How to get a good, sharp picture of the moon?

JonathanFV · Dec 5, 2014

I agree with what's written above (no extension tubes, telephoto lens, manual exposure or really big exposure compensation, shooting it a dusk or dawn)... I just wanted to add, those black specks on your photo were most likely sensor dust.

yndesai · Dec 16, 2014

txabi said:
OK, the moon was overexposed so the 5N could not focus, I thought. Let's try -3EV, see what happens:

Definitely sharper, but the moon was still overexposed. So I thought, let's add some extension rings to bring my lens closer to 200. Then this happened:

Now I was plenty close to focus well, yet it was impossible to focus.

What metering mode you have used ? If you use "spot metering" on moon you might get correct exposure at -2EV.
However I prefer to go manual for moon shot in dark since its a tricky situation.

Try manual mode. ISO 100, speed : 1/1000s, F8 and focus manually and use stand. Improve by trying things around these settings.

bruxi · Dec 23, 2014

bofo777 said:
Correct Exposure has to be right then with manual focusing on a tripod the moon will pop right in and WOW you have the shot…..John

Can you give more detail on how you got this? Ie. what focal length and how did you get this detail?

D Cox · Dec 24, 2014

D Cox · Dec 24, 2014

bofo777 said:
Correct Exposure has to be right then with manual focusing on a tripod the moon will pop right in and WOW you have the shot…..John

This is pretty good, but I think it is a bit noisy. ISO 100 would be better, I feel.

starman1969 · Jan 13, 2015

Can't beat a telescope for shots of the moon. This was a single (unstacked) taken via a 6" Schmidt Cassegrain type with a prime focal length of 1500mm at f10.

The background stars were added later.

--
Steve

JonathanFV · Jan 17, 2015

starman1969 said:
Can't beat a telescope for shots of the moon. This was a single (unstacked) taken via a 6" Schmidt Cassegrain type with a prime focal length of 1500mm at f10.

The background stars were added later.

--
Steve

Man, before I read that you added the background stars later, I was like "How the hell did you do that?"

But yeah, a telescope works wonderfully. At some point I'd like to buy one as well.

Old Greenlander · Jan 15, 2016

Starman

Never say never

My Moon at 2000 mm

with a camera, not a telescope

--
Old Greenlander
"I show the world the way I see it"
35 years of photography and still learning

banosser · Jan 21, 2016

D Cox said:
For metering, use the smallest spot and also bracket.

For focus, use a manual focus lens. It is very hard to get an autofocus lens to focus exactly on infinity.

this^

Now this is from years ago.. taken with a Panna bridge FZ40 bracketted.. not too bad.. when I get my 300 4 I'll try it again

ThrillaMozilla · Jan 21, 2016

The moon is rock dust (basalt, actually) in bright sunlight. It's about as bright as an 18% gray card in sunlight. You figure the rest.

And for gosh sakes, you've got a digital camera with a histogram. Just adjust the exposure so the peak of the histogram is to the right.

And for gosh sakes, squared. Your lens cannot focus at infinity with an extension tube. An extension tube is for macro photos, to extend the lens focusing range to closer distances. What were you thinking?

JonathanFV · Feb 5, 2016

Where superzooms beat pretty much any DSLR! Their reach is insane.

Old Greenlander · Feb 5, 2016

Unfortunately I have to agree.

I tried with my expensive DSRLs and long lenses and could not match yet what I got from this small camera.

JonathanFV · Feb 8, 2016

At least they're generally less expensive than a camera + super zoom!

D Cox · Feb 8, 2016

starman1969 said:
Can't beat a telescope for shots of the moon.

You can. A Hasselblad on a space craft heading toward the moon beats the telescope any time.

starman1969 said:
This was a single (unstacked) taken via a 6" Schmidt Cassegrain type with a prime focal length of 1500mm at f10.

The background stars were added later.

--
Steve

Good photo anyway.

D Cox · Feb 8, 2016

ThrillaMozilla said:
The moon is rock dust (basalt, actually) in bright sunlight. It's about as bright as an 18% gray card in sunlight. You figure the rest.

And for gosh sakes, you've got a digital camera with a histogram. Just adjust the exposure so the peak of the histogram is to the right.

And for gosh sakes, squared. Your lens cannot focus at infinity with an extension tube. An extension tube is for macro photos, to extend the lens focusing range to closer distances. What were you thinking?

Confusing extension tube with tele extender.

D Cox · Feb 8, 2016

JonathanFV said:
Where superzooms beat pretty much any DSLR! Their reach is insane.

It's the fine pixel pitch that does it. One day there will be DSLRs/mirrorless with the same pixel sizes as those of bridge cameras today, and better lenses.

Sticking one of those little Nikon mirrorless cameras on a good Nikon long prime lens might work.

Mark9473 · Feb 17, 2016

Old Greenlander said:
Unfortunately I have to agree.

I tried with my expensive DSRLs and long lenses and could not match yet what I got from this small camera.

Spend less on the DSLR, more on the lens.

--
Mark

Scotsnap · Feb 27, 2016

Just for fun, here are some more moons, in orbit around Jupiter. Certainly not a good, sharp picture, but for a hand held shot, propped against a pub wall, it's acceptable I reckon. No telescope, just a Nikon Coolpix P600. I find it rather amazing that a relatively inexpensive camera can do this.

Old Greenlander · Feb 29, 2016

Is amazing you found them in first place!

Lucy · Apr 18, 2016

sinkas said:
I recommend photographing the moon while rising in the blue twilight hour to avoid the massive difference in dynamic range between the sky and the moon. In this case when exposing for the moon the sky will still appear black.

--
Regards Daryl
http://dsinclair.zenfolio.com/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/123427081@N03/
Hobbes: You're ignorant, but at least you act on it.”

--
Lucy
Oly cams and a Canon, too.
FCAS Member #98, Oly Division
'Photography is the art of seeing what others do not.'
http://www.pbase.com/image/56509403/small.jpg

How to get a good, sharp picture of the moon?

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