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Here are my attempts at the eclipse tonight. I'm not super happy with them, and would like some opinions. I know the 2nd and 3rd do have a lot of grain in them, and the lack of dynamic range is maddening - the eclipse looks brilliant through the viewfinder, but the camera obviously can't see what my eyes see.

I used a D200, 70-200VR + 1.7TC. I also actually got much better results hand-holding at around 1/125 than on a tripod (first shot here is handheld, other two are on the tripod). Maybe it's because I only have one of the lightest Benro tripods and one of the lightest Benro ballheads. I don't have a problem using this tripod with a wide angle lens for waterfalls etc, but obviously it struggles a bit more when dealing with a 510mm equivalent focal length!! It was very visibly wobbling any time I adjusted the ballhead, and I guess the force of the mirror flicking up could have introduced vibration into the equation.

These shots are very close to 100% crop. Touch of sharpening and curves in Bibble.

losfp wrote:used a D200, 70-200VR + 1.7TC. I also actually got much better results hand-holding at around 1/125 than on a tripod (first shot here is handheld, other two are on the tripod).

Two possibilities occur to me Des. Did you fail to turn the VR off? Did you have autofocus problems (manual is best especially as the moon gets darker)

First one's a cracker..

stubbsy wrote:

losfp wrote:used a D200, 70-200VR + 1.7TC. I also actually got much better results hand-holding at around 1/125 than on a tripod (first shot here is handheld, other two are on the tripod).

Two possibilities occur to me Des. Did you fail to turn the VR off? Did you have autofocus problems (manual is best especially as the moon gets darker)

Had the VR off unless I was handholding, Peter. I read the forums, I know the drill Now if I can just do more SHOOTING instead of reading.. Funny enough, I tried VR on a couple of times on the tripod, and looking through the viewfinder it seemed that the VR was actually helping a bit with the tripod wobbliness! Looking at my results later, couldn't really notice a difference between them.

Autofocus was ok, locking on just fine and I did try a few shots manually focusing as well.

Mup may have helped on the D200.
First press lifts the mirror to stop vibes. Second takes pic (naturally a release is needed!)..

team piggy wrote:Mup may have helped on the D200.
First press lifts the mirror to stop vibes. Second takes pic (naturally a release is needed!)..

Why didn't I think of that? Duhhhhh!!!

Nevermind, next time there's a full lunar eclipse, I'll be sure to give it a try

Does Mup mean Mirror up?

Des,

You may think they are dodgy, but they are significantly better than anything that I could manage. The first one is fantastic.