Having trouble with moon shots: I took some shot's of the supermoon with my D3100 and Nikon 80-400mm lens,but no matter what I did I couldn't get them to focus very well.Used...

timepass Loc: Yardley,PA

I took some shot's of the supermoon with my D3100 and Nikon 80-400mm lens,but no matter what I did I couldn't get them to focus very well.Used viewfinder and live view in mostly manual mode tried lots of different combinations to no avail.

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jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Next time you only need to post a jpg, not the raw file. After downloading and looking at the exif you shot this at iso3200. Why 3200? You could have had a much better result if you'd have used iso 200 and had your aperture wide open in aperture priority using spot metering of the moon.

stillducky

Set - manual iso to 100, shutter 1/100, F/8.

Yous was set at:

Boentgru Loc: Boston, Massachusetts, USA

timepass wrote:

I took some shot's of the supermoon with my D3100 and Nikon 80-400mm lens,but no matter what I did I couldn't get them to focus very well.Used viewfinder and live view in mostly manual mode tried lots of different combinations to no avail.

Why not just set the focus at infinity? That's where the Moon is. (Unless you're walking there.)

timepass Loc: Yardley,PA

When I took these the camera must of adjusted the iso to a much higher level than I put in.I know I didn't adjust the iso to 3200.I was shooting in mostly manual,I'm not sure which metering mode I was using.This might be where I got into trouble.Any advice appreciated.

timepass Loc: Yardley,PA

I thought I had it set at infinity,when I looked through the viewfinder it was in focus,same thing when I used liveview.But when I downloaded the pics to the computer,they were not completely focused.I'm guessing I was using the wrong metering mode,I think I was using spot.

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

Use the old standby LOONEY 11 RULE:

The “looney 11 rule” states that for astronomical photos of the Moon’s surface, set aperture to f/11 and shutter speed to the (reciprocal of the) ISO film speed (or ISO setting).”

With ISO 100, one sets the aperture to f/11 and the shutter speed to 1/100 or 1/125 second.
With ISO 200, aperture at f/11, set shutter speed to 1/200 or 1/250.
With ISO 400, aperture at f/11, set shutter speed to 1/400 or 1/500.

These might help -

http://www.digital-photo-secrets.com/tip/779/how-to-take-stunning-pictures-of-the-moon/

http://www.picturecorrect.com/tips/moon-photography-tips/

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/moon-night-calculator.htm?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=news22

timepass Loc: Yardley,PA

Thanks for your response,I'll take note of the Looney 11 rule.

stillducky

timepass wrote:

I thought I had it set at infinity,when I looked through the viewfinder it was in focus,same thing when I used liveview.But when I downloaded the pics to the computer,they were not completely focused.I'm guessing I was using the wrong metering mode,I think I was using spot.

Your camera should focus to infinity if you focus on the edge of the moon. I usually focus once then set the camera to manual focus and put a piece of masking tape over the lens focus ring so I don't accidently bump it..

Now follow the loony 11 rule.

bdk Loc: Sanibel Fl.

Remember the moon is reflecting the sun, mostpeople think they need a high ISO because its dark. nope set ISO at 100 and try F8 and 1/125 that will getyou real close and then go from there.

timepass Loc: Yardley,PA

Thanks for your response.