Disappointing Lunar Shots
Jan 22, 2019 06:22:06 #
Pablo8
Loc: Nottingham UK.
Sods Law, meant that cloud cover was in evidence here, in my part of the UK. during the eclipse. Today however. moon was clearly visible till setting at 08.am.
Jan 22, 2019 07:20:30 #
If you focus directly on the moon it will not focus correctly because the camera needs a contrast . I used a 9 point focus and focus just off the moon . I shot AP with a shutter cable and my focus was spot on.
Jan 22, 2019 07:24:58 #
Jan 22, 2019 07:41:52 #
We had great clear skies in east Kentucky, but a temperature of 7 degrees F. I used on Olympus EM 1 Mark ll with a Panasonic/Leica 100-400. The articulating screen was a lifesaver and the tap to focus and shoot on the live view made things go a lot easier.
Jan 22, 2019 07:45:40 #
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
foxfirerodandgun wrote:
We were blessed with clear skies, after a section ... (show quote)
I look forward to seeing other Hoggers efforts.It's like taking any other image. The first time is very hard, then it gets easier because you have EXPERIENCE. Next time you do a new type of shot, practice, practice, practice, until you get it right, then you will be ready when it counts.
Jan 22, 2019 09:30:49 #
wildweasel wrote:
We had great clear skies in east Kentucky, but a temperature of 7 degrees F. I used on Olympus EM 1 Mark ll with a Panasonic/Leica 100-400. The articulating screen was a lifesaver and the tap to focus and shoot on the live view made things go a lot easier.
Hi Weasel!!
That last shot is very nice. Looks like you are one of only a few hogs to get good results.
Well done!!
P.S.: Thuds or Phantoms?
Jan 22, 2019 10:13:30 #
Been reading a lot about how challenging this eclipse was since it got 'good' when it was overhead for many people. That is a challenge that is hard to solve, unless you have options like an articulating lcd screen. Mine was that, plus there was snow and it was bitterly cold where I was.
I just enjoyed watching it and then went back inside to warm up. Lunar eclipses are pretty common, and you will get the next one 👍
I just enjoyed watching it and then went back inside to warm up. Lunar eclipses are pretty common, and you will get the next one 👍
Jan 22, 2019 10:28:13 #
I have a few reflector telescopes, one of them with a 6” mirror. I’ve ordered camera to eyepiece adapters on amazon, to see what results may be possible through the telescope.
Jan 22, 2019 11:27:10 #
I got reasonable shots with Canon 5D iv in West Chester, near Cincinnati. Used Canon 100-400 II with 1.4 extender. Min apperture was f8 so high ISO's for Blood Moon. Moon before eclipse was ISO 1250 f8, 1/80th, during eclipse 3200 ISO, F8, 0.5 sec. Serious cropping, these are just 8% of full frame, so noise an issue.
I tried sending this earlier, but could not find it, so apologies if it appears twice! Cliff
I tried sending this earlier, but could not find it, so apologies if it appears twice! Cliff
Jan 22, 2019 11:40:02 #
Unfortunately, this year we had clouds in central California so I wasn't able to get any shots. However, I did do so last year during the "super blue blood moon". I also had the focus issue mentioned, that is, the moon during eclipse is too dark to lock a focus. So I did something I commonly do when taking pictures with a remote shutter release. I focused on the full moon prior to the eclipse when it was bright enough to lock on. I then switched off the autofocus on my lens so it wouldn't change. Once the eclipse came it was still focused fine. Looking back at my pics from last year, I used ISO 3200, 1/10 s, and F/4 with my D750 at totality and it worked fine.
Phil
Phil
Jan 22, 2019 12:27:06 #
Rogers wrote:
I have a few reflector telescopes, one of them with a 6” mirror. I’ve ordered camera to eyepiece adapters on amazon, to see what results may be possible through the telescope.
I have a 10 inch Dob scope and have an adapter for my old Nikon 3200. It does ok, but I had better luck using an adapted webcam and a laptop to shoot photos.
Jan 22, 2019 12:29:02 #
Naptown Gaijin wrote:
Hi Weasel!!
That last shot is very nice. Looks like you are one of only a few hogs to get good results.
Well done!!
P.S.: Thuds or Phantoms?
That last shot is very nice. Looks like you are one of only a few hogs to get good results.
Well done!!
P.S.: Thuds or Phantoms?
Thanks so much, the Olympus did a great job and I only used the jpg files, no raw files.
Jan 22, 2019 12:31:27 #
Can you raise the tripod to it's max height and use a folding chair to view live view, and use the 10 second timer release to get the pic hands free and vibration free? Use auto focus and use the live view to get a contrasty image. I use the lowest iso and widest aperture, center spot autofocus and adjust the image in live view by changing the exposure setting to give me the best picture.
Here's one I took of the lunar eclipse about 3-1/2 years ago, hand held with the 55-300 Nikkor zoom on a Nikon N1 J1 camera giving an equivalent focal length of 810mm. (With wind chills going down to below zero I didn't venture outside for this one.)
Taken just after midnight from my back yard. Nikon1 J1 camera, Nikkor 55-300mm AFS VR zoom lens at 300mm (35mm equivalent focal length = 810 mm), Nikon FT-1 autofocus adapter, f5.6, 1/60 sec., iso-100, hand held. The eclipsed portion of the moon was a bit brighter on the camera lcd screen, but I darkened the pic in Photoshop a bit to bring out the moon's features.
Here's one I took of the lunar eclipse about 3-1/2 years ago, hand held with the 55-300 Nikkor zoom on a Nikon N1 J1 camera giving an equivalent focal length of 810mm. (With wind chills going down to below zero I didn't venture outside for this one.)
Taken just after midnight from my back yard. Nikon1 J1 camera, Nikkor 55-300mm AFS VR zoom lens at 300mm (35mm equivalent focal length = 810 mm), Nikon FT-1 autofocus adapter, f5.6, 1/60 sec., iso-100, hand held. The eclipsed portion of the moon was a bit brighter on the camera lcd screen, but I darkened the pic in Photoshop a bit to bring out the moon's features.
foxfirerodandgun wrote:
We were blessed with clear skies, after a section ... (show quote)
Jan 22, 2019 13:23:22 #
JFCoupe
Loc: Kent, Washington
The moon overhead at full eclipse made positioning the camera very challenging. I had the good fortune of have the tilt/rotate function on my Olympus OMD EM1 II mounted on a ball head. Once I found the moon, following its path was not too difficult.
I would add too, that at full eclipse the valleys and craters on the moon did not look as sharp as my before and after images. I suspect the phase detection focusing system had a role in this. I did try manual focusing but I had some challenges still getting a sharper image.
Overall, the eclipse was a great experience as our forecast in the NW was for full clouds, but we ended up with broken clouds and periods of actual clear skies.
I would add too, that at full eclipse the valleys and craters on the moon did not look as sharp as my before and after images. I suspect the phase detection focusing system had a role in this. I did try manual focusing but I had some challenges still getting a sharper image.
Overall, the eclipse was a great experience as our forecast in the NW was for full clouds, but we ended up with broken clouds and periods of actual clear skies.
Jan 22, 2019 13:37:33 #
If I had known in advance that:
1) The overcast would clear in time (it was heavy at supper time)
2) That the moon would be almost straight up
I might have been prepared. But...
1) The overcast would clear in time (it was heavy at supper time)
2) That the moon would be almost straight up
I might have been prepared. But...
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