How should I set up a Canon 40D and 70-200mm f/2.8 to photograph the full moon?
Asked 3/29/2016
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I’m new to moon photography and want to photograph a clear full moon with a Canon 40D, tripod, and Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM. I’d like to capture as much detail as possible. What exposure settings, focus method, and shooting tips should I use?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
10y ago
2 Answers
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Are there any tips anyone can give me? I've never done this kind of thing before and my lens is totally new, so I have not had much experience with it yet.
The main thing here, no matter what lens you're using, is that it will be difficult to use the automatic exposure modes (P, Av, Tv) because the dark sky will cause the metering system to overexpose the moon. If you really want to use auto exposure, you can try spot metering mode to get the camera to evaluate the moon itself rather than the sky. Another option is to use evaluative mode so that the camera looks at the entire scene and then use exposure compensation to decrease the exposure until you get a properly exposed moon. But you'll really be better off in manual (M) mode and dialing in the exposure yourself.
For any shot, the three exposure parameters you can always control are: shutter speed, aperture, and ISO. You want the highest shutter speed you can manage, so reduce motion blur, and the lowest ISO, to reduce noise. Although your lens is sharp at f/2.8, you might want to stop it down a bit for even more sharpness. Here's a moon photo I took recently:
This shot was taken at 1/180s, f/8, ISO 1000 (with a Sigma 150-600mm lens), so start with those parameters and adjust as necessary to make the shot you want. Know that because the moon is so much brighter than the sky, exposing the moon properly will mean that the sky will look much darker in your photos than it does to your eye. If you want a photo of the moon against a deep blue sky, shoot during the day or just after sunset.
Originally by user4262. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user4262
10y ago
0
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Use manual exposure if possible. The moon is bright, but surrounded by a dark sky, so automatic modes often overexpose it. If you do use auto exposure, spot meter on the moon or apply negative exposure compensation.
A good starting point is the “Looney 11” rule: set about f/11 and use a shutter speed near 1/ISO. For example, at ISO 100 try around 1/100 to 1/125 sec at f/11, then adjust after reviewing the image and histogram. Avoid shooting it wide open if you want maximum detail.
Use your longest focal length (200mm), but note that the moon will still appear fairly small in the frame on a 40D. A tripod helps, but because the moon moves, don’t use an excessively slow shutter speed.
Focus manually if autofocus struggles. Use live view magnification if available, or carefully focus on the moon itself rather than just setting infinity blindly.
For sharpest results, use a remote release or self-timer to avoid camera shake. Turn off image stabilization when the lens is firmly tripod-mounted unless your lens manual says otherwise. Take several frames with slight exposure variations to find the best detail.
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