Guide Supermoon Lunar Eclipse Tonight - 01:12 BST until 06:22 BST

As I seem to be unable, due to Fibromyalgia to learn,apart from the basics, the finer points of DSLR photography. So could some kind person advise on the best settings, aperture, shutter speed and ISO, on my Canon 1100D as I will be up around 3-4am and would like to take a snap or two of this clouds permitting.
I have a tripod and I assume the 55-250mm lens would be the one to use as the only others I have are the bog standard 18-55mm and a 50mm.

 

The moon is a lot brighter than people realise.

Stick your camera in "manual" mode by selecting "M" on the mode wheel on the top of the camera and give the following a try.

ISO 100
Shutter speed: 1/250
Aperture: f/8

Make sure you use the tripod (and remote shutter release if you have one) to reduce camera shake as much as possible.

Earlier in the night, take an early test shot of the moon and see how it looks on the camera screen.

If it looks too bright on the screen (like a bright headlamp with no detail) with the above settings, raise the shutter speed a notch (higher number).

If it looks too dark, lower the shutter speed a notch (lower number).

Keep taking test shots, reviewing and adjusting the shutter speed until you're happy with how the moon looks on the camera screen.

That's it really. You will probably have to adjust again on the fly as the eclipse progresses, because the moon will darken when it starts turning red, but just keep checking the screen. If it looks too dark, slow the shutter speed down a notch (lower number).

Good luck!

 

That is very informative, forgot about the remote shutter release which I also have. Thanks.

 

No problem. Don't forget focussing, too. Once focussed correctly on the moon you might want to set the lens to manual focus so it doesn't keep trying to re-focus for every shot (sometimes cameras struggle to focus on bright objects, causing the lens to "hunt"). Just make sure you don't accidentally move the lens focus ring afterwards.

 

Will do, thanks again.

 

Great advice i would love to do this but have to be up for 6 for work and that would kill me

 

Cheers John.

Well, the Moon has just popped up over the mountains where I am.

ISO 100
Shutter: 1/250
Aperture: f/4

I shot this quickie hand-held so to avoid camera-shake I opened up the aperture (from f/8 to f/4) instead of slowing the shutter speed to get the correct exposure. If I had been using a tripod, I would have adusted the shutter speed instead, like I advised you (in this case, a shutter speed of 1/60 and an aperture of f/8 would have resulted in exactly the same exposure. The tool in this link shows why).

 

Nice.

 

Cheers. Now it's your turn for a practice run:

Kronos Moon test pic... in 15 minutes or less...

GO!

 

It is nowhere to be seen at the moment up here in Edinburgh. I will probably or hopefully trying to get a snap or two standing in my pj's at around 4am once the cats have woken me to get out. Knowing my luck, as with the other eclipse we had earlier this year and it will cloud over 5 minutes after I get set up.

 

Ha, that's often the way.

I highly recommend having a quick practice as soon as you can see the Moon to get a feel for it.

Either way, good luck chap. I hope you get the shot you want.

 

a quick 1 from me

its between 2 houses and will be gone soon click it



Camera Model Canon EOS 750D
Shooting Date/Time 27/09/2015 19:58:58
Author JOHN MANSFIELD
Copyright Notice JOHN MANSFIELD
Owner's Name
Shooting Mode Manual Exposure
Tv(Shutter Speed) 1/400
Metering Mode Evaluative Metering
ISO Speed 200
Auto ISO Speed OFF
Image Size 6000x4000
Aspect ratio 3:2
Image Quality Fine
Flash Off
FE lock OFF
White Balance Mode Auto
AF Mode Manual focusing

 

Nice shot John.

Last one to post a moon pic smells of poo.

 

Ooh I like this thread, I wasn't aware of this but I am keen to have a try myself, the only thing I am missing is a remote trigger.

 

a slightly closer shot with a m42 to eos adaptor 400mm paragon 6.3 with a photax-vcl x2 tele converter plus a bower mc 2x c/afi tele converter

400mm x 2 x 2 on 1.6 body =?





Camera Model Canon EOS 750D
Shooting Date/Time 27/09/2015 21:06:17
Author JOHN MANSFIELD
Copyright Notice JOHN MANSFIELD
Owner's Name
Shooting Mode Manual Exposure
Tv(Shutter Speed) 1/250
Av(Aperture Value) 1.4
Metering Mode Evaluative Metering
ISO Speed 800
Auto ISO Speed OFF
Lens 1-65535mm
Focal Length 50.0mm
Image Size 6000x4000

both shots without trigger on a tripod

 

Hehe, 2560mm equivalent.

I think I can see someone waving!

Do it. If your camera has a self timer mode, use that instead of a remote shutter release thing. Works just as well. (Or just squeeze the shutter release button very carefully.)

 

its nice to get closer but not so clear

i did try with my celestron 70 travel scope 400mm but not so good

how do you work the mm out

my lens is too long an is a ton i didnt trust it with trigger

 

Caught this just before it vanished behind the back yard trees:



Hand held 1/200, F8, ISO 100 at ~ 250mm on my bridge camera. (cropped before posting)

I've set up the tripod for when it clears the trees a little later.

 

That's a beauty. What ISO?

 

Ha, yes that's always the trade-off unless you spend megabucks.

You did most of the maths to work out the equivalent focal length:

400 * 2 * 2 * 1.6 = 2560