Re: Nikon N65 taking a pic of the moon

"IN Packer Fan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]: 

> Ok,  I am not skilled in any way in photography...  I just upgraded
> from a decent point & shoot Nikon Zoom Touch 600 to a Nikon N65 (28-80
> lens)... 
> 
> I want to take a picture of the moon, but even when I change the
> setting from auto to nighttime, when I push the shutter button it will
> autofocus out, then in  and refuse to take the picture.  I would
> appreciate somebody helping me figure out which settings to use.


        Doing a Google search on moon photography will net you a ton of info. 
Generally, there isn't any autofocus or autoexposure camera that is likely 
to get a decent picture by itself - you'll have to override the settings.

        It would take a significant focal length (500mm+) to get the moon big 
enough in the frame to have the meter and AF work, and you'd have to be 
spot-metering (otherwise it will compensate for all the blackness in the 
frame). Go for manual focus. You will hear people suggest using the "Sunny 
16" rule for a *full* moon (at f16, your shutter speed should be the 
reciprocal of your film speed, 1/100 second for ISO 100); personally, I 
think f11 works better. Mileage may vary, so bracket the exposure. And 
you'll be increasing exposure the farther the moon is from full, because 
the reflected light decreases. Same holds for lower on the horizon, hazy 
skies, and so on.

        This exposure is too low to catch much else in the frame, including 
stars and foreground details unless brightly lit. If this is your 
intention, you may have to do a multiple exposure (which means a firm 
tripod and a remote release is recommended). Get the dim features before 
the moon has entered the frame, or after it leaves, otherwise you'll 
overexpose the moon into a featureless flare.

        Good luck with it, and be creative!


        - Al.

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