Exposure question

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Do any of you remember the optimal exposure settings for shooting the Moon? I seem to recall that it was something like 1/30 second minimum @ f8 (or was it f5.6) from my film days. I'd like to try to get some good shots next full moon in February with my little FujiFilm S700, if I can get it set correctly in full manual mode.
 

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On my Nikon D5000 I generally start at 1/200, f8 and ISO 200 when shooting at 200mm, and adjust from there.
 
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On my Nikon D5000 I generally start at 1/200, f8 and ISO 200 when shooting at 200mm, and adjust from there.

Thanks! I generally use ISO 200 - seems the best color saturation and least noisy setting. I'm not sure what my focal range is on this little, basically an advanced point and shoot, camera. It has a simple zoom with a digital zoom above that range. I'll definitely be looking for my tripod next full moon. I do have a fairly full range of f-stops (max is f13.6 - no f8, though) available along with the standard shutter speed settings. I guess I'll just have to experiment and find out the best exposure setting for this camera.
 
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I found my tripod and did a moon shot on last Friday evening:

FullMoon031811.jpg


ISO=100, 1/100 sec, f=5.6, focal length = 222mm (35mm equivalent = 1345mm)
 

RavingMac

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Nice.

What did you use to take the shot?
 
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For future reference, slow shutter speed will make the full moon be an overexposed blob. It is illuminated by the sun, and Sunny 16 exposures apply... ie, ISO 200 - f/8 1/800 second. Here's info on the Sunny 16 rule

However, the moon is basically a 12% gray card, and we may prefer it a bit brighter, maybe one stop more exposure than Sunny 16.

Search Google for full moon exposure as well.

Doug
 
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Here's a shot from 2 weeks ago, the day before the "Supermoon". ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/125 at 400mm. Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM with 2xII extender. Tripod, Manual focus, cable release, mirror lockup. Curves adjustment in Aperture3. You'll find in general that its 'under exposed', but I find this is necessary to capture the detail and not blow out highlights.

MoonShot II 6.jpg
 

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Doug posted good advice on setting exposure. And as is obvious the final setting depends on preference on how you want the image to turn out. My own preference is for about midway between the OP's and the one posted by Cooleyeone, so I set it on Manual f8 to f16 and 1/200 and bracket up and down with shutter speed (use a wireless release also, but haven't played with mirror-lockup yet).
If I have taken the time to haul camera and tripod out in the dark hours I am going to take several exposures at different combinations of settings to find the one or two I like best.
 

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