Photographing the moon
Discussion
Last night I looked up in the clear sky and noticed the moon was very well illuminated and crystal clear, so sorely wished I had a decent level of equipment and experience to take a half decent pic.
I've tried on several occasions in the past to take a half decent photograph of the moon using a Canon S100 camera and have failed miserably, ending up with either a blur or a blob that looks more like the sun. I no longer own the S100 and have replaced it with a RX100, though think I may need a full blown DSLR and telephoto lens to achieve a decent photograph.
Do any PH camera enthusiasts have any experience of taking good quality photos of the moon, and if so, could they perhaps provide me with a few tips and tricks to achieving this?
I've tried on several occasions in the past to take a half decent photograph of the moon using a Canon S100 camera and have failed miserably, ending up with either a blur or a blob that looks more like the sun. I no longer own the S100 and have replaced it with a RX100, though think I may need a full blown DSLR and telephoto lens to achieve a decent photograph.
Do any PH camera enthusiasts have any experience of taking good quality photos of the moon, and if so, could they perhaps provide me with a few tips and tricks to achieving this?
Full Moon by gravelben, on FlickrThis is probably my best ever moon shot - Nikon D7000 with 400mm lens, 1/320 @ f/8. Pretty big crop at 400mm, a longer lens would have been better.
It was an unusually big bright moon, I was shooting handheld but sitting down and bracing against a railing for stability. I tried using larger aperture and faster shutter, but that lens is sharpest at f/8 and I managed to stay steady enough for at least some shots at the slower speed.
On a calm night I expect you would get more consistent results using a good tripod and remote release/timer to reduce camera shake, but I only have a cheap lightweight tripod and it was blowing a gale so that wasn't an option.
As others have said, spot metering and/or manual control is needed if you don't want to end up with a bright blurry blob.
Interested to see what techniques others use, hopefully I will learn something too!
GravelBen said:
Full Moon by gravelben, on FlickrThis is probably my best ever moon shot - Nikon D7000 with 400mm lens, 1/320 @ f/8. Pretty big crop at 400mm, a longer lens would have been better.
It was an unusually big bright moon, I was shooting handheld but sitting down and bracing against a railing for stability. I tried using larger aperture and faster shutter, but that lens is sharpest at f/8 and I managed to stay steady enough for at least some shots at the slower speed.
On a calm night I expect you would get more consistent results using a good tripod and remote release/timer to reduce camera shake, but I only have a cheap lightweight tripod and it was blowing a gale so that wasn't an option.
As others have said, spot metering and/or manual control is needed if you don't want to end up with a bright blurry blob.
Interested to see what techniques others use, hopefully I will learn something too!
I have a decent quality tripod from years ago for use with my 35mm film Canon A1 which I no longer use. Have been considering purchasing a DSLR such as a 5D Mk3 but am looking for alternatives.
Edited by rich888 on Thursday 9th October 00:47
I'm no expert but from my experiments this last week:
To get any real detail you will need a long telephoto otherwise it will just be a small blob. It's easy to think you need slow shutter speeds and large aperture as you are shooting at night but the moon is lit by the sun and is very bright so daylight settings are more appropriate. Also the moon is traveling very fast across the sky, shooting at a slow shutter speed will just produced a blurred image. I go with roughly the 1/focal length rule although you can go slower with image stabilized lenses, I've seen some taken as low as 1/5s but that must be bordering around the slowest you can go.
Personally I just go full manual and play with the settings (I have been for the past week or so). I've never felt the need to use a tripod given the shutter speeds I've used, everything has been hand held.
From tonight:
DSC_1999 by CBookerphotos, on Flickr
Nikon D800E + Nikon 300mm f2.8 VR1 + 1.7TC (effectively 500mm) @f10, 1/640, ISO 100.
You can get more distinct detail and I think a more interesting shot from the moon phases due to the shadows, this from a few nights ago:
DSC_1929 by CBookerphotos, on Flickr
Nikon D800E + Nikon 300mm f2.8 VR1 + 1.4TC (effectively 420mm) @f10, 1/200, ISO 640.
Obviously all heavily cropped (to roughly 1:1), even with a 500mm lens the moon only takes up about 1/5th of the frame on a full frame camera.
To get any real detail you will need a long telephoto otherwise it will just be a small blob. It's easy to think you need slow shutter speeds and large aperture as you are shooting at night but the moon is lit by the sun and is very bright so daylight settings are more appropriate. Also the moon is traveling very fast across the sky, shooting at a slow shutter speed will just produced a blurred image. I go with roughly the 1/focal length rule although you can go slower with image stabilized lenses, I've seen some taken as low as 1/5s but that must be bordering around the slowest you can go.
