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Full Moon Shot -- Question about detail or lack of
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Aug 20, 2016 14:07:20   #
Drdale55 Loc: Prescott, AZ
 
Hi All,
Nice clear sky Wednesday night so trying to get some shots of the full moon. In general I'm pleased but just wondering why nice detail shows up on the right but not on the left. A DOF thing at that distance? Just wondering, thanks (Nikon D500, Nikon 200-500mm, 500mm, 1/320, tripod VR off) @ f8, ISO 400)
Dale


(Download)

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Aug 20, 2016 14:12:11   #
jimvanells Loc: Augusta, GA
 
Not a depth of field issue since everything is at infinity. I think you could have used iso 100-200 and perhaps gotten more detail but the entire picture looks a bit soft. Perhaps the astronomy folks could offer more suggestions.

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Aug 20, 2016 14:12:22   #
Drdale55 Loc: Prescott, AZ
 
Just thinking .... it's probably because I'm looking at this big disc and thinking flat and it's obviously not.

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Aug 20, 2016 14:25:49   #
letmedance Loc: Walnut, Ca.
 
I think that if you use spot metering on the brightest portion of the Moon you will get more detail, the bottom looks a bit overexposed.

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Aug 20, 2016 14:29:01   #
Steve Perry Loc: Sylvania, Ohio
 
Nope, not a DOF issue at all. There are likely several things going on. The first is that you're shooting through a lot of atmosphere and the warmer summertime air tends to cause more distortion than what you would get on a cold winter night. So, that's going to cause some softness. A slightly higher shutter speed might be a good idea as well. I'm not seeing much motion blur at the size you uploaded, but 1/320th is a little slow at 500mm for the moon in my experience.

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Aug 20, 2016 14:33:05   #
letmedance Loc: Walnut, Ca.
 
I also think that the right side of the Moon has longer and darker shadows than the center that are almost non existent as the moon is at it's 3 day Noontime.

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Aug 20, 2016 14:33:45   #
Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA
 
You have lots of detail in that shot. I would lower your iso and f stop to their lowest values. You can use shutter priority or just experiment with different shutter speeds. On a tripod, if you don't have a remote shutter release, use the 10 second shutter delay and make sure there's no contact with or movement around the camera or tripod. Also shoot from a dark spot, away from streetlights or houselights. I'll shoot from the backyard, shielded from streetlights, and turn off the lights in any rooms that look onto the back yard.
Bob

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Aug 20, 2016 14:34:03   #
Bunkershot Loc: Central Florida
 
You didn't say whether you used a tripod. If hand-held I would guess that you would need at least 1/500s shutter speed...

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Aug 20, 2016 14:38:50   #
CEJ Loc: Cresson,Pa
 
Drdale55 wrote:
Just thinking .... it's probably because I'm looking at this big disc and thinking flat and it's obviously not.


the moon being and having a soft edge around it last just a short time, hard to get the full moon head on, one side will always be a little soft. The light is always falling off the back side of the moon, you get good details on that side shots are hand held Nikon Df, tamron 150-600mm


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(Download)

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Aug 20, 2016 14:53:00   #
Duckfart Loc: Olympia, Washington
 
I'm thinking it's a matter of the right side having more shadow which exposes more detail. Not quite a full moon.

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Aug 20, 2016 14:54:54   #
joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois
 
Drdale55 wrote:
Hi All,
Nice clear sky Wednesday night so trying to get some shots of the full moon. In general I'm pleased but just wondering why nice detail shows up on the right but not on the left. A DOF thing at that distance? Just wondering, thanks (Nikon D500, Nikon 200-500mm, 500mm, 1/320, tripod VR off) @ f8, ISO 400)
Dale


Full moons lack shadows. The edge is side lit which produces some shadows. Your settings are just fine. Moon brightness can be deceiving due to atmospheric conditions. Try shooting partial moons for better detail.


(Download)

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Aug 20, 2016 14:58:11   #
James56 Loc: Nashville, Tennessee
 
It's because this image isn't a full moon. It's already developing shadows. A true full moon won't have any shadows what so ever. The moon is only what we call full for a very short time. Here you can already see the shadows beginning on the right side and that's why you think that side is sharper than the rest. So, your not having any focus issues. Rather, just missed the actual full moon by a few hours.

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Aug 20, 2016 15:21:51   #
Racmanaz Loc: Sunny Tucson!
 
James56 wrote:
It's because this image isn't a full moon. It's already developing shadows. A true full moon won't have any shadows what so ever. The moon is only what we call full for a very short time. Here you can already see the shadows beginning on the right side and that's why you think that side is sharper than the rest. So, your not having any focus issues. Rather, just missed the actual full moon by a few hours.


Hey James, could you if you can please address the DOF issue the OP mentioned, I am not too sure but would the aperture size make any difference at that much of a distance?

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Aug 20, 2016 15:46:21   #
louparker Loc: Scottsdale, AZ
 
Steve Perry wrote:
Nope, not a DOF issue at all. There are likely several things going on. The first is that you're shooting through a lot of atmosphere and the warmer summertime air tends to cause more distortion than what you would get on a cold winter night. So, that's going to cause some softness. A slightly higher shutter speed might be a good idea as well. I'm not seeing much motion blur at the size you uploaded, but 1/320th is a little slow at 500mm for the moon in my experience.


As for the atmospheric distortion issue, shooting the moon when it's higher in the sky helps reduce that. Also bear in mind that both the earth and the moon are moving, so you might want to bump up shutter speed. One other suggestion, lock up the mirror so that's not causing any camera movement. Finally you can use dehaze, clarity and sharpening features in post-processing.

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Aug 20, 2016 17:45:33   #
joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois
 
joer wrote:
Full moons lack shadows. The edge is side lit which produces some shadows. Your settings are just fine. Moon brightness can be deceiving due to atmospheric conditions. Try shooting partial moons for better detail.


Forgot to list the settings.

1/320, f5.6, ISO 100, 500mm

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