Moon keeps getting washed out?

13 years 5 months ago #7051 by DJMarcus
I was trying to take a photo of the moon last night and I would have the camera showing correct exposure each time, but the moon would come out looking like a white dot? I'm shooting with a D300 with a 200mm and 2x teleconverter. Why isn't my photos coming out like others I have seen?

Could my camera's meter be off? I was shooting in manual mode, should I be shooting in another mode for moon?

Thanks

Jerid


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13 years 5 months ago #7055 by Solstar
Jerid, try using spot metering mode. If your camera has a mirror lock-up mode try using it for extra vibration limiting. Let us know if it works.


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13 years 5 months ago #7056 by DJMarcus

Solstar wrote: Jerid, try using spot metering mode. If your camera has a mirror lock-up mode try using it for extra vibration limiting. Let us know if it works.


Thank you for the reply. I do have my camera mounted on a tripod. I will try this, I need to open up my manual to figure out how to play around with spot metering mode.

What camera do you shoot with?

Jerid


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13 years 5 months ago #7060 by Screamin Scott
Your meter is being fooled by the large expanse of sky in respect to the small moon in the frame. Spot metering will help as long as you get just the moon in the spot meter's frame..

Scott Ditzel Photography

www.flickr.com/photos/screaminscott/

Photo Comments
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13 years 5 months ago #7109 by Yasko
Think of shooting the moon as like shooting a single light bulb in a darkened room. If you want to actually get the glowing fillament to show, you need to close down the aperature a lot.

The moon is the same way. If you're metering non specified or centerweighted, expect to underexpose by 4 to 6 stops to get a detailed moon.


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13 years 5 months ago #7128 by KVRNut
The others nailed it with spot metering. When I look at the moon through my telescope, it can hurt my eyes it's so bright. When I take a picture through my telescope, the telescope is my lens so I'll meter the subject and then allow a full 1 or 2 more f/stops quicker shutter time. Last picture I took of the moon was a half moon and that was 1/500 sec. using ISO 100 film.
By the way, the moon moves fast so a fast shutter time is needed to avoid a blurred subject.


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13 years 5 months ago #7141 by waynescook
I just read all of the responses to your question and leaned alot! I may try some "moon shots" myself! Thanks for the question!

WCBIRDSNLANDSC


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13 years 5 months ago #7321 by DJMarcus
Thanks for all the help everyone. I'm going to try this out.


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