Full Moon Shot -- Question about detail or lack of (Page 2): Thank you everyone!!! A lot of really good information from you all. Can't wait for the next one to come around and give...

Drdale55 Loc: Prescott, AZ

Thank you everyone!!! A lot of really good information from you all. Can't wait for the next one to come around and give these suggestions a try. Thanks again for the prompt and helpful replies.

Dale

Erv Loc: Medina Ohio

Hi Dale. Late to the party.:) But you can get some good apps on your computer or sell phone. They can help you with a lot of things about the Moon. The one I use the most is called MoomPhase.

RonnieP Loc: Texas

I had significant problems getting a sharp moon image because I was using too slow a shutter speed with a long lens. Albeit, my camera is a Nikon D7100 and I was using a Tamron 150-600 on a solid Benfro tripod with a heavy ball head. The problem was I was still getting camera "shake" at shutter release. Rule of thumb is shutter speed 1/max length of lens. With your set up, that would be 1/500 sec. With mine, it is (1/600) * 1.5 sec or 1/900 sec MINIMUM. Also, since the exposure is BRIGHT SUNLIGHT, the "Sunny 16" rule would apply. So I started shooting ISO 1600, at 1/1600 sec with f/16. I bracket half and 1 stop above and half and one stop below. My pictures are now sharper and I believe it is from the proper f/stop.

dlmorris Loc: Loma Linda, Ca

There is nothing wrong with your image (other than the color, I don't know why I see so many brown moons on this forum...maybe it is my computer..? ). The reason for the detail on the right edge, is, as others have suggested, is the fact that the moon is not totally full. There are some shadows there. Otherwise, the focus is good, and the exposure is good as well. A truly full moon has very little detail at all.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

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

My exposures always start with 1/iso at F16. So, in your case it would be 1/400 at F16 would be my base exposure. I would then bracket and find out my best exposure that retains detail. Nikon and others have a feature that you can combine two exposures on your memory card provided that both exposures are shot in Raw and are on the same memory card. I take a large picture of the moon and then later put my moon into other shots, they come out quite nice.

Quixdraw Loc: x

When I have gotten my best moon photos I have used a long lens and tripod. Details from one successful photo -- Lens 500mm F8, ISO 180, 1/500th, Aperture or Manual, Spot metering, -0.3EV. Skies are very clear out here, so your results may differ, Some of the Astro Photo folks could help, you might want to post a question there.

ssymeono Loc: St. Louis, Missouri

Regis gets the best relief and never uses a tripod. Only a week ago, Regis said that to get good relief it's best to shoot before the full moon b/c the brightly illuminated surface flattens whatever shadows may exist. Please check the recent Regis post and discussion.

Quixdraw Loc: x

ssymeono wrote:

Regis gets the best relief and never uses a tripod. Only a week ago, Regis said that to get good relief it's best to shoot before the full moon b/c the brightly illuminated surface flattens whatever shadows may exist. Please check the recent Regis post and discussion.

Forgot those -- definitely a great source!

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

MOVE IN CLOSER

zigipha Loc: north nj

also zoom lenses tend to perform worse at the extremes; so could be due to optics

shoot in raw and then you can play with the post processing to get exposures perfect

ralfstinson Loc: SF Bay Area

For a perfectly full moon, it will be in the shadow of earth! Think about it, and how it must line up! So a near perfect full moon, will have the sun slightly offset. Depending on the side, one side will have more shadows to show more sharp features. Then atmosphere and optics can effect the picture.

Regis Loc: Coeur d' Alene, Idaho

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

It is very hard to get any detail when photographing the full moon. The moon's brightness obscures the crater details.
You will better detailed results when the moon is in the 1/4, 1,2 or 3/4 phases.

(Download)

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Dale, I hope you don't mind that I reworked your image slightly. I did an image specific WB on you image which reduces some atmospheric effects. Additionally, I adjusted brightness and contrast a bit.

Among the other comments about the moon being, possibly, just past full. The number of crater, etc. on the right side of the image vs. the left side is quite possibly just a reality. There maybe more details on the right side than in the mares which dominate the left side of the image.
--Bob

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

(Download)

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

Hi Regis,
Tons of detail. Can you share what camera, lens and settings you used on this pic?
Bob

Regis wrote:

It is very hard to get any detail when photographing the full moon. The moon's brightness obscures the crater details.
You will better detailed results when the moon is in the 1/4, 1,2 or 3/4 phases.

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

I agree with letmedance. The moon is not perfectly full here, as the sun is clearly illuminating it from the left. So features on the left side are not projecting shadows.