The moon is bright, so shoot it in manual mode with a fast shutter speed, a mid aperture and a low ISO, using the longest lens you have on a tripod. Many beginners use auto exposure and get a white blob, because the dark sky fools the meter. Safety note: never look at the sun through a camera or lens; this guide is for the moon only, and the sun needs special solar filters made for that purpose.
Gear and Planning
The moon looks large to the eye but fills only a small part of the frame. A long telephoto lens makes a big difference.
- A telephoto lens, ideally 200mm or longer
- A sturdy tripod, since even small shake blurs details at long focal lengths
- A remote release or two-second timer
- Check a moon phase calendar; a quarter or gibbous moon shows craters well along the shadow line, while a full moon looks flatter
Step-by-Step Settings
- Mount the camera on the tripod and point it at the moon. Turn off image stabilization if the maker’s guide recommends it on a tripod.
- Switch to manual mode.
- Set ISO to 100 to 200.
- Choose an aperture of f/8 to f/11, where most lenses are sharp.
- Set a shutter speed of about 1/125 to 1/250 second as a first try. The moon moves across the sky, so longer times blur it at high zoom.
- Switch to live view, zoom in on the moon’s edge and focus manually until craters look crisp.
- Use the timer or remote and take a shot. Look at the histogram and screen.
- If the moon is too bright and has lost detail, use a faster shutter speed. If too dim, slow it slightly.
The Rule of Thumb
Photographers often use the “looney 11” idea: at f/11, a shutter speed near the inverse of the ISO gives a reasonable moon exposure. At ISO 100 that means about 1/100 second. Treat it as a first guess and adjust for haze and moon phase.
Settings Reference
| Moon condition | Aperture | Shutter | ISO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full moon, clear sky | f/8 to f/11 | 1/125 to 1/250 | 100 |
| Half moon | f/8 | 1/60 to 1/125 | 100 to 200 |
| Crescent moon | f/5.6 to f/8 | 1/30 to 1/60 | 200 to 400 |
| Moon with haze | f/5.6 to f/8 | 1/60 to 1/125 | 200 |
Add Interest
- Include trees, buildings or hills near the horizon for a sense of scale
- Shoot at moonrise at dusk, when both sky and land show detail
- Use a longer lens from far away to make the moon look big behind a subject
- Take several frames and stack them in editing for sharper detail
FAQ
Why is my moon just a white circle?
The exposure is too bright. Use manual mode, speed up the shutter and check the histogram so the moon does not pile against the right edge.
Can I shoot the moon with a phone?
Yes, but it will be small. Use a tripod or a steady surface, tap on the moon to lower brightness and zoom a little. Cropping later is fine.
The Short Version
Use a long lens on a tripod and shoot in manual at ISO 100, f/8 to f/11 and about 1/125 second. Focus manually on crater detail and never aim any camera or lens at the sun.
