Camera settings for lense: I bought a Sigma 50-500 1:4-6.3 APO DG HSM lense on e-bay. It has no stabilizer. I'm having some problems figuring out settings. Shooting with a canon rebel...

scooter1 Loc: Yacolt, Wa.

I bought a Sigma 50-500 1:4-6.3 APO DG HSM lense on e-bay. It has no stabilizer. I'm having some problems figuring out settings. Shooting with a canon rebel t5. I'm a beginner so try to be gentle. I would imagine camera settings are different for each lense? I have been trying to get good photo's of the moon but am having problems with the sharpness of the photos as well as the exposure. I use a tripod but cannot seem to get a sharp photo. Eyes are getting bad so in order to read I have to wear glasses. I have tried to set the focus with and without my glasses. When I use my glasses and the view thru the camera looks sharp they don't turn out sharp. If I don't use my glasses I can't really tell the sharpness by the view thru the camera. This is with all attempts not only the moon. I don't seem to have many problems with the other lenses. I'm also having problems with the auto focus on the lense. I have seen on this forum about cleaning the contacts and have done that. Out of 200 +- attempts only 4 or 5 are even acceptable. Any ideas?

Quixdraw Loc: x

I don't find shooting the moon particularly difficult. I set the camera Aperture, Spot meter, F 11-18, Auto iso I don't have difficulty focusing, either manually or (most times) with AF. A simple trick - set your camera on the tripod (manual focus), frame with the camera lens at hard infinity stop. Take a shot, check exposure, back focus down a hair, then the same again. Adjust aperture as needed. Key point - use self timer, cable or remote release instead of pushing the shutter button. As many have said, the full moon is the most difficult - other stages are easier. Keep at it & you'll succeed!

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

The more zoom you use, the more any camera wiggle is magnified.

Meter on the moon, don't use averaging. Averaging will "include" the dark sky, average the two, and usually blow out the moon.

Exposure value (EV) should be the same no matter what lens. On smaller aperture lenses, you'll need a longer shutter to yield the correct EV. Longer shutter speed will enhance the effect any movement also.

Are you using a tripod?

scooter1 Loc: Yacolt, Wa.

quixdraw wrote:

I don't find shooting the moon particularly diffic... (show quote)

I use a remote release but I'm not sure what the "hard infinity stop" is. When I try to focus on mf there is no hard stop of the dial. It will just keep turning without affecting the focus at some point. I hope I'm understanding what you mean by the hard stop. If the focus dial is supposed to stop at some point maybe it's a problem with the lense? I live in the northwest so when I see a clear sky with a moon it's great. Thanks for your reply and help.

scooter1 Loc: Yacolt, Wa.

Longshadow wrote:

The more zoom you use, the more any camera wiggle is magnified.

Meter on the moon, don't use averaging. Averaging will "include" the dark sky, average the two, and usually blow out the moon.

Exposure value (EV) should be the same no matter what lens. On smaller aperture lenses, you'll need a longer shutter to yield the correct EV. Longer shutter speed will enhance the effect any movement also.

Are you using a tripod?

I do use a tripod and remote shutter release. Now my stupid question. Meter on the moon. I'm not sure what that or averaging means. Sorry just trying to learn. I am looking up these things now. Thank you

Quixdraw Loc: x

There is an infinity symbol, ∞, on most of my lenses, and most times, a tiny bit of play beyond that. I don't own and have never used a Sigma. There should be something similar if the lens is capable of manual focus. Worst case, focus on some very distant object in daylight and leave the lens set there for later. Adjustment of aperture and focus should get you a result in comparatively few shots. Once you get it for your kit, it doesn't change a great deal.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

scooter1 wrote:

I do use a tripod and remote shutter release. Now my stupid question. Meter on the moon. I'm not sure what that or averaging means. Sorry just trying to learn. I am looking up these things now. Thank you

Averaging looks at the entire scene, bright moon and dark sky, and comes up with an "average" light level to properly expose the scene. Usually that level, because of the dark surrounding the moon, will over-expose the moon. Cell phones usually make the moon look like a light bulb. Spot metering (aimed at the moon) will only look at the light reflected off of the moon, and yield better exposure results.
Then, you could always try ƒ16 and 1/250th of a second for starters and adjust the shutter accordingly (longer time if too dark, shorter if too light). After all, the moon is being lit by direct sunlight (daylight).

BebuLamar

Use M exposure mode. Lens zoom to 500mm. Aperture f/8. Shutter speed 1/200. ISO 100. Camera on tripod. AF center point and focus on the moon. Shoot RAW. The image would be slightly bright but darken it in the RAW converter.

scooter1 Loc: Yacolt, Wa.

quixdraw wrote:

There is an infinity symbol, ∞, on most of my lenses, and most times, a tiny bit of play beyond that. I don't own and have never used a Sigma. There should be something similar if the lens is capable of manual focus. Worst case, focus on some very distant object in daylight and leave the lens set there for later. Adjustment of aperture and focus should get you a result in comparatively few shots. Once you get it for your kit, it doesn't change a great deal.

OK it does have that symbol on it so I'll set it at that symbol and see. Not really sure why the ring continues to turn but I'll search Sigma for that. Thank you.

scooter1 Loc: Yacolt, Wa.

BebuLamar wrote:

Use M exposure mode. Lens zoom to 500mm. Aperture f/8. Shutter speed 1/200. ISO 100. Camera on tripod. AF center point and focus on the moon. Shoot RAW. The image would be slightly bright but darken it in the RAW converter.

I have always used the programmed settings but want to get better at manual so I've been shooting that. I'm having problems with the AF between the camera and this lens. No problem with the other lenses. I'll clean the contacts again. That solves my "old man eye/glasses" problem. I need to research the RAW more. I've heard good things about it and have tried it once but will try more. Thank you for the settings info, I've written it down and will try it next time we get to see the moon. (probably next may or so) ha ha.

scooter1 Loc: Yacolt, Wa.

Longshadow wrote:

Averaging looks at the entire scene, bright moon a... (show quote)

Thank you Longshadow. It is all making sense with the help all of you have given me. With any luck I'll post a good photo of the moon sometime in the future.

Quixdraw Loc: x

scooter1 wrote:

Thank you Longshadow. It is all making sense with the help all of you have given me. With any luck I'll post a good photo of the moon sometime in the future.

Once you get the trick, just Pizza in the sky. After that, the real fun starts!

scooter1 Loc: Yacolt, Wa.

quixdraw wrote:

Once you get the trick, just Pizza in the sky. After that, the real fun starts!

Thanks quixdraw. I'm looking forward to better photo's. Seeing some of the excellent photo's here make me want to learn just that much more.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

scooter1 wrote:

Thank you Longshadow. It is all making sense with the help all of you have given me. With any luck I'll post a good photo of the moon sometime in the future.

Practice and investigate, you'll get there.

ClarkJohnson Loc: Fort Myers, FL and Cohasset, MA

Use a good tripod. I shoot moon shots as well, and my biggest discovery was how much difference a really good tripod makes. I had been using a “travel” tripod which could not be anchored, and evidently had been introducing some vibrations. I made a lucky purchase of a used Gitzo 5-series (super heavy and stable) tripod, and got the best full moon photos I had every captured.

Not to get into a discussion of tripods, but the general advice is to get the best you can afford, and it will last a lifetime.