Need some help on camera settings and taking photos of the moon

[usregimechange]

Lunar eclipse is soon. I have a Soby cybershot h55. Can't get it to focus on the moon, its all blurry.

[cherokeeprogressive]

1. Does it have manual focus? Check your manual.

You can also try putting it on a tripod I think. Center the moon and use the timer to take the picture.

[usregimechange]

4. Thanks that helped.

[krispos42]

2. Focus it manually... set it to "infinity".

And I think it's Monday night... early Tuesday morning, in other words. :-)


You probably want maximum ISO setting and, if you can, a slow shutter speed. And a tripod.

[usregimechange]

3. Ok, manual low ISO looks much better, what is "infinity"? Maximum ISO? and

How do I have slow shutter speed?

Sorry I don't know what I am doing.

[krispos42]

8. I have an older Sony digital camera, and there's a setting...

...where you can program some things manually. Such as the focus. I usually use it when I'm trying to take a picture of something moving and don't want the auto-focus delay. For example, tonight I took a picture of Santa riding away on a fire engine. Since I knew that trying to hold the shot while the camera adjusted everything in the dark would make for a blurry picture, I set it up for ISO 400, maximum flash power, and a focus of 7m. The camera fired when I pressed the button and I didn't have to track the fire engine or get a blurry picture. On my camera your options are something like 1m, 3m, 5m 7m and ∞.

You should have a setting for manual programming someplace. How much manual programming you can do depends on the camera. With mine, for example, I can't adjust the shutter speed; that's controlled by the processor automatically. But I can set the metering mode, the "film" ISO, and the focal length.

On some cameras you can manually set the apeture setting (I think it's called the "f-stop") and shutter speed... just like on an old-fashioned film camera before they automated them.

[usregimechange]

5. Shutter speed is controlled by how long I hold down the big button

I think. Now do I hold it down a long time or just tap it?

[krispos42]

9. It can be, on some cameras.

My mom has a nice Canon EOS 35mm camera. If you put it into manual mode you can set the shutter speed from something like 1/500th of a second to 30 seconds. And if you attach a remote shutter button you can hold it open to expose the film as long as your thumb holds out.

Your camera might have a menu option where you can set the shutter speed manually, but doing it based solely on how long you press the button is chancy. Very easy to over-expose or under-expose the picture, and your natural hand trembling will make the picture blurry.


If you can manually set the shutter speed AND use the countdown timer, that would completely eliminate the human factor from the shot.

[Lucian]

6. The lunar eclipse isn't for another 24 hours.

[usregimechange]

7. Gettin ready

[CC]

10. Your best bet is to experiment with your camera

now and early on tomorrow. See what looks best and keep track of the settings. Look at you instruction manual to learn if/how to use manual settings. If you don't have the manual you can get one here. http://www.retrevo.com/support/Sony-DSC-H55-Digital-Cameras-manual/id/23641ag115/t/2/

Also google how to photograph full moon. Lots of tutorials out there.

To give you an idea, Harvest Moon




Settings
Shutter speed 1/160
f-stop 5.6
ISO 400

I was using a 300 mm lens. If I'm not sure I tend to under expose since it is easier to correct and gives a bit more detail.


Hope you get some photos and post them. I don't think I want to freeze and we are suppose to have clouds anyway so not planning on trying this time.

[usregimechange]

11. Wow, good picture, mine won't be as good, I'll post them though