Autofocusing on the moon?

[Michele]

Why won't my camera autofocus on the moon?

I'm using a Canon Rebel 75-300mm lens. I tried turning to manual focus but can really get it clear there either.

Any suggestions?

 

[Shutterbug]

Yeah autofocus wont work, you will need to do the best you can manually focusing.

 

[YEKCIM]

Why won't my camera autofocus on the moon?

Probably the one-sixth G gravity.

Sorry; I just could not resist.

~Y

 

[ukcatfan]

I am having decent results with my Pentax DA50-200mm. I am using center spot focus. Here in a minute when it goes completely covered, I do not know if the AF will work anymore.

Kevin

 

[Shutterbug]

This is one reason I got the 40D with the live view. Lets me magnify the screen and manually focus as tight as I can.

 

[jann1033]

Probably the one-sixth G gravity.

Sorry; I just could not resist.

~Y

but think how light that 1200mm lens would be

 

[seashoreCM]

Most digital camera autofocus relies on identifying sharp edges or thin lines, but not where something really bright (the moon) meets something really dark (the sky or space beyond). Sometimes the autofocus can home in on the facial features (as in the man in the moon), sometimes not.

In a fraction of a second, the shorter the better, the camera literally tries different focusings and spot-check-analyzes the sharpness of the image (here and there) and when it thinks it has the sharpness best, it snaps the picture.

Does your camera have an "infinity lock" setting, which should work well for such long distance shooting?

Digital camera hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/digicam.htm

 

[ukcatfan]

Does your camera have an "infinity lock" setting, which should work well for such long distance shooting?

Strangely, the infinity setting does not bring the moon in to focus for me. I mean, how much farther away can it be? I did not exactly have the very best lens for the situation, but my focus and results were so so.

I shot RAW and have not had any chance to process them, but hope to tomorrow.

Kevin