Shoot the Moon - Easy and Effective Settings for Handheld Moon Shots

Shoot the Moon

Straight to the Point.

 The easy settings for handheld moon shots are....

So if you're using a 500mm lens then the settings are:

If you're using a 200mm lens then the settings are:

And just follow the pattern.

Identify the size lens you're using,

and then set the camera for 1/focal length @ f11, with ISO (focal length).

Why it Works  

1. The moon is moving and we need a fast enough shutter speed to stop action the moon while compensating for movements associated with big zoom lenses. We shouldn't go below 1/60th while hand holding the camera, but we need to go to faster when we zoom out. The standard is 1/focal length. So if we are zoomed at 200mm, then our shutter speed should be at least 1/200th of a second to compensate for movement. At 400mm, then 1/400 of a second. The moon method above starts with focal length to ensure we're shooting fast enough to get crisp clean shots of the moon.

2. The Sunny 16 Rule (or, for Mike, the Sunny 11 Rule). On a bright sunny day, we will get a good exposure at 1/ISO @ f16, with ISO. So, if we are shooting ISO 200, then we get a good exposure at 1/200 @ f16 with ISO 200 -- on a bright sunny day.  It's a standard used in the film days to get a good evaluations of existing light. I tend to have better exposures using f11 rather than f16, but it changes with atmospheric conditions. So I start at f11 and then change it accordingly.

The light falling on the moon is the equivalent of a bright sunny day and the described method is the blending of two photography fundamentals.  

Important 

This is an art more than a science, and the atmosphere, clarity, and visibility are always in flux. So, take a shot with these guidelines and evaluate. If it's too dark, then open the aperture to f8 or f5.6 and take another shot. If it's too bright, then knock down the aperture to f16.

Benefits

- It's a fast and easy way to remember settings for the moon.

- We are shooting fast enough that we don't need a tripod.

- We are shooting fast enough to stop action the moon.

- We are shooting at ISO speeds that produce quality work.

- We can shoot anywhere with minimal set-up time. 

- The moon is moving! Using a tripod with a slower shutter speed will cause motion blur. What seems to be effective is actually a hinderance. However, using a tripod so you don't have to hold a heavy lens does works great - just be sure to turn off the vibration controls. 

As a Catchall

If you're not getting what I'm saying, then set the camera to 1/800th sec at f11, ISO 800. It follows the same principles, but sets the camera at the high end so you don't have to think about it. This should cover almost any clear moon shooting condition -- with the exception of using lenses 800mm and above. 800 ISO will still get you good quality images, but maybe not quite as good if you use a lower setting more specific to your focal lens. 

So...

This is how I shoot and it works great. I more frequently than not open up the aperture due to the atmosphere. Although the sunlight falling on the moon is equivalent to a bright sunny day, there is enough atmospheric obstacles to block some of the light. 

Thanks for reading and let me know how this works for you.

Mike Busby

Mike Busby's School of Photography

Busbywc.com