PowerShot SX60 HS Moon photo advice

[AuntFrahn]

I have been trying to shoot pictures of the moon and having lousy results.

First I tried AUTO, which was sort of OK. The problem is when I depress the shutter the sharpness of the picture is less than before I press the shutter to check focus. The resulting image is not what I saw.

I looked online for a few ideas and tried some manual shots at f/5.6, ISO 800, speed 1/250. Again, I could see what seemed to be a pretty good image, but as soon as I pressed the shutter a little, the moon turned white. Tried it several times while using a tripod. Reduced the ISO to 400. Nada. Did not try setting the self timer - didn't seem like that would help.

Went back to AUTO and did get some shots, but again, not as clear as I expected when I pressed the shutter.

Very frustrating.

Obviously, I am new to this.

Thanks

[Waddizzle · Accepted solution]

I like the big chart, Table 1, at the link.  I find it easiest to initially understand.  It is written under the assumption that your ISO is set to ISO 100.  Notice how Table 2 shows EV with a little "100" next to it.  Again, that means ISO-100.

Once you find your spot on the chart, you can work from there.  The Looney 11 Rule is found in the f/11 column.  Working your way down you come upon 1/125 sec, which you can read off on the left as EV14, which matches Table 2.

You can move left or right "one stop" as you increase [left] or decrease [right] your ISO value.  If all you have is f/8, move along the EV14 row, and you can find equivalent exposure settings. 

If I stay in the  same column and move one square up, then I get a faster shutter speed, which  is "one stop" faster.  If I increased my ISO by "one stop" [from 100 to 200] I would get nearly the same exposure result.

Moving at a diagonal direction reflects changing two values at the same time, and yields an equivalent exposure setting.  I suggest that you sit down in a chair, with your camera on a tripod in front of you, and experiment some.  Do it indoors, or outdoors, if you like.

[AuntFrahn]

Ooooh.....that makes more sense now that you have explained all of the ins and outs.

Thank you SO much!

[AuntFrahn]

[Moving at a diagonal direction reflects changing two values at the same time, and yields an equivalent exposure setting.  I suggest that you sit down in a chair, with your camera on a tripod in front of you, and experiment some.  Do it indoors, or outdoors, if you like.]

We will be going to the Boyce Thompson Arboretum tomorrow - Thanksgiving - on what should be a beautiful sunny 75º day. Fall foliage should be good according to their website.

Therefore, I will be practicing this morning and afternoon at home.

Thank you so much for taking the time.

[Waddizzle]

Good luck, and have fun.  Don't over think it too much.  Just try to keep your ISO low, and your shutter speed high.

[AuntFrahn]

Thanks!

[AuntFrahn]

PS
This is Junior Rodeo weekend that I have attended the last dozen or so years taking photos of the little guys 5-18.
I'll look through my old photos and see what the settings were. Always shot in AUTO mode.
Just read a book about Louise Serpa, rodeo photographer extraordinaire. Hope she's looking over my shoulder.
The parade is in downtown on Saturday, too.

[Waddizzle]

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@AuntFrahn wrote:
PS
This is Junior Rodeo weekend that I have attended the last dozen or so years taking photos of the little guys 5-18.
I'll look through my old photos and see what the settings were. Always shot in AUTO mode.
Just read a book about Louise Serpa, rodeo photographer extraordinaire. Hope she's looking over my shoulder.
The parade is in downtown on Saturday, too.

---

I shot a parade, just this past Saturday.  I used a 16mm wide angle lens, ISO-100, and f/5.6.

http://www.dofmaster.com/doftable.html

Scroll down to find Powershot cameras.  You won't find your model number, but you will find one  with a similar sensor size, which is what really matters. 

I was focused at the "hyperfocal" distance, so everything beyond a few feet was in focus.  I used a DSLR in Av mode, which allowed my to manually dial in f/5.6 and and Auto ISO.  The camera would set the shutter speed for me, as I adjusted the camera to keep the ISO low.

[AuntFrahn]

Thanks!!

[AuntFrahn]

Super disappointed with the rodeo photographs. Will post another question about action shots on a cloudy day.

[Amadeupj]

The same happens to me. Using Canon SX60HS. I see the full moon with lots of details through the viewfinder. When I press the shutter, even with the timer, the image becomes whitish. Then it goes back to being sharp.