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Photographing the moon
Image taken with Xti/100-400L at 400 mm + 1.4 x = 896mm @ 1/4000 s/ f6.9.
But still no real detail. At 1/1000 s it is just a white circle.
It looks good in the viewfinder, but not so good on the computer...is this atmospheric distortion or camera shake? At 1/4000 s I wouldn't expect too much camera shake with IS on for 2 stops
Comments please?
But still no real detail. At 1/1000 s it is just a white circle.
It looks good in the viewfinder, but not so good on the computer...is this atmospheric distortion or camera shake? At 1/4000 s I wouldn't expect too much camera shake with IS on for 2 stops
Comments please?
0
Comments
The full moon tracked past my window last night providing the opportunity to take a few shots from the relative comfort of indoors.
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.This is the original, lookng rather lonely.
ISO 200, 1/80th s, 200mm
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The 'rabbit' is clearly visible. Being born and bred in England - I still have to tilt my head over to the left to see the 'normal view'
I too always fail to get a sharp image of the moon, and would be interested to learn of any tips.
I always set to manual, choose the highest shutter speed I can and make amendments as necessary. My eyesight is not good enough to be sure I have focussed correctly - it seems that infinity is not quite right though -
This was my viewpoint...
Steve.
You shot was probably badly exposed. A full moon is basically a sunlit object, and the proper exposure for a medium tone sunlit object is 1/100 at f16 at ISO 100, or 1/400th at f8, or 1/800th at f5.6. If the atmosphere is hazy, you may require a longer shutter speed. Your shutter speed of 1/4000th seems very high, unless you were using a very high ISO.
Try using the search here on dgrin, there are tons of moonshot threads and discussions.
Here is a moon shot of mine from a while back
Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
What ISO? It looks very noisy like you had a very high ISO setting.
Despite the high cost of living, it remains popular.
Why do people post their equipment in their sig. Isn't it kind of like bragging? That having been said...
Canon 40d Gripped (x2), Rebel (Original), Canon 70-200 f/2.8 USM L, Canon 300 f/4, Tamron 28-75 f/2.8, Canon 50mm f/1.8, Canon 17-55 f/3.5-5.6, ThinkTank Airport TakeOff
This image looks like it was probably underexposed which added significant noise. Like the others, what ISO was this? Your SS seems insanely high.
http://clearwaterphotography.smugmug.com/
The most reliable focusing method I discovered recently was to use LiveView (esp. on 50D, but it works on 40D, too).
Mind you, you don't need ISO higher than 200 (and you can often get away with 100), since the moon itself is a nicely lit subject. Switch to full manual, follow Sunny16 rule (or live histogram if you have it) and that's it.
f/11.0 1/200th ISO 100
My attempt from tonight
Pathfinder, your's is MUCH better
but I know know the idea
it was not terribly clear tonight
I guess a cold winter night is best
many thanks to all who sent advice
much appreciated
cm
detail:
taken using Canon XTi/100-400L at 400 mm with 1.4X converter, manual focus, 1/100 s, F 8 using BBQ grill covered with paper and old T-shirts to lean on, otherwise hand held, IS on, ASA set on 100
An X2 version, click on the image for the 100%:
Canon 50D, ISO 200, f/8.0, 1/125s, EF 100-400 at 400, TCx1.4, tripod, cable, LiveView focusing, minor adjustment in PS CS3 (CS4 still suffers from lack of 50D RAW support)
WOW
some pic Nickolai
puts mine to shame -:(
FWIW I've been practicing moon shooting for a few years now, and only recently (literally few weeks ago, Kdog is my witness), with the advent of LiveView, I discovered a reliable way to do it right. Before I used to take like 20 shots and pray that at least one comes sharp. LiveView (esp. in 50D execution) gives you both very reliable focusing and the coveted absense of mirror slap. This was one shot, I didn't have to take spares.
Looks like that new Canon 50D with it's 15 Megapixels has leveled the playing field. Dang, now I got to tell the wife I have to buy a new camera just so I can keep up with your moon shots!
Yeah, using LiveView for focusing was a big breakthrough for me, and thanks again for the idea. Here's a half-moon from last month, which I don't think I've previously posted.
Canon 40D, plus TWO TC1.4X extenders on a Canon 400 F5.6 lens, F11 (wide open), ISO200, 1/80s.
Cheers,
-joel
Link to my Smugmug site
I wanted to grab a picture on Wednesday night as - mirabile dictu! - it was finally clear enough to catch a (nearly) full moon.
I remembered seeing this thread so when I got home very late after a trip out of state (having been watching the moon and thinking about photographing it all the way down the freeway), I jumped on here and read the exposure info, set up the tripod and started clicking.
This isn't perfect (and pales into low-resolution insignificance next to the Mighty 50D's results!), but I'm pleased with it for a first time out! (have never even tried to shoot the night sky before). Taken with my Rebel XT using the Ef-s 55-250 lens @240, ISO 200 1/125 sec f/11. Minor adjustments in CS3 (including crop, curves and slight sharpening), but nothing major.
We are all moon mad on here now
just wait till the next eclipse!!!
all the best to all moonies!!
cm
Nice!
You'd think that 15mpix of 50D vs 10mpx of 40D plus extra x1.4 should lead to the bigger image, but the life proves it wrong.
In fact since it's the law of squares, sensor should be 20mpix or bigger to beat the extra TCx1.4
But as you said, it's awfully close!
Here's mine: 70-200 2.8 IS @ 200 mm with 2x extender on my 40D (f8, 1/250, ISO 200).
Thank you, sir!
too bad the lens and extender were only on loan
some day ;-)
Live view was something I had not considered, but of of course it makes sense, and what better opportunity to experiment with this option.
After posting and having thought about the Sunny 16 rule, as applied to our lunar subject. I found this link which may be useful to others.
The 'Looney 16' rule (and other rules of thumb)....
http://home.earthlink.net/~kitathome/LunarLight/moonlight_gallery/technique/technique.htm
Hope this helps.
Also havng reviewed my post, I must fix that window catch (and borrow a 500mm lens for the next full moon)...
Kdog
Are you sure you didn't just fly to the moon and shoot from the top of a large set of step ladders....
That looks VERY close
The night Moon was shot with a 80-400 @ 5.6 and the daytime on a 80-200 @ 2.8
I think the day time moon look great
rather unusual compared with the others
great!!!
Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin