Help with camera lenses and setting for May 15 lunar eclipse.
May 1, 2022 11:17:03 #
larryepage
Loc: North Texas area
billnikon wrote:
D500, 500 PF, 1/iso @ f16.
About four years ago (I cant find the post this morning}, Linda from Mine led a discussion on best exposure for the moon, and I started one concerning most realistic color rendition of the moon. It's here: https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-561059-1.html
We discovered that instead of using the "Sunny 16" Rule, better results were generally obtained by giving a little more exposure...at least one additional stop, and sometimes two. It mostly depends on how high the moon is in the sky. While it is true that sunlight illuminating the moon is the same as sunlight illuminating the earth at noon, the exposure only really works when the moon is directly overhead. When it is lower in the sky, its light has to pass through more atmosphere before getting to your eyes (or camera). The results were a little surprising at first, but made sense after stopping and thinking about it a little bit. We also discussed that while many folks have personal preferences for the color with which they depict the moon, most accurate rendition is achieved with "Sunlight" color balance.
May 1, 2022 11:27:12 #
Orphoto
Loc: Oregon
She is looking to shoot the fully eclipsed moon, not a sunlit one.
Enormous difference
Enormous difference
May 1, 2022 11:31:02 #
Orphoto
Loc: Oregon
billnikon wrote:
D500, 500 PF, 1/iso @ f16.
Really? During a total eclipse??
Might as well hang up your Out to Lunch sign.
May 1, 2022 11:55:22 #
Orphoto wrote:
She is looking to shoot the fully eclipsed moon, not a sunlit one.
Enormous difference
Enormous difference
Indeed. During partial eclipse, the normal suggestions regarding exposure may be in the ball park, but as the eclipse progresses, the exposure will need to increase, and when the moon is in complete eclipse, you’re going to need to be wide open (or at most a stop down) and a substantially higher ISO. “Chimping” snd prriodic adjustment of exposure will be in order.
May 1, 2022 12:14:24 #
Just for an indication of lens focal length, here is an uncropped moon shot at 250 mm with a T2i having a 1.6 crop factor. I doubt I used a tripod. In the future, I would use a tripod and my 150-600 mm lens or my bridge camera (24→1200 mm, 35 equiv).
May 1, 2022 12:31:36 #
Buy I have a duty tripod. Put the mirror up in the camera and use a release device you don’t have to touch the camera. This kind of picture takes a lot of practice and experimentation especially with exposure. For detail in the moon start with one or two stops less than what the exposure meter is saying
May 1, 2022 12:32:33 #
PHRubin wrote:
Just for an indication of lens focal length, here is an uncropped moon shot at 250 mm with a T2i having a 1.6 crop factor. I doubt I used a tripod. In the future, I would use a tripod and my 150-600 mm lens or my bridge camera (24→1200 mm, 35 equiv).
Yep, can you imagine the size with a wide angle? Tiny. This isn’t like shooting the Milky Way with s terrestrial background.
May 1, 2022 12:34:29 #
I have done this several times, a 500 mm lens gives a good size for the moon. As stated movement is a problem as the eclipse progresses, at totality the moon can be very dark, I saw one where it basically disappeared visually. Mounts which will track the moon avoid the motion problem, but even the cheapest cost around $400 dollars. Without this you could change the ISO as the eclipse progresses to get better results with a short exposure. Tyere are some trackers fir less money, but each has a weight limit. You could also experiment with the moon and ND filters to see how long an exposure you can make before smiring occurs. A good low light camera would also help. I show the aurora with a Canon R handheld with no problems.
May 1, 2022 12:36:16 #
larryepage
Loc: North Texas area
Orphoto wrote:
She is looking to shoot the fully eclipsed moon, not a sunlit one.
Enormous difference
Enormous difference
Yes...and while we can make estimates, there is no way to say for sure. It depends first on how deep the moon is in the cone of the earth's shadow, then on atmospheric conditions, then on location and height of the moon in the sky. Just as a ballpark, a starting point is probably f/2.8 with ISO somewhere between 500 and 2,000 and exposure of maybe 8 seconds. Final exposure may be quite different, depending on the effect desired.
May 1, 2022 12:39:09 #
larryepage wrote:
Yes...and while we can make estomates, there is no way to say for sure. It depends first on how deep the moon is in the cone of the earth's shadow, then on atmospheric conditions, then on location and height of the moon in the sky. Just as a ballpark, a starting point is probably f/2.8 with ISO somewhere between 500 and 2,000. Final exposure may be quite different, depending on the effect desired.
And the OP’s fastest long lens if f5.6, so you can extrapolate from there...
May 1, 2022 12:54:40 #
slcarn
Loc: Draper, Utah USA
Judy,
Attached are six shots I took 11/19/21 of an eclipse with two cameras on tripods.
I used a D850 and D5. One with a 500mm pf f/5.6 and the other with a 500mm G f/4, I don't remember which lens with which camera. All of these shots were at 1/400 sec ISO-400 f/11 (lunar 11 rule).
The last photo was taken on 5/26/21 with a D5 and 500mm pf lens. Settings were f/5.6 (wide open) 1/80 sec ISO-6400. I think you have to get creative when the moon is in its red phase.
I am sure others have better photos than mine. Fortunately, witnessing a lunar eclipse is much more frequent than a solar eclipse.
Good luck and have fun!
Steve
Attached are six shots I took 11/19/21 of an eclipse with two cameras on tripods.
I used a D850 and D5. One with a 500mm pf f/5.6 and the other with a 500mm G f/4, I don't remember which lens with which camera. All of these shots were at 1/400 sec ISO-400 f/11 (lunar 11 rule).
The last photo was taken on 5/26/21 with a D5 and 500mm pf lens. Settings were f/5.6 (wide open) 1/80 sec ISO-6400. I think you have to get creative when the moon is in its red phase.
I am sure others have better photos than mine. Fortunately, witnessing a lunar eclipse is much more frequent than a solar eclipse.
Good luck and have fun!
Steve
May 1, 2022 13:09:47 #
Thanks Steve. According to TimeandDate.com, I should be able to see the pink, dark red on the entire moon.
May 1, 2022 13:16:50 #
slcarn
Loc: Draper, Utah USA
Judy795 wrote:
Thanks Steve. According to TimeandDate.com, I should be able to see the pink, dark red on the entire moon.
A full eclipse should be fun to see and photograph. With the moon moving so quickly I would guess you need to use the longest exposure possible without blurring and your fastest lens setting to minimize your ISO. Your 500 pf will perform well for isolated moon shots and using it with your D500 will get you the equivalent of a 700mm lens.
You can practice your exposure time on the moon before the eclipse. It doesn't change speed.
Cheers,
Steve
May 1, 2022 14:52:10 #
The cheapest mount you can make to follow the moon is called a barn door mount. It used a large hinge and some wood with a drive screw made from threaded rod. Check the web, if you have a few tools and are somewhat handy, they are easy to make. Start now as you may need to buy a small motor for movement.
May 1, 2022 15:45:18 #
Sidwalkastronomy
Loc: New Jersey Shore
The eclipsed moon is red because it's the combination of all the sunrises and sunsets around the earth hitting the moon
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