Personally I just go full manual and play with the settings (I have been for the past week or so). I've never felt the need to use a tripod given the shutter speeds I've used, everything has been hand held.
From tonight:
DSC_1999 by CBookerphotos, on FlickrNikon D800E + Nikon 300mm f2.8 VR1 + 1.7TC (effectively 500mm) @f10, 1/640, ISO 100.
You can get more distinct detail and I think a more interesting shot from the moon phases due to the shadows, this from a few nights ago:
DSC_1929 by CBookerphotos, on FlickrNikon D800E + Nikon 300mm f2.8 VR1 + 1.4TC (effectively 420mm) @f10, 1/200, ISO 640.
Obviously all heavily cropped (to roughly 1:1), even with a 500mm lens the moon only takes up about 1/5th of the frame on a full frame camera.
Reach definitely helps, this was 700mm, still required a fair bit fo cropping.
I51A8852 by nellyleelephant, on Flickr
I51A8852 by nellyleelephant, on FlickrPints said:
A reminder that yesterday there was a lunar eclipse and blood moon visible in Asia and the Americas.
Is that right...
Eclipse (4) by gravelben, on Flickr
Someone mentioned the moon does shift, indeed it does, watching through the scope on high magnification, turn around for that culpa and come back to the eye piece and the sod has gone.
The scope with a camera bolted on there should be no need depending on its (moon) cycle, would it not be OK on long lens with the appropriate speed? (I normally use the scope, not a lens though it is effectible a 1000mm lens)
However, on my scope, remote release and (if available), shutter lock up are essential and we are on a tripod? I also fell foul of one lens, when I was messing around, with IS on, did not like the tripod, kept hunting for the shake so it was blurred. Focus con sometimes be a b
h as well. And setting the camera lens to infinity with auto focus off, that threw me on one occasion as well. Infinities are not equal?
The scope with a camera bolted on there should be no need depending on its (moon) cycle, would it not be OK on long lens with the appropriate speed? (I normally use the scope, not a lens though it is effectible a 1000mm lens)
However, on my scope, remote release and (if available), shutter lock up are essential and we are on a tripod? I also fell foul of one lens, when I was messing around, with IS on, did not like the tripod, kept hunting for the shake so it was blurred. Focus con sometimes be a b
h as well. And setting the camera lens to infinity with auto focus off, that threw me on one occasion as well. Infinities are not equal?
The other thing that's easily overlooked is the most basic one: when it comes to shots of the Moon itself, rather than a scene featuring it, there are a distinctly finite number of shots you can take, and all of them have been done before. Therefore I suggest it's something you do with kit you happen to have, rather than ever pursuing kit for the purpose.
Astrophotography and star trails etc offer some more diverse interest, but it's very different technique.
Astrophotography and star trails etc offer some more diverse interest, but it's very different technique.
Hey, can I just say thank you to everyone who has replied and the fantastic photos and advice that followed which is what I was looking for.
Some terrific suggestions on how to make the pics rather unique rather than full on was very helpful because I had never considered doing this.
Was very impressed to note that the high level of detail on some of these photos is quite astonishing. I need to tell my lad that the moon really isn't made of cheese!
It was also very interesting to see that pics can even be taken successfully on a camera phone, though I don't think I will be trying that on my antique 3GS.
As for shooting the moon, it looks like it's received its fair share of impact damage over the years judging by the number of craters on the surface.
Once again, thank you for your replies
Some terrific suggestions on how to make the pics rather unique rather than full on was very helpful because I had never considered doing this.
Was very impressed to note that the high level of detail on some of these photos is quite astonishing. I need to tell my lad that the moon really isn't made of cheese!
It was also very interesting to see that pics can even be taken successfully on a camera phone, though I don't think I will be trying that on my antique 3GS.
As for shooting the moon, it looks like it's received its fair share of impact damage over the years judging by the number of craters on the surface.
Once again, thank you for your replies
trashbat said:
The other thing that's easily overlooked is the most basic one: when it comes to shots of the Moon itself, rather than a scene featuring it, there are a distinctly finite number of shots you can take, and all of them have been done before. Therefore I suggest it's something you do with kit you happen to have, rather than ever pursuing kit for the purpose.
Astrophotography and star trails etc offer some more diverse interest, but it's very different technique.
Well if it a scene featuring it here is mine. Astrophotography and star trails etc offer some more diverse interest, but it's very different technique.
Westfield under moon light by Matt Seabrook, on Flickr
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