Medium format film will help emphasize detail on the face of the moon.
Twin lens reflexes (TLR) are box-shaped cameras that feature two lenses on the face. The top lens is for focusing and composing your scene or subject; the bottom is used to make the photograph. TLR cameras accept 120, 220 or 620 type medium format film. Medium format film is much larger than standard 35mm film, allowing for much more detail in the resulting negative. Aside from film-loading technique and exposure adjustment, moon photography with a TLR is not much different than with a single lens reflex (SLR) camera.
Instructions
Loading the Film
1. Rotate the knob on the underside of the camera counterclockwise to open the film door's securing latch. Lift the door of the camera up so that you can see inside it.
2. Locate the small knob next to the film bay on the lower left side of the camera. Turn it counterclockwise to release the take-up spool. Insert the spool into the space at the top of the camera, ensuring that the small knob on the top left locks it into place.
3. Drop a 120 film roll into the film bay, ensuring that the knob locks it into place. The paper leader protruding from the roll should be facing outward.
4. Stretch the paper leader up toward the empty take up spool. Feed the leader into a slot on the spool.
5. Advance the film using the crank or knob on the right side of the camera body. Stop advancing once the alignment arrow on the leader paper matches up with the indicator marks on the edges of the camera back.
6. Close the film door and rotate the latch clockwise to secure it.
7. Press the shutter button, typically located on the lower front of the camera, and advance the film until the frame counter next to the film crank reads "1."
Photographing the Moon
8. Mount your TLR onto a tripod using the threaded socket on the underside of the camera body. Position the tripod in your desired shooting location. Ideally, your location should be level and provide an unobstructed view of the moon.
9. Set your aperture, or lens opening, to f/11 using the metal pointer on the front of the lower lens. Some fixed lens TLR cameras will have an aperture adjustment knob just above the lens.
10. Change your shutter speed to 1/ISO rating of your film using the knob on the face or right hand side of the camera. For example, if you have loaded ISO 100 film, set your shutter speed to 1/125th of a second.
11. Lift the top of the camera up to open the viewfinder hood. Look through the viewfinder and compose the image. Rotate the focusing knob on the left side of the camera to bring the image into sharp focus.
12. Depress the shutter button gently to take your photograph. Rotate the film advance lever to prepare the next frame.
Tags: side camera, format film, your shutter speed, camera body, ensuring that, film door
