BetterPhoto Q&A
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Moon Shots

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June 20, 2000

If you can, get your hands on a 400mm + lens. Some people even use special adapters that allow them to hook their camera up to a telescope.

To get the proper exposure, spot meter off the moon. Most cameras will take all the surrounding black space too much into account, try to make it an even grey, and in the process overexpose the moon. All the detail will be lost and the moon will look "blown out," or just bright white.

For focus, you need to use a tripod and you will need to somehow keep the exposure relatively short. If you take too long of an exposure, the moon will orbit while you are shooting and, believe it or not, blur due to motion. Some photographers (the same ones who use the telescope attachment) use a special device that moves the camera as the celestial object moves, following it as the exposure it taken. Hope this helps!

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June 20, 2000

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June 29, 2000