ronm70 Loc: Illinois

Hi would like some suggestions on the best way to shot the Moon. Picture were not sharp,it was a full Moon last night.
tried to send full pic and cropped pic.
used a sony a57 - F/56 - 1/250 - iso/100 - focal/200 - amp/4,9875 - metering/spot -

haroldross Loc: Walthill, Nebraska

Is the second photo a crop from the first?

A 200mm lens is a little short for the moon. Did you try any sharpening in post processing? The exposure is about right. I think you said that it was taken at f/5.6 and I usually use f/8 for moon photography.

Were you using a tripod and a remote shutter release?

Dave Lind Loc: Auckland New Zealand

Hi Ronm
If you shoot in RAW you will need to sharpen post process.
You need to spot meter - Tripod - as mentioned a 200 is not quite long enough however thats what I have and use - I have learnt that at 200 the pic is not as sharp as it is at 170 or 180 so try either of those 2 zoom ranges - I experiment alot but seem to always use F8 - 100 iso or 200 iso and the shutter speed depends on the ambient light. Anywhere between 250 and 800 - you need to experiment. Also use live view or mirror lock up and a remote shutter release. The pic below was at 1/1500 shutter speed but the iso was 640 - Also the original is 20mb and this pic is crunched to 58kb but still looks OK - I will try to find a couple of different examples and post them for you with the meta data

High iso and high shutter speed


10.5mb reduced to 164kb

Sendai5355 Loc: On the banks of the Pedernales River, Texas

I had the same problem last night. No matter my settings or focus attempts just couldn't get a sharp photo. I seem to get better photos when the moon is at quarter or half. I don't know if its the reflection from the moon or what.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

When shooting a moon, run as fast as you can if the police show up. Kidding. I shoot on a tripod, 700mm focal length, mirror up, f8, iso 100. Adjust shutter speed as per the exposure meter. Evaluative metering work just as well as spot metering but since I shoot manual, I use my histogram and highlight alert for exposure too.

ata3001

This was processed in Lightroom.
Camera: Nikon D700 @ ISO 200 mounted on CF Gitzo tripod
Lens: Nikon 70-300 VR at 300mm f/5.6, 1/125 sec

GeneS Loc: Glendale,AZ

With the Sony A57 you might try F 5.6, 1/500, ISO 320.
Use a tripod, turn steady shot OFF (or the picture will not be sharp) You also have a 2X converter built in,use it.
Also use a remote cable
The A57 has a preview button next to the lens,same side as shutter button, only slightly under the lens. If you use manual, and adjust your settings while holding the button
you will see exactly what your pic will look like.

GeneS Loc: Glendale,AZ

pic was a jpeg no PP.
Your 200mm lens is really about 267 on the A57, use the 2X and it is about 534

Gene Woods

When shooting the moon you need no meter at all the sunny 16 rule works great F16 @ asa or iso for asa 100 film I would use F16 @ 125th sec