set the camera to MANUAL, then set shutter speed to 1/100 sec, and lens aperture to f/8.
Focus the moon manually using Live View, if you have no better way.
Carefully squeeze the shutter button (or use a shutter release).
Have a look at your result and try some variation on these settings.
Post your results here.

And spicer, follow as best you can.

Good luck to you both, and let's see something.
Am. (Short for am still waiting.)

[Andrew]

Canon 7d/Sigma 150-500 OS @ 500mm, tripod/remote, ISO400, F8, 1/1000s

[stoicecho]

make sure you have your camera out early this coming Thursday morning.... about 4.30am from memory for a total lunar eclipse

[Tonym]

sorry I havn't posted any pics but I am having a few problems with photobucket. I joined a couple of years ago and the account has been unused for some time so I had to re register, then my computer went south and i have had to replace it. I got up this morning and saw some real quick great views of the moon eclipse but here the cloud cover was to thick and the rain would not let up enough to get any pics. Thanks for all the tips, I will keep trying and post some pics shortly.

[ameerat42]

Dam355, that's a pretty good exposure and it is very sharp, considering the moon was in the penumbral stage already.

I REALLY THINK, and IMO, this post of yours should be in its own thread.

Notify a Mod by clicking on the little triangular "!" button (next to the "Thanks" button) and suggest it.
Again, good shot.
Am.

[Analog6]

I have also had a hard time getting shots of the moon, The bigest thing that helped me was realising that a moon shot is not your typical nigt time photo. You need to have a relativly short shutter speed so as not to let in too much light but then long enough that you dont just get a black image. Just have a play, unfortunatly like most photography there isn't one answer to getting a great photo.

Fred Espenak, NASA's Mr Eclipse, has good photo guides for lunar exposures. But basically as a rule of thumb full moon at f8 & ISO 100 use 1/125 - virtually what you'd use foir some daylight situations. The moon is shing with reflected sunlight, so it os quite bright. Exposing for the night sky will give you a white disc.

[Tommo224]

This is an awesome thread, when the weather clears up I'm going to see how well my 200mm lens will take a pic probably be smaller, but cropping ftw.

[jwheat65]

Here's one of the full eclipse I took this morning. It needed a bit different exposure when it was in shadow. Only 200mm this time and not the best pic, but hey...
200mm, 0.7, f2.8, ISO400.

IMGP8575.jpg by John Wheat, on Flickr

[Tonym]

That is a nice pic, wish I could get that sort of definition. Unfortunately we had a heap of cloud and rain this morning so no pics here where I live in this part of NSW