Moon shots with K-70

gearjammer63 · 09-16-2021, 06:17 PM - **1 Like**

Hello from Ontario, Canada!

I just recently bought a K-70, and I'm just beginning to learn the art of photography with a DSLR. It's a beautiful, clear night with a 3/4 moon, and I can't find the right exposure to shoot the moon using my Sigma 18-200mm F-3.5-8.3 zoom lens.

**Bob 256** · 09-16-2021, 06:30 PM

The moon is an object lighted the same as a daylight lighted object here on Earth. This means that you would start with an exposure near what you'd use for something in a daylight situation (about 1/100s, 100 ISO, & f16 or the equivalent thereof, probably a higher shutter speed and a mid-f stop value for your lens to improve sharpness). The moon adds some complexity in that it's very contrasty and it's easy to blow out the highlights, so you might want to underexpose slightly and then adjust in post-processing. Many autofocus systems are dumbfounded because they see the bright object against total darkness; hence, manual exposure is probably best.

**UncleVanya** · 09-16-2021, 07:18 PM - **2 Likes**

Most people I know use looney 11. F8 may be needed if the moon is low or atmospheric conditions take away too much light.

So What Is The Looney 11 Rule In Photography? | Light Stalking

Remember that you can use a wider aperture just adjust shutter speed to match.

stevebrot · 09-16-2021, 10:31 PM

Originally posted by Bob 256

Many autofocus systems are dumbfounded because they see the bright object against total darkness; hence, manual exposure is probably best.

You mean manual focus, right? Manual exposure is best too.

Steve

**Michail_P** · 09-17-2021, 03:28 AM

Welcome to the forum fellow k-70 owner. Greetings from Greece. Hope we see some moon shots soon.

photoptimist · 09-17-2021, 06:18 AM

As @UncleVanya said, looney f11 is the best exposure rule.

The moon is in full sunlight and is very brightly lit. In theory, the "right" exposure would be the sunny f16 rule. But pictures of the moon seem very under-exposed with sunny f16. The truth is that the human eye over-exposes the moon -- to humans, the moon seems bright and white compared to the dark night-time sky. In reality, the moon's surface is really a very dark gray.

Here's a NASA image taken by the Deep Space Climate Observatory when the moon passed in front of the Earth (https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2016/nasa-camera-shows-moon-crossing-fa...time-in-a-year) that shows just how dark the moon really is:

TL;DNR: use looney f11 to get a good picture. Use sunny f16 to see the true tonality of the moon.

**TER-OR** · 09-17-2021, 07:46 AM

Originally posted by gearjammer63

Hello from Ontario, Canada!

I just recently bought a K-70, and I'm just beginning to learn the art of photography with a DSLR. It's a beautiful, clear night with a 3/4 moon, and I can't find the right exposure to shoot the moon using my Sigma 18-200mm F-3.5-8.3 zoom lens.

Remember to use your timer to minimize vibration. Look in your manual for "mirror-up shooting" as well. Also remember both Jupiter and Saturn are pretty close to the moon right now, which makes getting shots of them a little more difficult now, but wait a few weeks and it will be a new moon.

**UncleVanya** · 09-17-2021, 08:28 AM

In reality I rarely use looney 11. I was taught to use looney 8 with film (which tolerates over exposure) but quickly learned my own preference was for darker exposures to avoid blown highlights.

Here are some shots and the exposure used:

IMGP8514_DxO by -vanya_42nd-
F8, 1/30s, ISO 1600

IMGP9709_DxO by -vanya_42nd-
F2.8, 1/20s, ISO 800

IMGP8327_DxO by -vanya_42nd-
F8, 1/80, ISO 100

IMGP6509_DxO by -vanya_42nd-
F8, 1/400s, ISO 1600

IMGP59622_DxO by -vanya_42nd-

F8, 1/125s, ISO 400

**Bob 256** · 09-17-2021, 08:46 AM

Originally posted by stevebrot

You mean manual focus, right? Manual exposure is best too.

Steve

Manual exposure = manual focus & manual f-stop (probably what I should have said

)

---------- Post added 09-17-2021 at 09:51 AM ----------

Best to use the Looney-Tooney "histogram" which will show overexposure if you're going for capturing the full range of brightness (well, that's close to impossible but "more of the full range"). Short using a histogram, bracketing around a good looking exposure will help.

Then, there's HDR which is another topic and best left for another thread.

**Kerrowdown** · 09-18-2021, 01:38 AM

Welcome to the forum, hope all these good replies have helped.

