Photographing the Moon

[Don Hoey]

Very good postie,

I have just been looking at the composite on BF.

Don

[Dave Smith]

Originally Posted by postcardcv

superb to watch the eclipse on a clear night... here's my best shot of the red moon and a sequence of it going into shadow.

Taken with my 400D and Sigma 500 f4.5 on top of Manfrotto 055 legs and 501 head.

Very nice and well presented.

Dave

[Jonathan Farmer]

Sassan,

I understand your set up, but what shutter speed were you using? The surface of the moon would have mooved past quickly in your view finder; this must have been your bigest challange or did you have a tracking device as used on some telescopes?

[sassan]

Originally Posted by Jonathan Farmer

Sassan,

I understand your set up, but what shutter speed were you using? The surface of the moon would have mooved past quickly in your view finder; this must have been your bigest challange or did you have a tracking device as used on some telescopes?

No Jonathan I didn't use any tracking device. As you mentioned the moon does move extremely quick at this magnification. To give you an estimate, for every 4 fast shots I take, a repositioning is a must (Moon has moved out of view finder).
The effective diaphragm, considering I started with wide open 600mm's of F/4.5 would be 1/3 higher for FD to EOS adapter, 2x2x3 for the 3 extenders, and 1.6 for digital factor, so something like 27 lower F which is translated to something like F/107.
____________________________________________
How I reach to this F number? Well
Fstop = Focal length / maximum diameter of lens
so my magnification is:
(600 + 33%) x 1.6 x 2 x 2 x 3
or
14285mm lens
Now apply formula:
F = 14285mm / 133mm
F = 107
____________________________________________

My main secrete or rather luck is the good sensor of Canon that can take a reasonable (Within the limitations) picture at ISO 1600.

If you check the EXIF, I had ISO 1600 for 1/15 seconds. This is at F/67 (If my calculation is right). I have tried lower shutter speed even close to 1 second with various degree of success to not show motion artifact. Also I tried one or two F stop lower from lens but not much to speak about. Well all I can say is I am personally impressed and had a fun in this trial. By the way now that we got to this discussion, let me just talk little like Archimedes:
"Give me a level point and with adding few more billions extender, I may let you walk to the moon literary with my tele tube..."
Ahhh not felt good like this in a long time.
Well truly speaking after learning about the problems builder had to erect the London's Eye in the side of Thames river, I really start to appreciate Archimedes' wisdom even more...

[Jonathan Farmer]

I find the best exposure for the moon is ISO 200, f/5.6, 1/125. Bracket exposures and keep the equipment rock steady.

To get good detail of craters, do not take a full moon as there ae no cast shadows. Use the longest focal length you have.

See attachment

Best regards to all

[somert8]

That really is a wonderful shot Jonathan,the shadows really add 3d to it. Your settings are very helpful,I did`nt realize how bright the moon actually is.

Here`s my feeble attempt;

[Don Hoey]

Here is a shot of the moon from the night before last that shows a fair amount of surface detail.

400mm AIS lens 1/80 sec at f8 ISO200

A bit of a heavy crop but my shot with the 2 x converter is too soft.

Don

[Don Hoey]

Sassan,

I managed to pick up a used DG-2 eyepiece magnifier but now have to wait for the eyepiece adaptor to arrive.
Now I just need to find a decent 1.4 converter that will work with my 400mm f5.6 AIS lens. A look at Andys lens comparison suggests I need an old 500mm to go with it on the basis that a 500 is a lot more portable than a 600.

Don

[Jonathan Farmer]

Hi guys,

You have to look at this site!!!!! Its the best I have seen of the moon using camera lenses as compared to telescopes; these moon shots were taken stacking TC converters one on top another using a Sigma 300-800 f/5.6 lens. Romy is a very good and interesting photographer and I think a lot can be learnt from him........ http://www.pbase.com/liquidstone/moon_shots

Regards

Jonathan

[Don Hoey]

WOW

Thanks for that Jonathan. The first few I have looked at are amazing. Now bookmarked.

Don