When the moon rises, especially when it's full, many people want to capture it by taking pictures with their phones. Unfortunately, it's hard to get good photos of the moon. This is for two reasons: i) because it's so far away and unless you have a telephoto lens (which makes the moon look closer than it is), it will always appear as a very small dot in the frame, and ii) because taking pictures at night is generally a difficult task.
Professional cameras allow you to change the ISO, the digital sensitivity of your sensor, which means you can take a photo in low light conditions without losing image quality.
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Can you use your smartphone camera?
The short answer is yes, but it's best to download an app and take a photo of the moon through it, rather than using the camera on your iPhone or Android. Some apps let you increase the sensitivity, allowing you to shoot in low light.
Another thing you could do is make sure there is something else in the image – so you capture the moon as it passes over, say, a beautiful bridge or a mountain. This allows you to get another perspective on the size of the moon, while also creating a more interesting image.
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But even with these applications the result may not leave you satisfied.
To take a great photo of the moon, you need a telephoto or zoom lens. In addition to a professional camera and a tripod, try using a cable release or the two-second delay timer to release the shutter. This prevents camera shake when you press the button. It allows you to not only increase the size of the moon in the frame, but also preserve all the details within it, while keeping the image as sharp as possible.
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Your settings will vary depending on the quality of the camera you’re using. But your ISO should be set to 100, which keeps the image quality at its maximum. Then, set your file type to RAW – this allows for the largest file size your camera has.
Finally, regarding aperture, this is not as important when shooting the moon, so aim for around f8.
