First Attempted Moon

[Toddyh]

My first attempt at a moon shot the other night. New cheap 500mm mirror lense with a 2x adaptor. It was OK I guess but very difficult to focus. Compared to some of the others I've seen on here it's crap. I guess I'll keep trying.

[Isac]

This may help Todd. This is straight out of camera without processing. These settings are only suggested and use them as a starting point only. Have a play and you will get better every time. This photo has been really resized but the original is sharp as.

[Toddyh]

Thanks I was using iso 100, f:8, 1/20th with a 4 second timer on tripod so I guess I'm in the ball park there.
I'm using a cheap mirror lens and focusing was the most difficult part for me. It wasn't quite infinity focus that looked right. Some adjustment necessary. I think I'll have to wait for a full moon and try again.

[Toddyh]

This is the cheapie lens I'm talking about by the way.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc..._0_Mirror.html

[Isac]

I've always wondered what they would be like Todd. How do you find it other than moon shots? Got some shots to show us?

[Toddyh]

Not yet. Only had it a couple of days. Will hopefully get some wildlife shots in the next couple of weeks.

[P Plates]

Looks like you just need a faster shutter speed. We forget how fast the earth and moon are moving until we try to photograph it. I use similar settings to Isac and have always found the moon bright enough for my lens to auto focus but not sure whether your lens has AF.

[Toddyh]

No auto focus on this lens sadly. WIll have to try a faster shutter next time. Cheers.

[Toddyh]

Had another go tonight. Tried faster shutter and higher iso. I think I went overboard on the iso. Live and learn.

[P Plates]

Still looks a bit soft. Is the 2x adaptor a teleconverter? If so, maybe try without it and just crop.

[Toddyh]

Yeah ok will give that a go. Thanks.

[Isac]

I'm not sure about the Samsung NX300 but some cameras allow a cable hook up to a laptop which acts as a monitor. Using the supplied camera software utilities, it makes it easy to focus manually because the laptop screen is obviously much larger than the camera screen. Just a thought.

[Toddyh]

Will investigate that!! Brilliant idea if it works. Thanks.