Moon Photography Tutorial: Lens vs Telescope

Sometimes when you are trying to photograph a horse in space but the moon is in the way, you just gotta get all your gear out and shoot the moon instead. In this video I photographed the moon with a 75-300mm lens, a 150-600mm lens, and a 1690mm telescope. I show exactly how I did it and show how each photo turned out.

[@zubaeernaeem3613]

I love the comedy you do on your videos

[@deltaastrophotography]

Thanks! I don't want to be a guy just standing around talking about telescopes :D

[@davidpippin3460]

Your videos are so well thought out and easy to understand what you are doing with the gear, and more importantly, why you are doing it. Thank you!

[@xkalvin]

Hi, Walt. Thanks for another great and amusing video, it's always a pleasure receive the notifications of some new work! Thanks!

[@vox9157]

Thankyou for all your hard work producing these videos. I've learned much from your processing videos and have learned much about editing images of the Aurora Australis and DSOs from my little island of Tasmania in Australia. Witchhead is my next DSO target with a 55-250mm and i will be following your processing guide for that! Clear skies.

[@TheDarthMelkor]

MAN! SOOOO BEAUTIFUL PICTURES! Love your video!!!

[@mohicanspap]

Underrated content on this channel. You talk about software that I've personally been looking for and your editing techniques are far better IMO👍

[@grortyphx]

Yet another superb video, Walt! Thank you for what you do!

[@deltaastrophotography]

Thank you so much!

[@paolobaio3133]

Wow! You definitely are the funniest Astro Photographer on all youtube! Never laughed so much at a Astro Photography Video 😂😂😂 Great Job! (The walking sequence had me crying)

[@petooskey]

Great video as always, please never stop doing what you do!

[@deltaastrophotography]

I don't plan on stopping any time soon!

[@ianmacdonald2307]

Enjoyable as always. I never miss an episode! 👍

[@deltaastrophotography]

Thanks Ian!

[@dw.in.michigan]

I'll look forward to your next video. I kinda figured out AutoStakkert about a year ago and developed my own workflow, but it's anything but simple and easy, so I'd welcome seeing your approach.

[@marcobatista4439]

Awesome video! Keep up the great work!

[@XPlutoo]

Also this video is perfect timing I just got an astrophotography kit for Christmas and I was trying to learn how to do lunar imaging. Thank you :)

[@deltaastrophotography]

Oh awesome! Hope you get some clear skies soon!

[@LouisaLee63]

Looking forward to next week’s video!

[@SteveZodiac777]

Great video - cheers Walt!

[@toasterflak]

nice work, thanks for the images

[@Tony-Elliott]

Very nice images Walt looking forward to seeing your processing video

[@deltaastrophotography]

Thanks! I'll work on it this weekend and have it out in a few days!

[@XPlutoo]

Man I love the music choice you have on your videos

[@deltaastrophotography]

Thanks! It takes me a while to pick it out.

[@stevepecket2535]

Great video again, Walt. Still no clear sky in N.W. England. Pretty much 3 months now 🙄. Keep it going. Love every minute you upload 👍

[@deltaastrophotography]

Thank you!

[@jasonbiggs603]

Amazing. Thanks!

[@UNLKYHNTR]

Great video as always!

[@deltaastrophotography]

Thanks!

[@andesastro]

Hey Walt, great content even tho we didnt see much of the alien on this episode. Even tho the holidays are over, and as soon as the clouds allow it, im planning to go after the Christmas Tree with my dslr and star tracker. I think it can be nice target for your channel too and I love to see other people’s take on a same target. Keep up with such an awesome content! PS: i wasnt even that interested on the moon tutorial tbh, but i wanted to leave a like anyway and got caught by your shananigans while i was on it lol

[@deltaastrophotography]

Thanks for the suggestion! I'm always wanting to try new targets!

[@valmikitraveler]

thanks❤

[@goooser410]

awesome stuff

[@deltaastrophotography]

Thanks!

[@peach26]

this is so amazing :(

[@akifzaman7280]

It's nice to know that you can get good pics with kit lens and crop sensor cameras.

[@deltaastrophotography]

I'll try to make another kit lens video in the next month or two.

[@hangerbird]

Great video as always. I would like to have a big rig like yours, but the traveling to a site with something that huge looks like a small task.

[@deltaastrophotography]

After messing with the big rig for a few months it was a relief to get out and do some traveling with just a small star tracker.

[@ColeDedhand]

This makes me want to try moon photography with my 10" f10 again. The last time I tried it was... sub-optimal. I need a focal reducer and the "lucky shot" technique.

[@pwolkowicki]

I'm using a handycam with 50x zoom. It's the cheapest option. And you can stack that video file to make the image much more clear.

[@johngiromini5745]

The moon is such a great object to image, and it's there all the time. I don't photo full much as the contrast is rather flat. However, full is always great for lunar eclipses. Earlier this month I went out to do some imaging with my Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer only to find out the selection knob is down for the count. Bummer... Just have to comment on that reel-to-reel tape device behind you. Haven't seen one of those in a very long time. Here's hoping you can get some viewing/photos of C/2022 E3 (ZTF) later this month.

[@deltaastrophotography]

I really hope I can! I'm wondering what focal length will be best for this comet.

[@TeodorAngelov]

That forgot my equipment bit was fire xD

[@deltaastrophotography]

Haha! Glad you got a kick out of it!

[@georgeb4683]

The moon is my favorite thing to snap pictures of

[@deltaastrophotography]

Awesome! Not all astrophotographers have to hate the moon!

