Super zoom for a super moon

Despite my lifelong love of astronomy, I’ve never really been much of a moon guy. But with my new hand-telescope? An excellent "bridge" camera that prioritizes zoom, and which can do this? Without a tripod?!

Now I’m interested in the moon. Especially right now, because we not only have a supermoon right now, but an unusual three months of moons that are super: for the entire fall, the moon will be closer than usual and look particularly enormous, especially when it rises and sets.

The first rise of the full supermoon was on Oct 6, right at sunset. I was still climbing the fairly steep learning curve with my new camera, and I took about a hundred photos to get these three half decent shots:

Some other highlights from the rest of the month:

Some birds also posed with that half moon for me.

This one came out beautifully, even though at the time I thought the clouds had probably ruined the shot. They were moving fast — they weren't there when I aimed the camera, and they were gone seconds later.

So I guess photography is one of my hobbies now?

Photography is the only hobby that has ever snuck up on me. I’m full of deliberate hobbies — too many really. There are at least a couple that are almost entirely aspirational. 🤪

Meanwhile … photography has been actually happening for many years without ever being claimed. The “best camera is the one you have with you” factor was huge for me. Before iPhones, I wasn’t terribly interested. But once I could carry a camera in my pocket, I got keen.

And then phone cameras got good, and I got somewhat more serious — without ever making a decision. I was especially keen on the macro and telephoto lenses when they appeared.

And then I got frustrated by the limitations. And more frustrated. And more.

Until I was ready to try a camera that won’t fit in my pocket.

I bought the new camera because I got tired of missing shots the iPhone camera system just doesn’t have the reach for — especially the moon.

So, this is my new camera, the Panasonic Lumix FZ80D:

Stay tuned for more moon shots. 🙂