Beginner Over exposure or focusing?

DudleyBug

DudleyBug

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Mick
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While I was taking pictures of the moon on Sunday (See post here https://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/moon-and-jupiter.580713/ ) Out of all the shots I got. I manage 3 good ones. Two of the moon and one of Jupiter.
But I got lots like this picture. Is this over exposure or focus issue or both. I am using Nikon coolpix L830. What would be the best settings to keep getting results like my posted moon and Jupiter shots rather than keep stabbing in the dark until I get the picture?
DSCN0305 by rzer0, on Flickr
 
When shooting the moon, consider it daylit*, your meter will be fooled by the contrast between the bright spot in the dark sky,

*sunny 16?
 
Phil V said:
When shooting the moon, consider it daylit*, your meter will be fooled by the contrast between the bright spot in the dark sky,

*sunny 16?
Click to expand...
That makes sense, I use the auto white balance. Would it be better to do it manually with the moon in focus?
 
Cheers, thanks for your help and patience with my noob questions.
 
Last edited:
View attachment 32012 Hi all. Trying to get a detailed photo of the moon tonight.

Using an Olympus epl5 with a 150mm lens. Problem is focusing the moon. I am using MF, and when I turn the focus ring, with MF assist on, I get a x5 image to focus with.

Whether its my eyes or what the image is so bright, I cannot get any detail to view. I try to get the edge of the moon sharp, but its very hit and miss.

Having said that I have had good images of the moon with this camera, but cannot reproduce them.

With my old Pentax its, and a 500mm lens, I had some good results.

Any help would be appreciated.

Mj
 
I'd say it's a bit of both. The focus looks the tiniest bit out, but not a lot and you could do with bringing the exposure down a bit (y)

Another problem is the light. With the way that moon is just now even if it was in focus and a bit darker you won't get any proper detail. You're better off shooting the moon when it's only a half moon/crescent (what ever the proper names are), that way you will get shadows in the craters.
 
CaveDweller said:
You're better off shooting the moon when it's only a half moon/crescent (what ever the proper names are), that way you will get shadows in the craters.
Click to expand...

:agree:

It's just like shooting landscapes in the evening or morning when the low sun reveals the relief of the land.
 
CaveDweller said:
Another problem is the light. With the way that moon is just now even if it was in focus and a bit darker you won't get any proper detail. You're better off shooting the moon when it's only a half moon/crescent (what ever the proper names are), that way you will get shadows in the craters.
Click to expand...

Should still be possible to get good detail of a full moon though.

I haven't ever had a long lens and the longest I've had is 300mm on APS-C and 200mm on MFT and as a result my moon shots have had to be 100% crops but a decent exposure and decent detail should be possible. Looking at my handheld shots they're about ISO 400, f8, 1/200.

If it's not possible to gauge what you are going to get through the VF then just shoot a series of pictures at different settings and then examine the shots for best results.
 
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