To capture quality pictures of the moon using your smartphone, keep the moon in focus and stable by using the right equipment and settings

. Equipment

• Tripod: A tripod can stabilize your phone, which is especially helpful at slower shutter speeds required for night photography. If you don’t have one, you can steady your camera by resting it on a stable surface

• Smartphone adapter: With a smartphone and the Easypic universal smartphone adapter, you can quickly take photographs of the Moon and planets

• Zoom lens: Connect a zoom lens to your smartphone to enhance its zoom capabilities for detailed moon shots

• Binoculars: You can put your phone lens up to a binocular lens

Settings and Modes

• Manual mode: Switch your phone’s camera to manual or pro mode to adjust the ISO, shutter speed, and focus manually

• ISO: Keep the ISO as low as possible (around 100-200) to reduce noise and grain in the image

• Shutter speed: Start with a faster shutter speed, such as 1/125 or 1/250 seconds, to capture the moon’s details without overexposure

. Sigma Sreedharan in Seattle recommends a shutter speed of over 1/20th per second to photograph the Moon

• Focus: Set the focus to infinity and adjust slightly to get a sharp image of the moon

• Zoom: If your camera has a telephoto camera lens, you may get better results by zooming in, but if you zoom in too much the moon will just look pixelated

• Night mode: iPhone Night Mode allows you to adjust the exposure time, so you'll want to use the faster exposure

Tips and Tricks

• Time it right: Photograph the Moon after sunset the evening before the full Moon. The ambient twilight will help reduce the contrast between the Moon and the sky

. The moon is often most visible during the first and last quarters

• Use a long exposure app: These apps give you more control over your camera settings and include features that make it easier to capture images in low light conditions. NightCap Camera is a good option

• Skip the flash: Your camera’s flash isn’t going to do anything, unless you’re planning to illuminate the foreground

• Take multiple shots with slight variations in settings so you have options to choose the best image

• Adjust the exposure level until you can start to see the details of the Moon

• Use the zoom lens to bring the moon closer to your frame, allowing for more detailed and captivating shots

• Choose manual exposure mode for experienced photographers or in challenging lighting, allowing for precise control over the image's brightness and detail

• Use burst mode to capture multiple shots in quick succession. This is beneficial for ensuring you capture various moments and gives you the option to choose the best shot from the series

• Avoid digital zoom, as it can result in a loss of image quality. Stick to optical zoom capabilities or consider using a dedicated zoom lens for better results

• Experiment with HDR mode to capture both the bright moon and the dark sky. Experiment with this mode to achieve well-balanced moon photographs

• Check for lunar phases and experiment with capturing the moon during different phases to achieve diverse and captivating results