[@carollines7994]

✨

[@100amps]

A couple extra: 👍👍

[@DeepakKumar-Welostinplaces]

Great video. I am going to upgrade from my 600mm to a telescope very soon and glad to see what difference it makes. Waiting for the next video to see moon video processing. What's your social media handles?

[@deltaastrophotography]

delta_astrophotography on Instagram. I'm also Delta Astrophotography on Facebook, but I never use Facebook. I have yet to make a TikTok although I feel like I should.

[@kevinashley478]

Hey Walt. Got a quick question for you. So, I have a dark site picked out to view and image the comet c/2022 E3 (ZTF). I am planning to go out at 1am Saturday morning, the 28th, to view/image it. I have my Star tracker to freeze the sky, but I know the comet is moving itself. How long should I set my exposures for, in order to be able to stack it without it moving? How would I image it to make a video of it moving?

[@IvanVazquezS]

Hey very nice video! I think the most important question for me at this moment is: What is actually better for imaging the moon? a) Taking a few shots and choosing the sharpest one b) Taking a lot of photo shots, like 100-200 and then stack them to have a sharper picture c) Taking a short video for lucky imaging and then process it into a single image I'm asking this because my camera is 24mp, but during video is just 4k meaning an equivalent of only 8mp!! and not sure if stacking the video will be actually better than a burst of photos. Hope you can help me!

[@deltaastrophotography]

What lens or telescope are you using?

[@markwelsh9068]

I didn't get notified of this video man! Time to complain bitterly to youtube!....... on second thoughts...no. They'd probably ban me from the platform just for complaining.

[@tipi5586]

I was learning so much from your video and enjoying your content a lot! While I'm still enjoying your video, I've been left with an inescapable quandary for which I may never receive an answer: if "getting the fastest exposure possible" is the primary objective from a technical stand point, then why on this our third rock from the sun are you setting ISO to 100? If it's too bright then simply increase the shutter speed, you were only at 1/60th in the context of the footage? Set ISO to 200, or if you have some real balls 800, and then set shutter speed to 1/600th instead? Am I missing something? Yes, I understand how ISOs work, but it's the 2020s guys. Noise has been fixable for a while now.

[@deltaastrophotography]

With the moon the lower ISO is less about noise and more about dynamic range. That being said you are correct in that raising the ISO is a better option especially with longer focal lengths. My latest moon shot was taken hand held at ISO 16,000. With Lightroom's AI noise reduction it was pretty much noise-free.

[@kevinashley478]

"Some of you have been asking if you have to polar align when using the lunar mode on the Star tracker." Yep. That's me.

[@mantouboji]

ISO 400, 1/400s,F5.6-F11 see moon phase and weather.

[@khanscombe619]

What about a Nikon 500mm reflecting lens or on a 2x converter? It's limited to f8 to start. Or what's a beginner affordable reflex lens telescope worthy of this cost?

[@glaurung666]

What if I have a lens which is technically a telescope? ZM-5A 500 mm/f8 catadioptric Maksutov/Cassegrain supertele lens.

[@henrydrake1717]

Is it possible to stack stacked photos on DSS?

[@COHIBAOFFICIAL]

Would you have more data stacking raw photos?

[@user-dn2zz9fl9p]

How much dose the star tracker cost ?

[@kevinashley478]

Hey Walt. Quick question. In another video, you showed the battery station(?) that you use to power all your devices. So my question is: If I am not ready to plop $300-$400 for a power station, what size battery pack would I need to run my T3i with a dummy battery and my dew strap? That's all I have that I need to figure out a way to power. And there are no outlets near me at the dark site that I use. So I need something compact and is able to power those two items for 8-10 hours. Any suggestions you have would be greatly appreciated.

[@deltaastrophotography]

I've used both a 400w and 500w power station. Both are overkill for just a camera and single dew heater. I would suggest looking for something around 100/200w.

[@kevinashley478]

@@deltaastrophotography Thank for your quick response!!

[@kevinashley478]

@@deltaastrophotography I have looked, but I can't seem to find information on the T3i's power requirements. Do you have any suggestions?

[@Chorge1972]

Where can I find your Autostakkert Tutorial please?!

[@colintraveller]

Before I even bought a tripod .. I was capturing the Moon handheld .. using a Sigma 150- 600mm Lense and Canon 850D , Would have been nice if you had also included .. doing hand held captures .. Not everyone has deep pockets that can afford star trackers and that gigantic telescope

[@hunter133official]

Just use a tripod and set your shutter speed really low and your f stop really high

[@colintraveller]

@@hunter133official Did you even read what i posted .. Nope

[@hunter133official]

@@colintraveller Yes. Not even I can afford a Star Adventurer 2i. You were reccomending including handheld captures, but I reccomend you stick with the tripod for a little bit longer.

[@kevinashley478]

Hey Walt. Is there a free program that allows you to do the same thing as BackyardEOS? Does that 5x work with the 300mm lens?

[@deltaastrophotography]

I would look into SharpCap or FireCapture. SharpCap is free but has a pro version for $18. FireCapture is free. I don't have much experience with either, but they are supposed to be very good for capturing the moon and planets.

[@kevinashley478]

@@deltaastrophotography great! Thank you. I am not at the computer/automated level yet, but im not far away.

[@anujsrivastava5202]

1st😇

[@mortezak8789]

Its the real moon not moon nasa explain

[@chrisfetner332]

Why are photographers so goofy?

[@DLMVegas]

Like the Milky Way I shoot multiple images (8-12) of the moon and align in Photoshop. Gives better detail.

[@deltaastrophotography]

After you align them do you use the median stack mode?