JohnBoy5562 Loc: Alabama

I am trying to shoot the moon and have done so with my Nikon D7100 but now I have a D850. I’m using the same setting I used with the D7100 but my pictures are not turning out the same. The lens I’ve use on both is the AF NIKKOR 70-300mm 1:4.5-5.6 G and I’m using a tripod. My question is it seams like the 7100 takes better picture of the moon. Is it because it’s a DX vs a FX?

I have a N-AF 2X TELEPLUS MC7 would it help bring the moon closer in the frame of the FX camera?
Can some one here give me a starting point as far as setting on my camera?
Here what I’m using now ISO 200 f8/f11 shutter speed 1/250 with the AF NIKKOR 70-300mm 1:4.5-5.6 G
And is it possible to use the 2X teleplus with the D850 for shooting the moon?

I want to try and shoot the moon Friday night when it’s full.

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

Sure, try the teleplus but remember it adds two f stops, and your camera probably doesn't autofocus that lens past f8. I'm not sure why you need such a high f stop. There's no depth of field to worry about at 1/4 million miles. I'd start at iso-100 and the lowest f stop (widest) your lens will allow (probably f5.6), live view, and adjust the shutter speed until you get nice contrast on the moon's features. If you are worried about camera shake, use the 10 second shutter delay and stand away from the camera and tripod after you press the shutter to start the 10 second countdown. There's no hurry, so try a few shots with and without the teleplus. If the lens won't autofocus with the teleplus, let the lens focus without it, then switch the lens and camera to manual focus. It should stay at the same focus spot it autofocused at. The only thing you should have to change is to lower the shutter speed to adjust for the loss of light in the teleplus. Naturally you will need to crop the pic in post processing. For the moon I like a square crop with just a little little black sky showing.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

Well, for starters since the D850 is FX the moon will be about 1/3 smaller in the frame so it will entail more cropping, but that shouldn’t be an issue with the 45 MPs of the D850 it shouldn’t matter. I know nothing of your 2x teleconverter so I have no idea whether the trade off in reach is worth any degradation of IQ.
The thing is all you said is that the pictures “aren’t the same” with no specifics. Is the problem sharpness? Exposure? What? Maybe it needs to be fine tuned to that lens. Try shooting in live mode and focus manually.
Really for my money a full moon is the most boring moon shot. All the light is straight on. Try 3/4 or half moon and the side light will show the relief better.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Post a sample with the D850

Full moon is not great if you are looking for contrast and detail - the lighting is very flat.

The Kenko 2X TC will take away 25% of your sharpness.

The TX will turn your F5.6 lens into an F11 lens

You shouldn't rely on auto focus. Better to use live view and focus manually, very carefully. You will get far better results.

These were taken with a D800 - first image using a Sigma Sport 150-600, the second using a Nikkor 600mm F4 neither lens was fine tuned on that body. I just typically make sure when I get a new piece of gear that it is up to factory spec. This allows me to use lenses and cameras interchangeably and without any hesitation.


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D800, Sigma 150-600 Sport, 1/200, F8 ISO 100

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D800, Nikkor 600mm F4, 1/160, F4 ISO 100

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SkyKing Loc: Thompson Ridge, NY

...do a google search on reviews of your lens and you will understand how a great camera like the D850 will bring out the faults in your stars...if you want to get better results switch the D850 to DX mode...or consider getting a better lens...

JohnBoy5562 Loc: Alabama

The pictures are blurry with the 850 vs the7100 it’s the same lens on both but with the 7100 the pictures are clear and in focus.

JohnBoy5562 Loc: Alabama

I didn’t keep any of the photos from last night because they was to blurry. I have pictures of the moon taken with the 7100 but not from last night. I think my problem is that it is a FX camera and I probably need a larger zoom lens.

JohnBoy5562 Loc: Alabama

I would Love to have a nicer lens but taking pictures of the moon was just for fun. I also wanted to try taking pictures of the stars. Here are the other two lens that I have that are Zoom-Nikkor AF-S NIKKOR 55-300 1:4.5-5.6 G ED DX and AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm F4 G ED would you recommend one of these over the older zoom? Also I have a AF FISHEYE NIKKOR 10.5mm 1:2.8 G ED I thought would be good for the night sky.

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

Blurry pics usually caused by either being out of focus or moving the camera when you snap the shutter or overexposing (too much light on the sensor), or having the iso too high. You can use a tripod and the 10 second timer on the shutter to remove camera shake. Increase the shutter speed to make the image in live view darker. Use iso 100 to avoid noise and grain. If your autofocus doesn't get a clear shot, you can test it to see if it back focuses or front focuses and needs to be fine tuned in the camera for that lens.

SkyKing Loc: Thompson Ridge, NY

...I will go back to my original suggestion of switching your 850 to the DX mode...now your 850 becomes the D500 and it should eliminate the softness of that lens at the edges and help improve your image quality...good luck...

optic Loc: Southwestern United States

Why on earth (where you are) shoot the moon with a teleconverter? Your D850 has all the pixel wealth you need to crop for magnification. Any way, teleconverters seldom work as well as advertised with zooms --most are primarily designed for use with prime lenses.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

The odds are that the blurryness was motion of the camera or inaccurate focusing. A 45 MP camera magnifies them more than you might think. True the DX image is larger, but cropping the 850 image should make it large enough.

optic Loc: Southwestern United States

Buy a bunch of additional millimeters if you wish but I think you can achieve enlightenment with your D850, a quality mid-range prime, a good tripod, and technique..

Wallen Loc: Middle Earth

Check your focus. It might be off on the other camera. Another reason is pixel density. The 7100 has a tiny bit more pixel density than the 850. If you zoom and crop the image so the moon will be the same size, the image from the full frame will be slightly more jagged.

JohnBoy5562 Loc: Alabama

Here’s one I just took. I’m learning as I go.

(Download)