I still don't get it (difference between cameras on moon photos)

[kentauros]

I still can't seem to duplicate the quality now of two different point and shoot cameras (the first being from my gf's Fuji Finepix) with my Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XTi. Now I've got a Canon PowerShot SX200 IS and though it has a little better mp-rating than the Rebel, it shouldn't be this big of a difference.

The following are side-by-side comparison images and their specs. I cropped the images to exactly the same size, too. If y'all can help me out, pointing out why I get such lousy shots from the Rebel and the Powershot takes splendid shots, I would greatly appreciate it :)

Canon PowerShot SX200 IS


Original date/time: 2009:05:16 05:12:47
Exposure time: 1/60
Shutter speed: 1/59.97
F-stop: 5.3
ISO speed: 80
Focal length: 60.0000
Flash: Not fired
Exposure mode: Manual
White balance: Auto
Orientation: Top-left
Aperture: 4.8125
Exposure bias: 0.0000
Metering mode: Pattern
Digitized date/time: 2009:05:16 05:12:47
Modified date/time: 2009:05:16 05:12:47
User comment:
Custom rendered: Normal
Scene capture type: Standard
Digital zoom ratio: 1.0000
Canon macro mode: Normal
Canon self-timer: 0
Canon quality: Fine
Canon flash mode: Not fired
Canon drive mode: Single
Canon focus mode: Single
Canon image size: Large
Canon easy shooting mode: Manual
Canon digital zoom: None
Canon contrast: Normal
Canon saturation: Normal
Canon sharpness: Normal
Canon ISO: 80
Canon metering mode: Evaluative
Canon focus type: Auto
Canon AF point: 8197
Canon exposure mode: Manual
Canon long focal length: 60000
Canon short focal length: 5000
Canon focal length units: 1000
Canon flash activity: 65535
Canon flash details: 0
Canon G1 focus mode: Continuous
Canon white balance: Auto
Canon burst sequence: 0
Canon subject distance: 6.448000
Canon flash bias: 0.000000
Canon firmware version: Firmware Version 1.00
Canon image number: 1001066
Canon owner name:
Canon image type: IMG: PowerShot SX200 IS JPEG
Camera make: Canon
Camera model: Canon PowerShot SX200 IS
X resolution: 180.0000
Y resolution: 180.0000
Resolution unit: Inches
Colorspace: sRGB
File source: DSC


Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XTi


Original date/time: 2009:05:16 05:36:08
Exposure time: 1/60
Shutter speed: 1/60.00
F-stop: 5.6
ISO speed: 100
Focal length: 55.0000
Flash: Not fired
Exposure mode: Manual
White balance: Auto
Orientation: Top-left
Aperture: 4.9709
Exposure bias: 0.0000
Metering mode: Pattern
Exposure program: Manual
Digitized date/time: 2009:05:16 05:36:08
Modified date/time: 2009:05:16 05:36:08
User comment:
Custom rendered: Normal
Scene capture type: Standard
Canon macro mode: Normal
Canon self-timer: 0
Canon quality: Fine
Canon flash mode: Not fired
Canon drive mode: Single
Canon focus mode: One-shot
Canon image size: Large
Canon easy shooting mode: Manual
Canon digital zoom: None
Canon contrast: Normal
Canon saturation: Normal
Canon sharpness: Normal
Canon metering mode: Evaluative
Canon focus type: 2
Canon AF point: 0
Canon exposure mode: Manual
Canon long focal length: 55
Canon short focal length: 18
Canon focal length units: 1
Canon flash activity: Not fired
Canon flash details: 0
Canon G1 focus mode: Single
Canon white balance: Auto
Canon burst sequence: 0
Canon subject distance: 0.546000
Canon flash bias: 0.000000
Canon firmware version: Firmware 1.0.5
Canon serial number: 1020537637
Canon owner name: unknown
Canon image type: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XTi
Camera make: Canon
Camera model: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XTi
X resolution: 72.0000
Y resolution: 72.0000
Resolution unit: Inches
Colorspace: sRGB

[ManiacJoe]

1. Shooting the moon tends to be an interesting experience.

It is usually not a matter of megapixels but of millimeters. The longer the telephoto lens the better.

Exposure will often trip up folks, but you seem to be doing OK here. Since the moon is in the bright sunlight, that is what the exposure needs to reflect, not the vast dark sky.

In the case of your Rebel here, the problem seems to be that it is just out of focus. With Canon's 1.6 (?) crop factor, 1/60 might be a little slow for some folks to hand hold, which might introduce some motion blur if you were not using a tripod. Never mind the fact that the moon is a moving subject.

This one was taken with my Nikon D200 using an old manual focus Tamron 500mm f/8 mirror lens at 1/180, f/8, iso 100, on a tripod. Since DSLRs do not come from the factory with the correct focus screens for manaual focus like the old film cameras did, I have been slowly working on getting my manual focus stuff back up to quality. Might have to invest in a Katz Eye screen later....

[dbmk]

2. Yes, it seems to be the focus

Any problems with the lens and its focus (back or front focus problems are not uncommon) will probably be exaggerated on a shot like this.
(Note: I might be talking out of my behind on this. I am guessing, really.)

You might have to fiddle with manual focus to get it right.

[kentauros]

3. After looking at the specs, I was wondering if it had something to do with the autofocus.

Such as these two specs (Powershot first, then Rebel)

Canon subject distance: 6.448000
Canon subject distance: 0.546000


And another pair:

Canon AF point: 8197
Canon AF point: 0


I actually tried manual focus on one shot, but the result was still the same. Plus, the manual focus on that 18-55 lens isn't all that fine. Autofocus usually does a better job. And I have put my Rebel on a tripod and still gotten lousy results. I guess until I get a better long focal length lens, the Powershot is the best one for lunar shots.

Of course, if someone can explain those spec differences, maybe I can adjust the Rebel to match and get better results :)