Fifyboy Loc: Chicago, Illinois, USA

Could anyone who owns a Sony HX400V please tell me how to set up the HX400V (what mode - P, M, etc) to make a moon shot? I could only use P-mode to take several shots. I also tried to use M and switch to manual focus on the lens barrel, but never got the moon in focus. Your expertise is much appreciated. Here are two of the shots I took.

P-mode, f/6.3, 1/250s, ISO-125

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P-mode, f/8, 1/160s, ISO-125

(Download)

nicksr1125 Loc: Mesa, AZ

Glad to help out. Use a good tripod. Some of the folks here on the Hog have had good success handheld; not me. I usually shoot the moon in "A" mode. Zoom all the way out to full digital zoom. You're metering for reflected sunlight so, you're exposure will be typical day time settings. I usually start at ISO 200, 1/200, f/7 or whatever the meter shows and use the ± EV control to adjust the brightness. The attached photo was ISO 200, 1/200, f/7.1, EV-2.

Fifyboy Loc: Chicago, Illinois, USA

I did use tripod. Here are more questions:
1. I also zoomed all the way out to 1200mm. Why was my moon not as big as yours?
2. Did you turn off the IS on the camera? This is a bridge, not DSLR, is it necessary to turn off IS? How?
3. Besides A-mode, did you ever use other modes?

Thanks again for your time and patience, Nick.

nicksr1125 Loc: Mesa, AZ

Your shots are very good. A full moon has less contrast that partial moons.

1. In your menu, go to the gear icon, #2, then the 2nd item in the list. Press the button in the middle of the control wheel on the back. Arrow to "On: ClearImage Zoom" and press the menu button again. You should be able to zoom out to 2400mm equivalent.
2. I leave the IS turned on. It's too much bother to turn it off every time & then turn it back on. IS is on the 1st menu screen 6. It's listed as SteadyShot and doesn't give an option to turn it off. I have mine set on Intelligent Active.
3. I usually have it set in Program Mode unless I'm shooting the moon. It's my quick grab camera for shooting birds at the feeders in our back yard. It has 2 drawbacks that if I had known about them when I bought the it, I might have chosen a different bridge camera. One is the limited f/stop range. It would be nice if it stopped down to f/16 rather than stopping at f/8. The 2nd item is that it doesn't record in RAW format.

My main camera is a Sony Alpha850. The only drawback to it is that I don't have as long a lens as the HX400 has. The next lens I acquire will be the Tamron 150-600 since most of what I shoot is wildlife & birds.

Hope this helps.

Fifyboy Loc: Chicago, Illinois, USA

[quote=nicksr1125]Your shots are very good. A full moon has less contrast that partial moons.

Thanks for your help, Nick. I have set up as per your advice, and I just made some shots again while it's still full moon tonight. Here I attach one of the few shots I just took. Still can't figure out why mine is different in color.
You're right, the HX400V has few shortcomings and I knew that before I bought it, but I like Sony's sensor, the Zeiss lens, the tilting LCD and the convenient focusing/zoom ring on the lens barrel. I don't really need RAW which I never intend to use it on a bridge since I have that on my Canon DSLR. I bought it mainly for travel purpose.
Again, thanks for your kind advice. Takce care.

Full Moon on 2/6/2015

(Download)

nicksr1125 Loc: Mesa, AZ

The different color may be a result of a couple of things. Check what your white balance is set on. If it's set on auto, it may be due to the time of day you took the picture. Early in the evening when the sky is still looks blue, you'll get a color shift.
Like you, I bought the HX400 as a travel camera. I'm as likely to take my A850 along as well and let my wife use the HX400. She thinks the Alpha is too heavy. Keep shooting and I'm looking forward to seeing more of your posts.

Paul D Loc: Rhode Island

I have a Nikon D7000 with a Nikkor AF-S 70-300 lens that I use.

Here is my starting point when shooting the moon:
Zoom to 300mm
I use spot metering
Shutter speed 1/125
Aperture f11
ISO100 to start
And I shoot in RAW.

I would take multiple photos going up and down 1 from the formula above.

The photo attached was taken last week and cropped. There is a lot of resolution in the craters at the bottom.

(Download)

RKL349 Loc: Connecticut

Great shot Paul.

Jcmarino

This was shot of the moon a few nights ago. Taken with my Sony a6000, manual, hand held at 1/4 sec, ISO 800, f/5.6, 55-210mm lens at 156mm to get the clouds. Then quickly shot again at 1/30th of a sec to capture the detail of the moon and merged the two photos in PS. Had no time to grab my tripod so the photo is not as sharp as it could have been with a tripod. It is also cropped in PS as well.

cucharared Loc: Texas, Colorado

Fantastic shot(s). I know I couldn't handhold for anything like this. I also have the A6000/55-210 and I don't think my particular set will do nearly so well as yours.

ron

ballsafire Loc: Lafayette, Louisiana

Yes the RESOLUTION is greater in your photo and if you wanted to, it could cropped even more! Good job!

Bloke Loc: Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

Contrary to what others may have posted, you do *not* want to use digital zoom on a moon shot. Or really, any other kind of shot at all! It is a bit of trickery the manufacturers use so that they can claim huge zoom lengths. They do it by magnifying the pixels. So, if the picture is ok OOC, fair enough, but as soon as you start cropping, things go all to h.... You know what I mean!

Use a good tripod, maximum *optical* zoom, and trigger it with the self-timer - at these magnifications, the smallest vibration will be evident.

Your pictures look good on download, until they are blown to full size...

Jcmarino

try it! Start with my setting, you may have to tweak the settings a little depending on the brightness of the moon. But its only digital, keep practicing, you will get it.

Bloke Loc: Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

That is a great shot from only 300mm! The detail in the lunar highlands there is fantastic! Really...

chapjohn Loc: Tigard, Oregon

IN the FAQ section of UHH this question is answered. Start with the Sunny 16 rule and make adjustments from there if needed.