Camera question

[hazliya]

Is it safe to take pictures of a lunar eclipse with my digital camera?

I have no experience whatsoever with this sort of thing, and thought someone might know.

-Haz

Comments

[vjnightshade.livejournal.com]

It's gonna be tricky since you'll have to know how to set proper exposure levels on your camera in order to get a shot showing a red moon and not darkness/a blob of color.

I don't know how well consumer level cameras will work, but I'd say a tripod is a must.

[(Anonymous)]

If it's safe to look at, it's safe to point a camera at. Go for it. Protip: you might want to either set the camera down on something solid or brace against something to keep from shaking the camera while you're taking pictures.

[notplaid.livejournal.com]

For some reason, LJ decided to mark my comment anonymous. ::shrug::

[dariusk.livejournal.com]

Um. A *lunar* eclipse? When the shadow of the Earth crosses the moon?

Well, can your camera take a picture of the moon? I hope so. Can your camera take a picture of the moon, but with less light on it? Yes. Yes it can.

Now, whether you can get a GOOD pic with your camera is another question. You'll definitely want a tripod.

[hazliya.livejournal.com]

I have no idea what the eclipse will look like. I've never seen one, solar or lunar. I'll be using a tripod, but I don't know where in Worcester to go to be far away enough from other light sources. Green Hill Park, maybe?

[dariusk.livejournal.com]

Bancroft Tower, too

[laurion]

Agreed. a tripod is a must, and you might want to go with a small f/stop and a long shutter speed if you can set those, because it will be a darker than normal night, and you'll want to drink in some of that rich color.

[hazliya.livejournal.com]

I do have a tripod. The trouble is, I've searched high and low in the manual for how to change the aperture and shutter speed, and have had no luck. My only conclusion is that my camera is too smart for its own good. =/