A lunar eclipse is tricky because the Moon’s brightness changes dramatically during the event. A shot of the bright full Moon can be around 1/200s, ISO 100, f/11, while totality may need exposures of several seconds at higher ISO and a wider aperture.

Practical tips:

• Use a tripod for any camera, especially as the eclipse darkens.
• With a DSLR, use the longest focal length you have, but expect the Moon to remain small unless you have a long telephoto or telescope.
• A telescope with a camera adapter can work even better for close-ups, and a proper mount helps with stability and framing.
• If using a telephoto lens with image stabilization, let stabilization engage before taking the shot.
• Exposure will need constant adjustment throughout the eclipse.
• If you don’t have a long lens, try a sequence or collage showing multiple stages of the eclipse rather than a single close-up.

For basic cameras or short lenses, a wider composition or multi-image progression is often the most successful approach. For close-up work, stability, careful focus, and adapting exposure as the Moon darkens are the key factors.