Night One of many, I am sure

One of many, I am sure · **1 Like**

Shot at 300mm + 1.4x teleconverter for 420mm at f/5.6 (effective) at ISO640 with exposure time of 1s. (Tripod + Mirror up + Remote) Did the best I could. Not even sure how to process the image to make it better.

This was, hands down, the most challenging shooting I've ever tried to do. Trying to nail the focus is like trying to hit a spray a pinhead with a syringe. We also had intermittent clouds rolling through, so I didn't have the time to focus like I needed. Not sure it would have helped. At some point, I was just making microadjustments and hitting shoot.

Name: attempt.jpg
Views: 223
Size: 229.6 KB

Name: attempt.jpg
Views: 223
Size: 229.6 KB

RobG · 10-08-2014, 04:57 AM

Well done! I wish I'd had the TC and a decent tripod myself! I ended up having to shoot hand held.

For focus, try live view and zoom in using the info button.

MadMathMind · 10-08-2014, 05:01 AM

Originally posted by RobG

For focus, try live view and zoom in using the info button.

I did. It's so dark that the image is soooo noisy on screen. Hard to tell what is what. It helped a lot, obviously, but only because using the viewfinder is basically impossible.

I took some pictures of the regular moon last night too. Those came out much better with LV + max magnification.

**c.a.m** · 10-08-2014, 05:02 AM

Nice job.

The totality took place at 06:55 local time. However, it was raining and overcast here, so I went back to sleep at 04:00. Maybe next time...

- Craig

MadMathMind · 10-08-2014, 05:08 AM

Correction: I shot this at 300 x 1.4 and f/4 --> f/5.6. I've tried the 2x TC for the moon and found it introduces too many aberrations to be much of an improvement. Plus, with so little light, it would have been even worse to shoot!

RobG · 10-08-2014, 05:09 AM

Originally posted by MadMathMind

I did. It's so dark that the image is soooo noisy on screen. Hard to tell what is what. It helped a lot, obviously, but only because using the viewfinder is basically impossible. I took some pictures of the regular moon last night too. Those came out much better with LV + max magnification.

I guess that's one case where focus peaking would be a huge advantage!

old4570 · 10-08-2014, 05:56 AM

Ok thats very nice ...

Arjay Bee · 10-08-2014, 05:56 AM

Originally posted by RobG

I guess that's one case where focus peaking would be a huge advantage!

Used focus peaking on the K-3 and it was quite useful to sharpen the blinkies on the edge of the moon to get a reasonable shot with a 600mm lens. (Won't spam my shot again - available elsewhere.) Tried to use a 2x tele-extender but too blurry under these low light circumstances and finding the moon was an issue at this magnification.

RobG · 10-08-2014, 05:59 AM

Originally posted by Arjay Bee

Used focus peaking on the K-3 and it was quite useful to sharpen the blinkies on the edge of the moon to get a reasonable shot with a 600mm lens. (Won't spam my shot again - available elsewhere.) Tried to use a 2x tele-extender but too blurry under these low light circumstances and finding the moon was an issue at this magnification.

Good to know, thanks! I'm still trying not to rush out and buy the K3...

Photogoof · 07-24-2018, 06:27 AM

Originally posted by MadMathMind

Shot at 300mm + 1.4x teleconverter for 420mm at f/5.6 (effective) at ISO640 with exposure time of 1s. (Tripod + Mirror up + Remote) Did the best I could. Not even sure how to process the image to make it better.

This was, hands down, the most challenging shooting I've ever tried to do. Trying to nail the focus is like trying to hit a spray a pinhead with a syringe. We also had intermittent clouds rolling through, so I didn't have the time to focus like I needed. Not sure it would have helped. At some point, I was just making microadjustments and hitting shoot.

Attachment 239866

One good shot!

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10-08-2014, 05:56 AM	#7
old4570 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 2,551	Wowsa Ok thats very nice ...

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10-08-2014, 04:57 AM	#2
RobG Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Canberra Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,902	Well done! I wish I'd had the TC and a decent tripod myself! I ended up having to shoot hand held. For focus, try live view and zoom in using the info button.

10-08-2014, 05:01 AM	#3
MadMathMind Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Houston, TX Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,717 Original Poster	Originally posted by RobG For focus, try live view and zoom in using the info button. I did. It's so dark that the image is soooo noisy on screen. Hard to tell what is what. It helped a lot, obviously, but only because using the viewfinder is basically impossible. I took some pictures of the regular moon last night too. Those came out much better with LV + max magnification.

10-08-2014, 05:02 AM	#4
c.a.m Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Ottawa, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,191	Nice job. The totality took place at 06:55 local time. However, it was raining and overcast here, so I went back to sleep at 04:00. Maybe next time... - Craig

10-08-2014, 05:08 AM	#5
MadMathMind Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Houston, TX Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,717 Original Poster	Correction: I shot this at 300 x 1.4 and f/4 --> f/5.6. I've tried the 2x TC for the moon and found it introduces too many aberrations to be much of an improvement. Plus, with so little light, it would have been even worse to shoot!

10-08-2014, 05:09 AM	#6
RobG Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Canberra Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,902	Originally posted by MadMathMind I did. It's so dark that the image is soooo noisy on screen. Hard to tell what is what. It helped a lot, obviously, but only because using the viewfinder is basically impossible. I took some pictures of the regular moon last night too. Those came out much better with LV + max magnification. I guess that's one case where focus peaking would be a huge advantage!

10-08-2014, 05:56 AM	#8
Arjay Bee Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Horn Island, Torres Straits, Q Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,715	Originally posted by RobG I guess that's one case where focus peaking would be a huge advantage! Used focus peaking on the K-3 and it was quite useful to sharpen the blinkies on the edge of the moon to get a reasonable shot with a 600mm lens. (Won't spam my shot again - available elsewhere.) Tried to use a 2x tele-extender but too blurry under these low light circumstances and finding the moon was an issue at this magnification.

10-08-2014, 05:59 AM	#9
RobG Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Canberra Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,902	Originally posted by Arjay Bee Used focus peaking on the K-3 and it was quite useful to sharpen the blinkies on the edge of the moon to get a reasonable shot with a 600mm lens. (Won't spam my shot again - available elsewhere.) Tried to use a 2x tele-extender but too blurry under these low light circumstances and finding the moon was an issue at this magnification. Good to know, thanks! I'm still trying not to rush out and buy the K3...

07-24-2018, 06:27 AM	#10
Photogoof Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Prague Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,422	Originally posted by MadMathMind Shot at 300mm + 1.4x teleconverter for 420mm at f/5.6 (effective) at ISO640 with exposure time of 1s. (Tripod + Mirror up + Remote) Did the best I could. Not even sure how to process the image to make it better. This was, hands down, the most challenging shooting I've ever tried to do. Trying to nail the focus is like trying to hit a spray a pinhead with a syringe. We also had intermittent clouds rolling through, so I didn't have the time to focus like I needed. Not sure it would have helped. At some point, I was just making microadjustments and hitting shoot. Attachment 239866 One good shot!