Eclipse exposure

[Gary Meader]

I photographed the eclipse last week and not knowing the precise exposure to use, I guessed that the shadowed moon would be at least 31/2-4 stops darker than the sunlit moon.So with 100 ASA film, I exposed for 1/60 sec. @ f/3.5. Barely visible crescent. How far off was I? And do I wait for 10 years or buy a ticket to Nova Scotia? Or New Delhi or Mogadishu, or where ever? Thanks

[Alan Davenport]

Too bad, a web search for lunar eclipse photo exposure (prior to the event) might have been worthwhile.

You seem to have underexposed by something like 5½ to 13½ stops, depending on how bright the eclipse was at totality. There are two total lunar eclipses in 2004, one is visible from the Western United States. Better luck next time!

[Gary DeWitt]

Prior to the eclipse in May I was able to find all kinds of exposure info on the Web. All our exposures came out just fine. Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate with us last week.

BTW, lunar eclipses are quite common. There were two total lunar eclipses this year that were visible in my area and there will be at least one next year. A good place to keep apprised of what's coming is the USNO Web site: http://www.usno.navy.mil

[Mark Sampson]

also try mreclipse.com.

[Guy Boily]

Gary,I guess you know that you were off. I also had a chance to photograph it and here is what I used as an exposure. Using a Mamiya RZ mounted on a motor driven telescope. f6 at 30 sec and it came out just right. Another exposure at f6 using 40 sec rendered the Pleiades clearly visible. All with E100VS film. Guy Boily

[Paul Kierstead]

I shot it at F/5.6 for about 1/2 second at ISO 800, exposure came out OK, but the there was some blurring evident (700mm on a Canon 10D which is a smaller sensor then 35mm). Movement is the killer. Of course, with less focal length (an environmental shot), you could get away with more time. Tracking is the real answer, of course.

I was not happy with the result: http://homepage.mac.com/paulkierstead/fm/eclipse.jpg (Cropped). But live and learn, I guess. Patience is required in this pursuit...(I keep telling myself that)