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04-18-2006, 01:58 PM
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#1
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Duluth, GA
Posts: 390
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what are the tricks to take pics of your reef tank
I try a Canon Rebel, SD450, and Nikon D-70 with a tripod to take the pictures of my tanks and the pictures are not half as good as some of your pictures posted here. So I wonder what are the tricks. Do you use flash? shutter priority, aperture priority, or manual? which ISO? ....
Kayla, Jon, Melissa,... where are you?
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Nhan
125G acrylic softies tank. 120G acrylic SPS's tank. 46G acrylic bowfront quarrantine tank.
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04-18-2006, 03:53 PM
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#2
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Skimmer and Reactor
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: East Atlanta Village
Posts: 1,657
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Nhan, I wish I knew how to use those cameras. They are both much more advanced than my camera. What kinds of issues are you having? Do you have some photos to post so that I can offer suggestions?
Melissa
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04-18-2006, 04:48 PM
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#3
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Duluth, GA
Posts: 390
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Melissa, The pictures are OK. Color balance is good, brightness, contrast are OK. Just that I can't take ultra sharp pictures. Grant that, with my age, I can't do manual focus and have to rely on the auto focus.
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Nhan
125G acrylic softies tank. 120G acrylic SPS's tank. 46G acrylic bowfront quarrantine tank.
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04-18-2006, 05:28 PM
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#4
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Big Fishy
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 871
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marco is the key, no flash, fast shutter speed.
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04-18-2006, 05:33 PM
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#5
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Milkshake Man
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SW Florida
Posts: 9,641
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by GLXTRIX
marco is the key, no flash, fast shutter speed.
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Agree...
Also to add make sure there is no other light in the room turned on. I like to make the room dark for taking pics of my tank. I do this because light will reflect off of the glass and make the pic come out looking bad.
Some use tripods some dont. If you are using a tripod then set the auto timer on your camera to take the pic. This way the camera is sitting still. I personaly cant use the tripods i have tried a couple different kinds and i dont like them. If you are like me you need to hold your hands really still when taking the picture.
I hope this helps some.
Tim
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04-18-2006, 06:21 PM
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#6
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Rossville, Ga
Posts: 324
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Also cut all your pumps off.
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125g Mixed Reef, (3)250w 15k MH's, 30g Sump, 25g Fuge, 30g Prop Tank, Loads Of Fun!
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04-18-2006, 06:42 PM
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#7
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Addicted to water
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 1,011
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Nhan, if sharpness is your issue, try to invest in a tripod or simply up your shutter speed. I always use the fastest shutter speed possible on my camera (which is far less capable than a Rebel!), especially when the flash is not employed. Flash also helps with the blurriness, but it does wash out the colors significantly, as I'm sure you've seen.
One issue with a faster shutter speed is the quality of the pic; I've found the shots come out more "grainy" at times, but this can be lessened by shooting in RAW mode or decreasing the exposure. Also do remember that practice is the best way to improve and the only way to really "learn" your camera to the extent that you will feel comfortable taking good shots. When I first got my camera, I hated it, simply because I hadn't learned what settings worked for my different areas of interest.
I hope this helps! Please feel free to post some of your shots, as I love to see any reef pics. 
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Kayla Swart
Former (2006) ARC Secretary
My Photography
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04-18-2006, 06:45 PM
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#8
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Milkshake Man
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SW Florida
Posts: 9,641
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by revhtree
Also cut all your pumps off.
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Interesting....What will this do? Im curious i have never done this or seen someone do this. Can you please explain.
Thanks,
Tim
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04-18-2006, 08:38 PM
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#9
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Rossville, Ga
Posts: 324
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Well sometimes there are micro bubbles that your eyes kinda get used to or are hard to see. The camera always picks mine up!  With the pumps off there is one less issue.
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125g Mixed Reef, (3)250w 15k MH's, 30g Sump, 25g Fuge, 30g Prop Tank, Loads Of Fun!
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04-18-2006, 09:46 PM
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#10
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Good boy
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Marietta, GA, USA
Posts: 7,882
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Tim224DT
Interesting....What will this do? Im curious i have never done this or seen someone do this. Can you please explain.
Thanks,
Tim
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The micro bubbles can be a big issue. Even if you don't think you have many the camera will capture them and they will appear as white streaks. That and some soft corals and hard coral polyps will sway in the current. If you happen to be using a slow shutter speed your pics will show the movement.
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04-18-2006, 09:55 PM
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#11
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The African Reefer
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Ellenwood,GA
Posts: 87
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Are these pictures ok? I shot it with a Sony 4.1Mpx Cybershot. I know they suck |
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04-18-2006, 10:00 PM
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#12
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Good boy
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Marietta, GA, USA
Posts: 7,882
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You've got good lighting and good contrast. Can you get a little closer and maybe use a higher resolution?
The great thing about digital is it doesn't cost anything to experiment. I take about a dozen pics just to get one I want to keep and maybe a hundred before I get one I want to show to others.
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04-18-2006, 10:05 PM
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#13
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The African Reefer
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Ellenwood,GA
Posts: 87
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Thanks for the advice; I'll try that next time.
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04-18-2006, 10:09 PM
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#14
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Good boy
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Marietta, GA, USA
Posts: 7,882
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One more thing. TRT limits the size of your attachments so your resolution may be limited on the photos you post as an attachment. Try using our photo gallery or one of the others that are available for free then you can link to the picture.
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04-18-2006, 10:12 PM
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#15
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The African Reefer
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Ellenwood,GA
Posts: 87
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Can I delete my attachments and start with new ones?
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