Shooting RAW and image noise
- Thread starter Pretzel
- Start date
Don Kuykendall_RIP
RIP :(
Download or try ViewNX2 free from Nikon if you want to [lay with RAW now.
Most of the problems at shooting the moon come from the metering mode.
File format and ISO (100-200) have little to do with it IF you get the right
exposition.
• The matrix metering is cool when you want to measure a whole scene and get the
••best readout for it, such as landscapes and others.
• To shoot the whole moon at centred full frame, since it is round and doesn't fill the
••entire frame, ponderate central would be a more desirable option.
• If the moon is filling less then two thirds of the height of the frame and is not in
••the centre of it, then "spot metering" is the right option:
On the tripod with your frame set, take the red AF/AE reader over the moon,
and test it using the shutter speed if you are on M mode, or the EV +/- com-
pensation value selector if you are on A mode.
In any case, the metered zone should contain no black sky!
If there are two celestial objects, spot measure both, and average using the shutter
speed if you are on M mode, or the EV +/- compensation value selector if you are
on A mode. This is going to be a tricky one since Mars will not be as bright as the
Moon. The safest option would be HDR. Two shots, two exposures, and the final stack!
Since Mars is way over beyond the Moon, focus is set at ∞ on the Moon.
Have a good time!
Read more: http://nikonites.com/learning-photography/15465-moon-shot.html#ixzz2bjkMhgV4
File format and ISO (100-200) have little to do with it IF you get the right
exposition.
• The matrix metering is cool when you want to measure a whole scene and get the
••best readout for it, such as landscapes and others.
• To shoot the whole moon at centred full frame, since it is round and doesn't fill the
••entire frame, ponderate central would be a more desirable option.
• If the moon is filling less then two thirds of the height of the frame and is not in
••the centre of it, then "spot metering" is the right option:
On the tripod with your frame set, take the red AF/AE reader over the moon,
and test it using the shutter speed if you are on M mode, or the EV +/- com-
pensation value selector if you are on A mode.
In any case, the metered zone should contain no black sky!
If there are two celestial objects, spot measure both, and average using the shutter
speed if you are on M mode, or the EV +/- compensation value selector if you are
on A mode. This is going to be a tricky one since Mars will not be as bright as the
Moon. The safest option would be HDR. Two shots, two exposures, and the final stack!
Since Mars is way over beyond the Moon, focus is set at ∞ on the Moon.
Have a good time!
Read more: http://nikonites.com/learning-photography/15465-moon-shot.html#ixzz2bjkMhgV4
Don Kuykendall_RIP
RIP :(
Problem already taken care of. It was not a metering problem but a problem with the software for reading the RAW file.
What kind of luck have you had with ViewNX2 on the Mac? I haven't installed it yet and have done most of what I have played around with in iPhoto. I'm playing around with getting either Lightroom or Aperture. I don't want to learn one program then have to learn another and like you I am just starting to learn processing pics taken with my D3100. BTW, I really like your moon shots! Now I have something else I have to go out and try to shoot for myself.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Thanks for the compliment on the moon shots!
As for ViewNX 2: For the handling of RAW files, it's a lot better than Picasa! LOL It has a lot of the basics. White balance control, sharpness, exposure, and it makes it fairly easy to get a quick and decent post process, but after having messed with the trial of LR 5 for a month, it leaves me... underwhelmed. Don't get me wrong, it's quite functional and easy to use, and when used in conjunction with an after processing editor, like Picasa for effects, it's not bad at all, but LR 5 blows it away (as it should for a well respected "pay" program). I, myself, decided to go with LR 5 after reading recent reviews of Aperture on the app store. It seems LR 5 set itself way ahead of Aperture with the last update, and Aperture hasn't caught up yet. Plus, the local photography school where I'm taking classes teaches Adobe classes, but no Aperture, since it's open to all platforms instead of just Mac, so that might have influenced my decision a little as well.
There wouldn't be much of a jump between learning the basics of post processing in ViewNX 2 and jumping up to one of the more advanced progs, though. They're all going to have a similar control base, at least LR 5 does, so the basic skills you learn should be easy to maintain when you upgrade.
Of course, just all my opinion.
For reference - Here's just a QUICK touch up I did of the same moon RAW file up above, using ViewNX2 only, then saved to JPEG:
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I read a lot of Mac forums and they of course all sing the praises of Aperture. Honestly I have no preference. I have done anything that I have to my photos up until now with iPhoto but I have read like you said that they all pretty much have the same capabilities. I have now finally installed ViewNX2 but have yet to open it. I just haven't done a lot of post processing yet as it is slightly intimidating. I am still just learning how to shoot in anything other than auto so I'm very much a newb when it comes to photography. I really need to take a class eventually but right now there just is no time. I thought about doing one of the online offerings but I just don't see how you can learn photography online. Anyway, congrats on the shots and keep having fun! Glad to see a fellow Mac user here
patrick in memphis
Senior Member
I use view nx2 all the time its fairly easy to use once u get used to it.lol at least compared to ps elements 11