Photographing the sun: Both when I tried to shoot the sun or the moon for astro photographhy, I was unable to get a sharp focus when focusing manually. Is there an obvious way?

ettelson

Both when I tried to shoot the sun or the moon for astro photographhy, I was unable to get a sharp focus when focusing manually. Is there an obvious way?

Stardust Loc: Central Illinois

Not my area of expertise but wouldn't you just put it at infinity - no focusing involved?

WDCash Loc: Milford, Delaware, USA

ettelson wrote:

Both when I tried to shoot the sun or the moon for astro photographhy, I was unable to get a sharp focus when focusing manually. Is there an obvious way?

For the Moon I use a tripod , put camera on live view and manual focus. Focus by hand.
If you want to use auto focus set out to infinity and catch an edge of the Moon for contrast then AF should pick it up.

I have not tried to shoot the sun, I think you need special protective filters for this and it is dangerous for your eyes.

There is an astrophotography section here that is full of folks who take amazing images of stars, planets and out of this world stuff

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

ettelson wrote:

Both when I tried to shoot the sun or the moon for astro photographhy, I was unable to get a sharp focus when focusing manually. Is there an obvious way?

There is an Astro Photography section on UHH. Try asking there: https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-109-1.html

IR Jim Loc: St. Louis

Sometimes I can achieve autofocus on the moon by using single point and focusing on the edge. As others have stated, manual focus is the way to go. Focusing to infinity will result in a sharp moon and sun shot however you'll need to figure out exactly where infinity is on your lens. The indicator on the lens isn't always that accurate.
As for sun shots it's dangerous for your camera and eyes, even if the sun is on the horizon. Thousand oaks optical has affordable screw on filters that are eye safe.

ralfstinson Loc: SF Bay Area

On prime lenses, the infinity focus is usually at the infinity mark. But I would check it - then take note of it. For Zoom Lenses, the infinity focus changes as you zoom! Check it out carefully. Probably for all but the most extreme telephoto lenses, a clear sky focus on mountains 10+ miles away should be a good infinity focus point - note it and use if for your astro-photography. For good moon contrast, have the sun hit the moon at an angle (quarter moon) and not full on (full moon). Get some good help or do some research for Sun Shots. That is extreme photography and you can damage your imaging device (CMOS/CCD/EYE) very easily!

ralfstinson Loc: SF Bay Area

PS: Once you have set your lens to infinity focus - make sure auto-focus is completely off and lock in the focus with gaffer's tape! Nothing is worse than at the end of a 'great' astro-photo session and finding that the focus was 'knocked-off' at some point in the session!

IR Jim Loc: St. Louis

ralfstinson wrote:

PS: Once you have set your lens to infinity focus - make sure auto-focus is completely off and lock in the focus with gaffer's tape! Nothing is worse than at the end of a 'great' astro-photo session and finding that the focus was 'knocked-off' at some point in the session!

Excellent tip!

JBGLADSTONE Loc: Oregon

I ordered a sun filter 8" x 11" sheet
from Thousands Oaks optical for the eclipse afew years ago.
I cut out a circular piece and then made double piece of cardboard. Then sandwich it together with double sided tape. The size is to fit inside the sun shade of my telephoto lens.
[ YouTube for instructions]

That way all I have to do is remove the sun shade for normal photos.
Be very careful pointing your camera at the sun directly. Possible damage to the sensor

If you do not re-test your lens for focus and mark then you can just place the focus point in the middle of the infinity marker.

wrangler5 Loc: Missouri

I thought I heard somebody say on the radio the other day that an "eclipse filter" was not safe for use on the full sun, at least not for long. I believe this was in a segment talking about photographing Mercury transiting the sun or some such. I'm not into astro photography at all and was only listening with half an ear, so maybe I misunderstood. But what I THOUGHT I heard struck me as a bit strange (are there really different "sun filters" for different sun photo purposes?) which is probably why I remember it.

Anyway, I just pass it on FWIW.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

Beware that cranking the focus out manually to its fullest extent will put the focus slightly beyond infinity. If you get a good focus lock on the moon or stars, mark the lens. The same setting should be good for the sun.

JBGLADSTONE Loc: Oregon

Wrangler,

I made a very quick search regarding "Mercury", this what I found.

Monday Nov. 11th was an eclipse of the planet Mercury being between the sun and earth.
Also if there is a problem of lengthily viewing of the sun. I am sure we would heard any serious eye damage issues after the Total Eclipse a few years ago.

I had set my camera to the angle of the sun travel and every few minutes I would reset the sun to middle of liveview and take a photo. My camera was set to shut down after a 1 minute. Since then I have taken well over 10K pictures with no apparent damage to the sensor. The 8 X 11 sheet filter is from Thousand Oaks Optical

bbradford Loc: Wake Forest NC

Most importantly set W/B to bright sunlight or it will be overexposed. Also use live view if you have it and always manual focus. Start around f9. low iso and fairly fast shutter speed . Don't forget mirror up and cable release.

wrangler5 Loc: Missouri

JBGLADSTONE wrote:

Wrangler,

I made a very quick search regarding "Mercury", this what I found.

Monday Nov. 11th was an eclipse of the planet Mercury being between the sun and earth.
Also if there is a problem of lengthily viewing of the sun. I am sure we would heard any serious eye damage issues after the Total Eclipse a few years ago. < snip >

I guess I just mis-heard something. Thanks for the update.

Paul Diamond Loc: Atlanta, GA, USA

wrangler5 wrote:

I thought I heard somebody say on the radio the ot... (show quote)

Hi, reading postings I haven't read - most of them. Now 01/04/2020. FYI - Yes there are a huge variety of very limited spectral filters for solar and deep sky image making. Some of the best looking solar photos and videos are, if I remember correctly, hydrogen alpha and calcium filters. At least for my budget, I can't afford spending thousands for a filter that is not paid for by a corporation or as part of a funded project. Haven't been serious about my astrophotography since my late teens. Huge investment of time to again develop the experience/expertise that it demands. But, I'm ready to try again. Paul