Minolta Z1 - Moon Shots?

[CFmac]

I have been using the Minolta Dimage Z1 since it was first introduced. I have not been able to photograph the moon. All I get is a white spot. With the amazing 10x optical zoom I can nearly fill the frame with the full moon, but it is out of focus and just white. I use a tripod and the maual setting but still nothing. Any ideas?

[Sebastian]

Always do a search of the forums, this has been covered many times before.

On manual, at ISO 100, set the camera to 1/125 at f/16 and see what you get and adjust up or down from there.

Don't trust the meter, it is easily fooled by all the black surrounding the moon, which makes it overexpose to bring the sky up to middle grey. Meters are calibrated to meter for middle grey, so whites are underexposed, blacks are overexposed, and since the majority of the frame in this situation is black, it will blow out the moon.