Shot at the moon

[sourav]

I am not sure if this picture should be in this thread, but I could not find any place else more suitable.
This is my first shot at the moon.
Here is what I need to learn from you all
1. how do I make the picture sharper
2. is there a particular exif I should use for moon shots


EXIF:
Model Canon EOS 1000D
ISO 800
Exposure 1/1250 sec
Aperture 11.0
Focal Length 300mm
Flash Used false

P.S. Is it necessary for me to buy a tripod

TIA,
Sourav

[SwissJon]

Hi..

Well for a hand held photo, that's pretty damn clear.

I'm afraid that apart from purchasing a tripod, the only ways to get a better picture is to buy a longer lens (or possibly a telescope with a camera adaptor) so the picture fills more of the end image, and move to a place where you have a clear shot of the night sky without dust, light pollution or thermals. There's a reason why observatories are put at the tops of hills and mountains.

With my 300mm lens, the biggest I've managed to get it is about 1/8th of the height of the frame. Unfortunately I've also discovered that my 300mm lens is soft at that focal length. So I've given up trying to take close ups of the moon until I can afford to buy an observatory.

You will find however, that when the moon is close to the horizon, it will appear larger in the lens.. That might help.

[Michael_2010]

I wouldn't invest in a tripod just to shoot the moon. Find something steady you can rest your camera on and use the camera's timed shutter release, if you don't have a remote. Everyone loves to shoot the moon, but once you have all your settings down and get a good image that's about it for the moon. Good way to help keep your skills sharp though.

With that said, a tripod is a very good thing to have for almost all aspects of photography. There is just no way one can ensure that kind of steadiness without one.

[sourav]

Thanks for that.
Found out that tripod is not that costly
Just another question........what f-number would make a pic clearer?
I have used 11.......what if I used 44 or 5.6, which would bring out the details better?
TIA

[SwissJon]

Most Lenses, it seems to me, have a sweet spot between F/8 and f/11, go much further in either direction and you'll lose clarity.

[kristenh]

sourav, did you know that there is a whole, very long, thread on moon shots under "how i did it"? it's very interesting. i don't think you need a tripod for this b/c your exposures are so very short. i've been making a minor hobby of shooting the moon and one thing that seems to have improved sharpness for me (i only have a 200 mm lens) is taking it during the day. i also do not manually focus- i just can't get that to work. if the moon is the only thing in the shot, the autofocus works well (am using center point and i refocus for each shot b/c the moon moves fast). my clearest shots have come out at aperture 5.6. you can certainly bump your iso way further down- i use 100 or 200 if i forget to change it. that might help with clarity.

its fun, isn't it? we are expecting a full moon this friday and moonrise is soon after sunset, so i'm going to give it a try....

[sourav]

@kristenh thanks. had a look at the thread, great

[SwissJon]

Ok.. Just seen this, sent to me by a friend.. Now this is what you should be looking for with your moon shot! If only!!

Tom Guilmette Dot Com 3.0 Moonshot on Vimeo