I need moon help.

[missjerrica]

Ive looked a couple different threads here, and Ive went out and shot 3 separate times, trying to get a clear crisp shot, with no real good ones. I am assuming that a good chunk of my problem is that the moon is kind of a bit away, and the furthest I can zoom is 200mm.

I am still trying to master manual, and all the aspects, but I was wondering if maybe I am making a simple user error. Id like to get this somewhat.. mk like 90% down, so I can get a good full moon shot.

All the photos seem really good in the viewfinder, and really good looking at them in windows.. but they need a closer crop, and that is when I I go in and notice the blur and noise..

Oh and the first 3, are all on a tripod. (The fourth being handheld)

This one is not cropped at all.. but as you can see the moon is so small looking...
full size pic here



Exposure Time: 0.0012 s (1/800)
Aperture: f/11.0
ISO Equiv.: 200
Exposure Bias: 3.00
Whitebalance: Auto
Metering Mode: matrix




Exposure Time: 0.0010 s (1/1000)
Aperture: f/9.0
Exposure Bias: 3.00
Whitebalance: Auto
Metering Mode: matrix
Exposure: Manual
ISO: 1L



Exposure Time: 0.0040 s (1/250)
Aperture: f/8.0
Exposure Bias: 4.00
Whitebalance: Auto
Metering Mode: matrix
Exposure: Manual
ISO- 1L



Exposure Time: 0.0040 s (1/250)
Aperture: f/11.0
Exposure Bias: 3.00
Whitebalance: Auto
Metering Mode: matrix
Exposure: Manual
Exposure Mode: Manual
ISO- 1L

Thanks In Advance :-)

[dcclark]

First question: why are you shooting at such narrow apertures? The moon is so distant that "depth of field" is hardly going to matter. I don't think anything above f/8 will do anything useful at all for you. Heck, I'd stick with f/5.6 or such.

However, I can't offer much more criticism, because my moon shots are always slightly off as well! However, I generally blame that on my D40's huge autofocus sensors, which can't get the focus spot-on.

[missjerrica]

Originally Posted by dcclark

First question: why are you shooting at such narrow apertures? The moon is so distant that "depth of field" is hardly going to matter. I don't think anything above f/8 will do anything useful at all for you. Heck, I'd stick with f/5.6 or such.

However, I can't offer much more criticism, because my moon shots are always slightly off as well! However, I generally blame that on my D40's huge autofocus sensors, which can't get the focus spot-on.

From what I have read and understand you do not want a wide open aperture. I also started with the "Looney 11 Rule" and worked from that?

[dcclark]

I've heard the rule before, but I certainly don't see the reasoning behind it. I'd love to hear if someone can explain it!

[BobC]

I think the shutter speed is a bit fast. Try about 1/60 and see if that helps

[bradzo66]

After checking some of the crisper images of the moon i have got I thought I better read up on the Looney 11 rule to see how I measured up .....not very well im afraid ! Most of the better shots I have managed have been at around f/13 ISO 400 and 1/100 sec and to be honest now im a little confused I use a 40d 150-500mm with 2x tele converter and always half depress the remote switch and allow the camera to settle before taking the shot Im not sure any of this will help you but thought I would throw my hat in the ring just in case . All the best .

[dcclark]

I've seen some great moon shots at f/5.6 and 250mm (just check in any flickr group with "moon" in the title!). I have focus troubles myself... the D40's lack of fine autofocus sensors doesn't help.

[pburge@tampabay.rr.com]

I would try everthing in manual position...and use remote to prevent tripod viberation.....
It's fun to set WB to about 2500 to get the blue effect also...Just have fun......

[m.c.adams]

I use a 600mm lens with a set f5.6, iso 100 and if the moon is full, generally around 250s. You have to remember that the moon is moving. Also try mirror lock up to help prevent vibration.
Mark



Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT
Exposure: 0.003 sec (1/320)
Aperture: f/0.0
Focal Length: 0 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off

[inkista]

There's no mirror lock-up on Nikon bodies below the D200/D300. We Canon shooters are luckier.

Those photos actually look pretty good to me for a 200mm lens. You may have just reached the limits of your hardware. I know that I wasn't happy with my moon shots until I got my 400mm prime. My old 75-300 III (cheap cheap lens) just couldn't cut it.

Your shutter speeds are high enough, so maybe backing off to f/8 (a typical sharpness 'sweet spot' for most lenses) might help with diffraction effect. But mostly the problem is that you have to crop as heavily as you do to get the moon to fill the frame. There's no way of stopping things from getting fuzzier when your pixels get bigger.

You might want to try a teleconverter, but it could introduce just as much blur as it removes.

Tripod technique would be 1) use a heavy enough tripod, 2) use a cable release, and 3) use a timer and if you have it 4) use mirror lock-up. You want to reduce vibration as much as possible.