Next Hike

[Brad]

Some moon pictures I took a while ago were with the following settings

EXIF Image Details

Make: Canon
Model: Canon EOS D60
Focal Length: 500.0mm
F-Number: F/5.6
Exposure Time: 0.004 sec. 1/250
Metering Mode: Multi-segment
ISO Speed: 1000

Pictures are at http://public.fotki.com/bradbradstreet/nc/fall/moon/

[Charlie]

that looks cool
looks like a pro

[Brad]

I was out last night and also early this evening taking moon pictures. Unfortunately I had to hand hold the camera as my good tripod must be back in NC. The whiter pictures were last night - and the orange ones are tonight (taken a bit earlier).

The pictures are at http://public.fotki.com/bradbradstre...8-28-moonrise/

One from last night


One from tonight

[Patrad Fischroy]

How do you get good pictures of the moon?

I was trying to find a setting to catch the eclipse but I still haven't found one. This camera is still relatively new to me, about 3 months. It's a Panasonic Lumix 7.1mp and it seems to shoot good pictures almost all the time except for the times I try to get lunar type pix. Any hints out there? I'm using a tripod and I try to have the ISO turned up fairly high, or is too high the wrong way?

Hard to say without a little more information. From what I know there are about 8 different models of Panasonic Lumix cameras with a ~7 MP. The ones I see are all 7.2. The lowest end one, the DMC-FX12 does not have any manual settings for exposure other than ISO. If this is the case it is difficult to get the shot. I assume that Brad's examples ( and fine ones at that) were taken using manual settings. The problem is that the brightness of the moon with the very dark background fools the metering, particularly if the metering is based on an average reading . Some cameras have spot metering that can help, but again that low end panasonic does not.
If you do have the ability to set the exposure manually, the settings should be on the order of the same as for a sunny day. While this may sound surprising, the moon is a sunlit object. Then you can overexpose it a little to get some detail in the surrounding sky.
A good source for information is the following
http://www.danheller.com/moon.html

[billysinc]

Link to my cameras specs

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/spec...nic_dmclz7.asp

I bought this camera just for hikes and didn't want to spend a fortune due to the risks of it being dropped or being eaten by angry chipmunks. My only complaint thus far is when the sun goes down.

[Patrad Fischroy]

Without the manual exposure, you are at the mercy of the meter in the camera, you could try to use a low ISO and see what happens. The beauty of digital is that experimentation is easy and cheap and most importantly the observation of the results is near immediate. Just head outside in a dark area tonight and try some different settings and see what works best.

[Brad]

Without the manual exposure, you are at the mercy of the meter in the camera, you could try to use a low ISO and see what happens. The beauty of digital is that experimentation is easy and cheap and most importantly the observation of the results is near immediate. Just head outside in a dark area tonight and try some different settings and see what works best.

Are you saying to try a low ISO number - or a low quality ISO setting (like 1000)? I have been playing with both and would like to get good pictures at a 400 or 800 ISO. Normally it seems to be best at 1000 ISO.

[Patrad Fischroy]

From what I have heard and a few attempts that I have tried when I can get out into dark skies is that basically you are shooting a brightly sunlit object, so the lower ISO and the resulting lower sensitivity of the sensor should work for you as var as the exposure goes. As an added bonus you should get some lower noise in the dark areas and, if you have any hot pixels, they should be less evident. Remember that your meter is going to be averaging over at least some of the area of dark sky. Luckily digital photography is very cheap to experiment with. With the near instant feedback it is also very easy to learn quickly what will work and what will not. By the way another tripod to stash in Maine would be an easy way to always know that one is there.

[Brad]

You might also try to have the metering be based on a point (the moon) or averaged over the whole image. Then see which works well for you.