The Moon

[root_j]

Is this best I can expect to get with my nikon d60 with old manual focus 70-300 lens, and tripod?? The levels have been tweaked slightly in GIMP.



Exposure: 0.013 sec (1/80)
Aperture: f/10.0
Focal Length: 240 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash

Any advice welcome please!

[TheWengler]

Is this best I can expect to get with my nikon d60 with old manual focus 70-300 lens, and tripod?? The levels have been tweaked slightly in GIMP.

I'd set the aperture to where ever the sweet spot is for that lens. Probably stopped down one or two stops. It looks like you lost some highlights too so don't push the exposure so much. I'd probably go with the base ISO too. Not sure what that is on the D60. Also, either shoot manually or use spot metering. You don't want the dark sky throwing off your camera.

The lens is probably your biggest limiting factor. Why didn't you zoom to 300mm? Is it soft at the long end?

[root_j]

Thanks Lukas,
do you mean to F8/9? (I'm a noobie!) The base ISO is 100 (?), I used spot metering, I think I had problems focusing at 300mm- not sure why.

[Rooz]

you cant use any auto modes for the moon, you must use manual exposure mode. your shutter speed is a couple of stops too slow so you've blown all the highlights. aperture and iso is fine.

[TheWengler]

More moon reading. (http://www.dcresource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36547&highlight=moon)

[Phill D]

Haven't taken any decent moon shots with the dslr yet but with my old Fz20 I did use auto exposure with spot metering & used to bracket the exposures. It was always the underexposed settings that came out best as Rooz suggests to stop the blown highlights.