Eclipse -1st Night/Moon/Compilation Pic

[Sleeping Gryphon]

This was my first night attempt, and my first moon attempt, as well as my first try at putting a bunch of pics together. Many questions here!! Why does the EXIF say the focal range was 210 mm when my 75-300 was fully extended? I was actually pretty disappointed in how small and dull the moon came out. How could I have gotten the focus more intense? Is there a way to get a bigger moon short of dropping a month's pay on a huge lens? I discovered that I had to up the ISO to 800 in order to keep the brighter part of the moon from making these lightburst effects off to the side. Any suggestions from you experienced folks as to what the best combination of manual settings might be for moon pictures? A pic of a single moon was very boring, so I compiled a bunch of the shots to show progression from when the clouds allowed me to see it until the clouds obscured it. What a job!! I used an IR remote to control the shutter, in between being dive-bombed by bats, sniffed at by a pack of very cheeky coyotes and tripping over my tripod when an irrigation pump activated. Didn't stop to think that the moon would move through the sky, so kept adjusting the camera occasionally as it progressed out of view. Thought it was the camera/tripod not staying still. Duh!! Any suggestions for next time I go out to photograph the moon will be very appreciated! Thanks in advance :)

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleeping_gryphon/2282337280/" title="Eclipse 2-20-08 by The Sleeping Gryphon, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3251/2282337280_ed94813d13.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Eclipse 2-20-08" /></a>

Exposure: 5 sec (5)
Aperture: f/20
Focal Length: 210 mm
ISO Speed: 800
Exposure Bias: 0/2 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire
Metering Mode: Average
Exposure Mode: Manual
White Balance: Manual

[clockdoc]

I like your composite display very much. It is interesting that many folks used long exposures which may increase the chance of the rotation of the earth causing the moon to 'blur.' I don't have an answer to your question about focal length values differing. Does the camera do this consistently with this lens?
I am a little confused as to why you had to increase your ISO to aviod lightbursts. Seems like you would want to lower the ISO to exposed fpor the brighter part of the moon. I agree with your concern about image size. I only have a 55-200mm kit lens and the image was very small at 200mm. I have read of folks having mixed success with tele-extenders. Sounds like it was an exciting night. Thanks again for sharing your composite image.

[Sleeping Gryphon]

Thanks! Upping the ISO seemed a strange thing to do, but fiddling with the aperture and the shutter speed didn't seem to take away the bursts. There were sliver moon shaped bursts at the bottom left corner until I upped the ISO. Don't ask me, I just fiddled 'til it worked, had no clue what I was "supposed" to do!! :)