09-16-2021, 06:17 PM - 1 Like	#1
gearjammer63 New Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Posts: 5	Moon shots with K-70 Hello from Ontario, Canada! I just recently bought a K-70, and I'm just beginning to learn the art of photography with a DSLR. It's a beautiful, clear night with a 3/4 moon, and I can't find the right exposure to shoot the moon using my Sigma 18-200mm F-3.5-8.3 zoom lens.

09-17-2021, 08:46 AM	#9
Bob 256 Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Idaho Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,375	Originally posted by stevebrot You mean manual focus, right? Manual exposure is best too. Steve Manual exposure = manual focus & manual f-stop (probably what I should have said) ---------- Post added 09-17-2021 at 09:51 AM ---------- Best to use the Looney-Tooney "histogram" which will show overexposure if you're going for capturing the full range of brightness (well, that's close to impossible but "more of the full range"). Short using a histogram, bracketing around a good looking exposure will help. Then, there's HDR which is another topic and best left for another thread. Last edited by Bob 256; 09-17-2021 at 08:55 AM.

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09-16-2021, 06:30 PM	#2
Bob 256 Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Idaho Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,375	The moon is an object lighted the same as a daylight lighted object here on Earth. This means that you would start with an exposure near what you'd use for something in a daylight situation (about 1/100s, 100 ISO, & f16 or the equivalent thereof, probably a higher shutter speed and a mid-f stop value for your lens to improve sharpness). The moon adds some complexity in that it's very contrasty and it's easy to blow out the highlights, so you might want to underexpose slightly and then adjust in post-processing. Many autofocus systems are dumbfounded because they see the bright object against total darkness; hence, manual exposure is probably best.

09-16-2021, 07:18 PM - 2 Likes	#3
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,401	Most people I know use looney 11. F8 may be needed if the moon is low or atmospheric conditions take away too much light. So What Is The Looney 11 Rule In Photography? \| Light Stalking Remember that you can use a wider aperture just adjust shutter speed to match.

09-16-2021, 10:31 PM	#4
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by Bob 256 Many autofocus systems are dumbfounded because they see the bright object against total darkness; hence, manual exposure is probably best. You mean manual focus, right? Manual exposure is best too. Steve

09-17-2021, 03:28 AM	#5
Michail_P Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Kalymnos Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,006	Welcome to the forum fellow k-70 owner. Greetings from Greece. Hope we see some moon shots soon.

09-17-2021, 06:18 AM	#6
photoptimist Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 5,122	As @UncleVanya said, looney f11 is the best exposure rule. The moon is in full sunlight and is very brightly lit. In theory, the "right" exposure would be the sunny f16 rule. But pictures of the moon seem very under-exposed with sunny f16. The truth is that the human eye over-exposes the moon -- to humans, the moon seems bright and white compared to the dark night-time sky. In reality, the moon's surface is really a very dark gray. Here's a NASA image taken by the Deep Space Climate Observatory when the moon passed in front of the Earth (https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2016/nasa-camera-shows-moon-crossing-fa...time-in-a-year) that shows just how dark the moon really is: TL;DNR: use looney f11 to get a good picture. Use sunny f16 to see the true tonality of the moon.

09-17-2021, 07:46 AM	#7
TER-OR Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Dundee, IL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,699	Originally posted by gearjammer63 Hello from Ontario, Canada! I just recently bought a K-70, and I'm just beginning to learn the art of photography with a DSLR. It's a beautiful, clear night with a 3/4 moon, and I can't find the right exposure to shoot the moon using my Sigma 18-200mm F-3.5-8.3 zoom lens. Remember to use your timer to minimize vibration. Look in your manual for "mirror-up shooting" as well. Also remember both Jupiter and Saturn are pretty close to the moon right now, which makes getting shots of them a little more difficult now, but wait a few weeks and it will be a new moon.

09-17-2021, 08:28 AM	#8
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,401	In reality I rarely use looney 11. I was taught to use looney 8 with film (which tolerates over exposure) but quickly learned my own preference was for darker exposures to avoid blown highlights. Here are some shots and the exposure used: IMGP8514_DxO by -vanya_42nd- F8, 1/30s, ISO 1600 IMGP9709_DxO by -vanya_42nd- F2.8, 1/20s, ISO 800 IMGP8327_DxO by -vanya_42nd- F8, 1/80, ISO 100 IMGP6509_DxO by -vanya_42nd- F8, 1/400s, ISO 1600 IMGP59622_DxO by -vanya_42nd- F8, 1/125s, ISO 400

09-18-2021, 01:38 AM	#10
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,816	Welcome to the forum, hope all these good replies have helped.