We have a full moon coming in a few days and i thought I'd go over how i set up my D90 to photograph it!
The photo above was taken from my back porch last full moon. First you probably want to wait until the moon is high in the sky and really dark outside for the best results. You'll want at least a 300mm lens but a 200mm lens will also work. If your using a lens with VR don't forget to turn it off while your D90 is on the tripod. Get your Tripod set up with your D90 and set you camera to Manual (M) on the dial. Set your metering to, Center-weighted Metering (not that important but i like to do this) and Manual focus.
Next set your aperture to F/11 and shutter speed to 1/400 for starters. Get out your remote release (ML-L3) to fire off your shots... Adjust your exposure as you shoot to get it just right.
The exposure settings I have given are just a good starting point for you and is what I used on the photo above. That's it, Have Fun! If you have any other suggestions for shooting a full moon please let us know. Always learning.....
36 comments:
Thank you for your blog and articles! I also have NIKON D 90, so it helpful for me! Wish you write more! ;)
Irina
Hello Irina, Thanks for stopping by! I'm always trying to find more D90 info for everyone! have Fun with your D90....
I follow your blog regularly & have learnt a lot from you. (You also helped me decide when I was dithering about buying a D90!)
Thank you.
Thanks Gallimaufry, I'm stll learning also...and haveing a blast!
Hi,
I stumbled upon your blog and have been watching the past couple of months. I have a D90 also so I try to find all the info I can. I also have a blog, no where as good as yours ..... No instruction as I am too much of a newbie but if you get a chance stop on by.
http://www.philthephotoguy.blogspot.com/
(The Rispah Blog is from long ago)
Thanks and keep up the good work.
I was given your blog by my cousin in Vermont and I found it extremely interesting. I'm some what of a beginner. I got a D-40 2 years ago and still trying to learn all that it does. I'll be following your blog for sure
Check my photo of the moon with d90:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cesarale/3873512368/
Cesarale, great photo! thanks for sharing.
Hi, I have D90 too and i like it very much :) I'm still a beginner and would like to ask, why VR are turned off while on tripod?
Thank you :)
Hello Darren, using VR on a tripod can actually cause camera shake while on a tripod. The VR mechanism engaging can cause this when the camera is held still on a tripod....It's definitely wise to always turn off VR when on a tripod.
Hello!
I recently found your blog by chance. I just bought the Nikon D90 (it hasn't arrived yet) and am anxious to check it out as well as your many suggestions.
But I was wondering, have you or any of your readers had any experience with either of these two battery/vertical grips for the D80/90? I would be intersted in knowing what you/they think.
Thanks for taking the time to post your informative blog!
~M
http://www.amazon.com/Jenis-J-ND90-P-B-Professional-Battery-Nikon/dp/B001CNYV54/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1253312826&sr=8-5
http://www.amazon.com/Timer-Vertical-Battery-Grip-Nikon/dp/B00192NV0Y/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1253313191&sr=8-6
Hello Emcee3, I only have experience with the Nikon model which i have and love...hopefully someone else will read your post and get back to you with an answer!
Thanks Scbbbc,
Now i know why no VR on tripod!
THank you :)
Hi, nice blog, keep up the good work. When I tried to photograph the moon I couldnt get the moon details, I only get a big white moon, tried different settings, no luck here, also the clouds came in so had to stop. Can you give me/us any advise on this?
Thanks,
Greets,
JS
Skuur, Sounds like your not waiting long enough for the moon to get up real high in the sky. you could still be getting sunlight on the moon. Wait till it really, really dark outside for best results...
Great stuff,
Shooting with the 300mm at the moon EVERYTHING counts when trying to keep vibrations down!! As much as I love my D90 it dosn't have a mirror lock up. It does however have an Exposure delay mode which pauses 1 second after the mirror is lifted before the camera fires. This is an added amount of time to let the camera settle down! This can be found under Menu/Custome Setting Menu/ (d)(Shooting/display)/ (d10) Exposure delay mode on or off. There is another full moon on Wed 12-2-2009 I have been practicing settings the last few nights for the big show and getting better and better results with each night of "PRACTICE"! Nice blog spot I'll be watching...
As for the person getting white spots for the moon...easy your fstop is not small enough or your shutter speed is still to slow. next to the sun...the moon is actually one of the brightest things to shoot at. I have shot images with speeds above 1000 and fstops at 5.6 and surprisingly they turn out! Remember you also have the ISO sensitivity you can play with, 200 seems to work well.
Good shotting!
Exposing for the full moon is easy: just use the Sunny-f/16 rule. All you're doing is taking a picture of a landscape under a cloudless midday sky. Any oldtimer will tell you that the proper exposure under those conditions is F/16 at 1/ISO.
Sean, K_akima, Thanks for contributing great info guys!
I was unable to get out the other night for the full moon but the day before I got this shot! It came out pretty good! I'll have to wait till the next cycle and hope for clear weather to get the full one!
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2497/4152668893_47aa8e2140_m.jpg
LOL sorry I got this the other NIGHT not day!!! New at this stuff..the other link is just to the pict...I will be putting other moon picts up at this flickr account!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shutterkrazy/
Sean, hey i was checking out your Fickr page. Very nice photos...keep up the good work.
Very nice blog...I have been trying to get a result like yours for a few nights now..They come out decent but not like this..Im new to this and I think its the lens im using...Its a 300 AF lens so i dont have a maual focus option..I have a d90. tripod, shutter remote and using a 70-300MM 4-5.6 quantary lens..I have my metering on ceneter weighted 10mm..Im doing shutters of 1/400 and up and playing with the exposure but cant get the image like that..Could someone tell me if its my lens or do I need to set additional settings...Thanks and I would greatly appreciate any help..Thanks again
Curtis, Thanks for stopping by! I'm not sure whats going on with your photos. Are they just coming out blurry? sounds like your doing everything right. Can you post some sample photos of what your getting?
Just got the Nikkor 70-300mm lens can't wait to try this out. I think there's a full moon next week.
Very very useful information. My Nikon D90 is on the way home and I can't wait to try this :) I'll have 18-200mm vr II lens.
hey, there is like two Manual focus settings one on the lens and the other on the camera, which one do u mean?
salam, I just turn the camera switch to manual focus and turn the focus ring with my hand if thats what your asking. thanks
This might seem like a silly question, but do you set the manual focus on infinity?
Dan, yes i usually go manual focus and out to infinity....
can you advise on what center metering setting to choose? thanks!
elle, I used Center-weighted Metering on the shot above....
yes...I meant what value...I can choose between +1 and -1....cool shot btw. and for some reason my camera won't let me adjust shutter speed..I have it set to manual?
can anyone help I am heading out to Grand Tetons and Yellowstone, have a D90 and thats what I know..I'm new to it help. Would love to get the best shots I can.
@AJ, What lenses do you have with your D90? I'd bring a 300mm for wildlife and something in the 17-50mm range for landscapes... Have fun!
Hey, Thank You! due to this I could able to get my 1st clear full moon pic today. I am new though but Thanks a tone will keep looking for new stuff here. This simple info is good enough for me now on to experiment further.
Awesome Rajan..I'm glad I could help!
Post a Comment