Tonight's moon

[JHZR2]

Taken tonight.

Used a Nikon 300mm VR lens, handheld, 1/320 and f/9 at ISO 200 on a DX sensor D300. No edits made, no photoshopping, just cropping in a free photo editing SW.

Didnt have the FIL's D800 set up yet, but within the next few days, given clean weather, either his (or mine if the wife allows) should produce an even better image.

Of course photobucket compresses and kills images...

 

[eljefino]

Photo taken within New Jersey? Cold crisp air?

 

[LineArrayNut]

nice!

 

[Recalculating]

Great photo. This exposure at that sensitivity, shutter speed and aperture indicates one nice camera.

Thanks for the post.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Photo taken within New Jersey? Cold crisp air?


Not quite. More like 18.333 degrees North...

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: Recalculating
Great photo. This exposure at that sensitivity, shutter speed and aperture indicates one nice camera.

Thanks for the post.


Thanks. The FIL got a D800, and Im hoping for one soon... That shot should be even better at resolving details...

Now if I could just convince my wife to get a 600mm lens!

Actually a teleconverter that doesnt sacrifice sharpness should do, as I could still stop the lens down a bit more. Id likely need to use a tripod then though...

 

[[email protected]]

We just got in from looking at the heavens with my new Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ telescope!!

But after seeing that pic, it makes me want to break out the EOS and put some clicks on that 300mm lens I bought a while back.....

 

[aquariuscsm]

Amazing pic!!!!!!!

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: [email protected]
We just got in from looking at the heavens with my new Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ telescope!!

But after seeing that pic, it makes me want to break out the EOS and put some clicks on that 300mm lens I bought a while back.....


Please do!!! My 300mm barely gets you the moon cropped in a photo... Would love to see some real celestial beauty with photos from the telescope!

 

[spasm3]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: Recalculating
Great photo. This exposure at that sensitivity, shutter speed and aperture indicates one nice camera.

Thanks for the post.


Thanks. The FIL got a D800, and Im hoping for one soon... That shot should be even better at resolving details...

Now if I could just convince my wife to get a 600mm lens!

Actually a teleconverter that doesnt sacrifice sharpness should do, as I could still stop the lens down a bit more. Id likely need to use a tripod then though...


A tripod really does help sharpness, especially with long focal lengths and shutter speeds under 1/500.

 

[JHZR2]

True. The VR likely helped, and Ill bet that a 36 MP sensor on a D800 will resolve detail and shake that my 12MP D300 cannot.

I did put it on a tripod and timed for a few other shots, but this one, my first was my favorite. I didnt count pixels, but IMO it looked the best!

 

[JavierG]

Man that's a cool shot! Photos of the moon never cease to mesmerize me. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Lillikai]

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing! I love "space" photos!

 

[crw]

Yes, I like to do the same but all I have is a 200mm lens.

For those who want to try this, remember the sunny-16 rule. The moon is, after all, lit by the sun!

 

[Tom NJ]

Great image John! You might want to try shooting the moon at quarter phase - the contrast from the side lighting makes the craters pop.

This was shot on a Nikon D80 with a Sigma 50-500 OS lens at 500 mm, hand held (well, leaning against a tree)

Tom NJ

 

[Quattro Pete]

Nice work, both photos.

Tom, handheld at 500mm at 1/200s shutter speed - that's pretty impressive sharpness.

I tried taking a similar shot with my D40 and a 300mm VR lens. The results weren't anywhere close to yours. It was a cloudy day though...

 

[Tom NJ]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Tom, handheld at 500mm at 1/200s shutter speed - that's pretty impressive sharpness.

The lens has vibration resistance, and I had it braced firmly against a tree, plus I sharpened a bit in Photoshop. A very clear night is essential!

Tom

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: Tom NJ
You might want to try shooting the moon at quarter phase - the contrast from the side lighting makes the craters pop.




I have done that before, though without the reach of 500mm, which is really neat. The craters do pop, but wow, the detail in your photo is just amazing. Thanks for sharing.

I wish I could photograph Saturn's rings or Jupiter's spot, but there arent enough ideal days by us, and too much light pollution, so Id bet that the cost to set up such capability would be $$$$$$.

 

[Tom NJ]

You would need a telescope to get any decent photos of Jupiter and Saturn, and yes that would be very expensive.

We just bought a second home (farm) in the Blue Ridge Mountains where the night skies are inky black and filled with a zillion stars. I am looking forward to more moon photography there when the weather warms a bit.

Tom

 

[buster]

Nice!