While taking pictures of a full moon I am ending up with a ghost image.

[hlk2nmj]

Is this because of the filters being in place? Input please. Canon T5i with EF5 zoom 18-135mm. I was using auto function without flash.

[jrhoffman75]

If by "ghost image" you mean that you see a faint second moon then maybe it is reflection from filters. You can easily and quickly test that by removing filter and repeating the shoot.

[hlk2nmj]

Thanks, John. I should have tried that instead of posting the question but it doesn't hurt to ask, right?

[jrhoffman75]

Never hurts to ask. If you can post the image it would help diagnosis.

[hlk2nmj]

Deleted bad images. Should have a good moon tonight and will try without filters. I'll let you know how that goes.

Henry

[jrhoffman75]

You probably know this, but the full moon is in full sunlight, so you want to spot meter on the moon or try a "Sunny 11" exposure for a start. f/11 to a shutter speed close to 1/ISO. 

[ebiggs1]

The Looney 11 rule is a method of estimating correct exposures without a light meter. For daylight photography, there is a similar rule called the Sunny16 rule.

Using a ISO 100 setting,you will set the aperture to f/11 and the shutter speed to 1/125 second.  Or, you can use any combination of these exposure but must maintain the same EV.  I.E., ISO 200, 1/200, f11 --- ISO 400, 1/500,  f11, etc.

Noted, a135mm lens may not be a long enough focal length.  Depending on your desired out come.  Use manual mode for the settings. Shoot RAW, otherwise set the jpg to daylight.  Use a tripod.  And lastly bracket your exposure, a stop more and a stop less.

[TCampbell · Accepted solution]

Bright objects, and especially bright objects on mostly dark backgronds, can create "ghosting" when you have flat filters attached to the lens.  The flat surface makes a perfect "mirror" and some light reflects off the front of the lens, hits the filter, and reflects back into the lens creating the "ghosted" copy.

Higher quality filters usually have a good anti-reflective coating to reduce the effect, but I find it's better to just remove the filter completely and only use them when they are needed or helpful.

[hlk2nmj]

I appreciate all the input on this subject. Simple fix was just removing the filters. Thanks to all the contributors!