Cookie223 Loc: New Jersey

I know I'm doing something wrong. I've been trying for the last 2 nights to take some shots of the moon so I can be prepared for Monday.

I have a Canon T5i, and I'm using a 70-200 1;2.8L and a 70-300 1;4-5.6 lens. I'm using a tripod and a remote shutter. I've tried every setting on my camera, and get a bright white ball with no detail what so ever.

I've set my ISO starting @100 all the way up to 800. and apertures between f-5.6 to F/12. The camera takes great pictures, but I can't get any type of night shot clear.

Any and all suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Camlane Loc: North Carolina

Raise your shutter speed. It's high noon on the moon and it is much brighter than you think. Focusing will be easier using live view mode.

Jackh

I've been trying ("rehearsing") in manual mode. f/11, 1/125 sec., ISO 100. You're right with the tripod and remote release. Turn off image stabilization, spot meter on the face of the moon, set white balance for bright sunlight, use auto focus, but trim focus manually if you feel the need. Probably a good idea to shoot using "live view" but I have been using my viewfinder so far. This all worked for me last night. Crappy photos because I didn't use a tripod, but I got images that were identifiable even hand holding the camera. (Canon 7D Mk II, Canon 70-300L) A bit better on a monopod. Tonight's the real deal; well, final rehearsal anyway. So tonight it's live view and tripod with timer shutter release. I've been advised not to bother with locking the mirror up so I'm not going to do that.

pdsdville Loc: Midlothian, Tx

Try 1/125th second at f/8, and an ISO of 100. You can actually hand hold if you have a pretty steady hand.

Cookie223 Loc: New Jersey

Thanks, I'll give it a try.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

Here are two systems for lunar exposure from Wikipedia - that should get you in the ballpark:

In lunar photography, the Looney 11 rule (also known as the Looney f/11 rule) is a method of estimating correct exposures without a light meter. For daylight photography, there is a similar rule called the Sunny 16 rule.

The basic rule is, '"For astronomical photos of the Moon's surface, set aperture to f/11 and shutter speed to the [reciprocal of the] ISO film speed [or ISO setting]."

With ISO 100 film / setting in the camera, one sets the aperture to f/11 and the shutter speed to 1/100 or 1/125 second (on some cameras 1/125 second is the available setting nearest to 1/100 second).
With ISO 200 film / setting and aperture at f/11, set shutter speed to 1/200 or 1/250.
With ISO 400 film / setting and aperture at f/11, set shutter speed to 1/400 or 1/500.
As with other light readings, shutter speed can be changed as long as the f-number is altered to compensate, e.g. 1/250 second at f/8 gives equivalent exposure to 1/125 second at f/11. Generally, the adjustment is done such that for each step in aperture increase (i.e., decreasing the f-number), the exposure time has to be halved (or equivalently, the shutter speed doubled), and vice versa.

The intensity of visible sunlight striking the surface of the Moon is essentially the same as at the surface of the Earth. The albedo of the Moon's surface material is lower (darker) than that of the earth's surface, and the Looney 11 rule increases exposure by one stop versus the Sunny 16 rule. Many photographers simply use the f/16-based Sunny 16 rule, unmodified, for lunar photographs.

In photography, the sunny 16 rule (also known as the sunny f/16 rule) is a method of estimating correct daylight exposures without a light meter. (For lunar photography there is a similar rule known as the looney 11 rule.) Apart from the obvious advantage of independence from a light meter, the sunny 16 rule can also aid in achieving correct exposure of difficult subjects. As the rule is based on incident light, rather than reflected light as with most camera light meters, very bright or very dark subjects are compensated for. The rule serves as a mnemonic for the camera settings obtained on a sunny day using the exposure value (EV) system.

The basic rule is, "On a sunny day set aperture to f/16 and shutter speed to the [reciprocal of the] ISO film speed [or ISO setting] for a subject in direct sunlight."[1] For example:

On a sunny day and with ISO 100 film / setting in the camera, one sets the aperture to f/16 and the shutter speed to 1/10 or/125 second (on some cameras 1/125 second is the available setting nearest to 1/
100 second).
On a sunny day with ISO 200 film / setting and aperture at f/16, set shutter speed to 1/200 or 1/250.
On a sunny day with ISO 400 film / setting and aperture at f/16, set shutter speed to 1/400 or 1/500.
As with other light readings, shutter speed can be changed as long as the f-number is altered to compensate, e.g. 1/250 second at f/11 gives equivalent exposure to 1/125 second at f/16. More in general, the adjustment is done such that for each step in aperture increase (i.e., decreasing the f-number), the exposure time has to be halved (or equivalently, the shutter speed doubled), and vice versa.

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

Manual mode set to ISO 800, shutter speed to 1/125, and aperture to 5.6. you need to remember that just because it is night time, the moon is very bright and you do not want a slow shutter speed.

Cookie223 Loc: New Jersey

OMG John, now I'm really overwhelmed! Whatever happened to point and shoot?

This is going to take me awhile, thanks for the great and detailed instructions.

Cookie223 Loc: New Jersey

Orrin, I tried a lot of combinations, but I don't recall if I used these settings. I'll give it a try.
Thanks

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

FAQ: How to Photograph the Moon at http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-26498-1.html

Cookie223 Loc: New Jersey

Thanks Nikonian, I wrote down your suggestions and can't wait to give them a try.

Camlane Loc: North Carolina

Can you explain why you would use ISO 800? It certainly is not necessary or desirable.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

And with those settings at ISO 800, it should be pretty overexposed.

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

I start there and adjust as necessary. It depends on how bright the moon is when I photograph. I have used as low as 100 as well, but the shutter speed is the most important factor.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Once, when talking to a Canon tech, he said, "you don't use the 10/10/10 rule"? I said, "what the heck is that"?
It's really easy, ISO 100, SS 100, f10. It's almost exactly what you said but only with about a 1000 less numbers and words!!! LoL
SS