My first moon shot
May 21, 2016 00:05:39 #
I need some advice. First I will tell you my gear, canon 70d lenses ,canon 400mm 1:5.6 L
Canon 2x extender mid weight tripod, ball head. I started with ISO 400 ,shutter 400, f11
Shoot in manual mode ,I use a remote switch. By the time I was ready in order to shoot at the correct exposure I needed to shoot ISO 1000 , shutter 1250,aperture f9 also there was a slight breeze and I did not have additional weight to use on the tripod . I would only shoot when I had a lull in the the breeze ,I assume the breeze to be approx. 5 mph. I did not realize the noon would move so quickly ,I needed to be sure to check my focus and setting due to the movement of the noon every few minutes . I had a little camera movement for sure. I believe the Ball head is not great,not smooth and I do feel the shots I took will not enlarge well. I am sure my lack of experience caused someof the problems
Also. I would greatly appreciate any info. you may have for me as well as comments on gear used .thank you for you help G M P
Canon 2x extender mid weight tripod, ball head. I started with ISO 400 ,shutter 400, f11
Shoot in manual mode ,I use a remote switch. By the time I was ready in order to shoot at the correct exposure I needed to shoot ISO 1000 , shutter 1250,aperture f9 also there was a slight breeze and I did not have additional weight to use on the tripod . I would only shoot when I had a lull in the the breeze ,I assume the breeze to be approx. 5 mph. I did not realize the noon would move so quickly ,I needed to be sure to check my focus and setting due to the movement of the noon every few minutes . I had a little camera movement for sure. I believe the Ball head is not great,not smooth and I do feel the shots I took will not enlarge well. I am sure my lack of experience caused someof the problems
Also. I would greatly appreciate any info. you may have for me as well as comments on gear used .thank you for you help G M P
May 21, 2016 00:26:13 #
Do you have your WB set to sunny? Remember it is sunny on the moon! 400 is normally a good starting point for ISO. I also like to use single point focus on the moon.
Good idea with the remote shutter release to cut down on vibration. Ever consider mirror lock up too?
Good idea with the remote shutter release to cut down on vibration. Ever consider mirror lock up too?
May 21, 2016 00:34:01 #
G M P wrote:
I need some advice. First I will tell you my gear,... (show quote)
Please post your image(s) so we can give you some precise advice. Though what the first replier wrote could be useful.
May 21, 2016 00:48:45 #
Thank you for the reply Nikon. No I did not check my WB .I believe the last time I used my camera it was on cloudy I will check , I must learn to check all every time . I agree I use single point also. No I have not done mirror lockup ,I am not sure what it is ,I will look it up.Thank you for the reply your info is very helpful
May 21, 2016 00:52:12 #
May 21, 2016 01:02:19 #
The attached photo was shot on 9/27/15 using a Canon SX50 HS camera.
Settings: ISO 200, f/8.0, 1/160 secs. Remember you are taking a picture of an object that is already very bright. Don't be concerned about how dark the surrounding sky may seem.
Settings: ISO 200, f/8.0, 1/160 secs. Remember you are taking a picture of an object that is already very bright. Don't be concerned about how dark the surrounding sky may seem.
May 21, 2016 01:11:44 #
Dontrain
Loc: Chicago suburb
I had some good luck with exposure starting with the "sunny sixteen" rule. F16, ISO 400, 1/200. Also MirrorUp and remote helps. I kept increasing shutter speed until the little bright white blob in the viewer became darker and showed some moon detail. Otherwise, the image would have been completely blown out and featureless. I used a Nikon 200 mm lens on a d7100.
May 21, 2016 01:42:57 #
Here's a shot of almost a full moon: Nikon D5200, 1/320 sec at f/11 ISO 200. Lens is a Tamron 16-300 set at 300mm. It was on a tripod in a backyard in the Los Angeles area, if you can believe that. I start with a fairly low ISO (200, 400) at f/11 or f/16 taking a series of shots varying the shutter speed from 1/40 and halving the shutter speed up to whatever until you see a shot that looks like a good exposure. You may have to decrease the shutter speed, depending on the weather. I shoot with Auto WB and it seems to work as the moon is basically grey-white anyway. Tripod is ESSENTIAL! as well as using a cable or remote release. And the moon moves and you have to check framing every shot. On focus I found that I need to manually set the focus to near infinity rather than depend on the Auto focus. Hope this helps.
May 21, 2016 01:46:06 #
I made a typo: start at shutter speed of 1/40 and increase by 2... example, 1/40 to 1/80 to 1/160 to 1/320 rather than decreasing.
May 21, 2016 01:51:16 #
Another thought: There will be times when only 1 or 2 shots out of a session will be acceptable, sometimes none, sometimes a lot. Just live with it!
May 22, 2016 05:15:02 #
G M P wrote:
I need some advice. First I will tell you my gear,... (show quote)
I don't think the 2x TC is helping you. While the 400 F5.6 is a stunningly sharp lens, attaching the 2x will cut your sharpness by 25%-30%. You are probably better off cropping.
Choose a phase of the moon other than full or close to full - the lighting more more contrasty and will render a sharper crisper look.
You don't need 1/1250 sec to capture the moon - even 1/160 if you are on a tripod is fine. You have additional weight - use your arm draped over the lens. It will stabilize it (trust me on this one).
This is an image I took a couple of years ago. You could use these same settings, except set the ISO to 200, since your lens only goes to F5.6, which is fine, since your lens is sharp wide open. Your 400 on a 70D will yield a slightly narrower field of view - about the same as a 640mm lens on my camera.
I used a good ball head on this - an Arca Swiss Z1. And I did not use remote shutter, mirror lockup or shutter delay. I draped my arm over the lens to steady it, and gently squeezed the shutter.
May 22, 2016 07:11:58 #
G M P wrote:
I need some advice. First I will tell you my gear,... (show quote)
ISO 400 is way out of whack. Us ISO 100, 1/200 sec, f/8. You will not get so much washout in your whites.
This is just like taking photos in the Snow.
Craig
May 22, 2016 09:22:30 #
G M P wrote:
I need some advice. First I will tell you my gear,... (show quote)
Not quite a joke, but sell all your gear and get a Canon SX 50. Everything you wanted to do takes only seconds can you get some fantastic pictures, all handheld. Here's an example.
May 22, 2016 11:23:22 #
Dlevon wrote:
Not quite a joke, but sell all your gear and get a Canon SX 50. Everything you wanted to do takes only seconds can you get some fantastic pictures, all handheld. Here's an example.
Good start Dlevon, get your ISO down and you'll have a much crisper, noiseless shot.
This shot was ISO 50, 1/60 sec, f/5.6
Processed in Lightroom & Topaz
Craig
May 22, 2016 14:06:20 #
G M P wrote:
I need some advice. First I will tell you my gear,... (show quote)
Re-read the posts by Gene51 and Craigfair.
I would only add the following; keep your ISO as low and shutter speed considerations will allow.
Use SPOT metering and only the center autofocus spot.
Also, remember that you are trying to shoot a moving target, so I suggest you get your setting right, then move your focal spot just ahead of where you want to capture the moon and shoot a series of images both as the moon approaches and after it passes your optimal spot. Keep your aperture at the setting that allows the best combination of optimal sharpness and reasonable shutter speed. ISO AS LOW AS POSSIBLE.
Like Gene said, ditch the teleconverter; it is not only softening your image, but cutting the amount of light getting to your sensor, therefore requiring you to INCREASE your ISO, which as everyone else has noted, is DECREASING your image sharpness and color accuracy by introducing more noise.
The moon is still near full tonight. Go out and re-try using the advice given.
GOOD LUCK!
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