Monday, August 3, 2009

Full Moon Photography with the Nikon D90!


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.....
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36 comments:

  1. IrinaAugust 4, 2009 at 5:43 AM

    Thank you for your blog and articles! I also have NIKON D 90, so it helpful for me! Wish you write more! ;)

    Irina

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  2. ScbbbcAugust 4, 2009 at 10:29 AM

    Hello Irina, Thanks for stopping by! I'm always trying to find more D90 info for everyone! have Fun with your D90....

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  3. GeetaliAugust 7, 2009 at 9:22 PM

    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.

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  4. ScbbbcAugust 8, 2009 at 5:57 PM

    Thanks Gallimaufry, I'm stll learning also...and haveing a blast!

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  5. Phil & Harold "The Rizpah Guys"August 9, 2009 at 11:31 AM

    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.

    ReplyDelete
  6. wdbytheseaAugust 20, 2009 at 8:37 AM

    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

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  7. cesaraleAugust 31, 2009 at 6:25 PM

    Check my photo of the moon with d90:
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/cesarale/3873512368/

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  8. ScbbbcSeptember 1, 2009 at 8:26 AM

    Cesarale, great photo! thanks for sharing.

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  9. Darren WenSeptember 14, 2009 at 12:04 AM

    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 :)

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  10. ScbbbcSeptember 14, 2009 at 9:35 AM

    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.

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  11. UnknownSeptember 18, 2009 at 3:38 PM

    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

    ReplyDelete
  12. ScbbbcSeptember 22, 2009 at 3:09 PM

    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!

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  13. Darren WenSeptember 28, 2009 at 2:10 AM

    Thanks Scbbbc,

    Now i know why no VR on tripod!

    THank you :)

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  14. UnknownSeptember 30, 2009 at 2:22 PM

    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

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  15. ScbbbcOctober 1, 2009 at 9:18 AM

    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...

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  16. UnknownDecember 1, 2009 at 8:12 AM

    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!

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  17. UnknownDecember 1, 2009 at 9:56 AM

    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.

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  18. ScbbbcDecember 4, 2009 at 10:30 AM

    Sean, K_akima, Thanks for contributing great info guys!

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  19. UnknownDecember 4, 2009 at 3:26 PM

    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

    ReplyDelete
  20. UnknownDecember 4, 2009 at 3:31 PM

    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/

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  21. ScbbbcFebruary 2, 2010 at 10:54 AM

    Sean, hey i was checking out your Fickr page. Very nice photos...keep up the good work.

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  22. UnknownMarch 1, 2010 at 11:44 PM

    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

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  23. ScbbbcMarch 2, 2010 at 10:53 AM

    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?

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  24. PattyApril 20, 2010 at 3:33 PM

    Just got the Nikkor 70-300mm lens can't wait to try this out. I think there's a full moon next week.

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  25. LydiaJuly 1, 2010 at 4:59 PM

    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.

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  26. Salam KhSeptember 27, 2010 at 10:34 AM

    hey, there is like two Manual focus settings one on the lens and the other on the camera, which one do u mean?

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  27. ScbbbcSeptember 27, 2010 at 7:01 PM

    salam, I just turn the camera switch to manual focus and turn the focus ring with my hand if thats what your asking. thanks

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  28. UnknownJanuary 2, 2011 at 8:08 PM

    This might seem like a silly question, but do you set the manual focus on infinity?

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  29. ScbbbcJanuary 3, 2011 at 8:29 AM

    Dan, yes i usually go manual focus and out to infinity....

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  30. AnonymousMarch 19, 2011 at 6:49 PM

    can you advise on what center metering setting to choose? thanks!

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  31. ScbbbcMarch 19, 2011 at 7:10 PM

    elle, I used Center-weighted Metering on the shot above....

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  32. AnonymousMarch 19, 2011 at 7:13 PM

    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?

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  33. AJAugust 29, 2011 at 2:19 PM

    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.

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  34. ScbbbcSeptember 6, 2011 at 2:17 PM

    @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!

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  35. Rajan RikameJuly 3, 2012 at 9:44 PM

    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.

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  36. ScbbbcJuly 8, 2012 at 8:24 PM

    Awesome Rajan..I'm glad I could help!

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