camera help

[kellehar]

hi again all, does anybody out there know about digital cameras? as you've porb seen on the home page i've uploaded some pics and i know the tank doesnt look that exciting but hopfully with help from all you kind people it'll look as nice as yours some day. But back to the topic everytime i take a pic it comes out dark or i get a reflection from the glass which make every little mark on the glass stand out, or its bright but blurry? I any ideas of what i'm doing wrong would be a great help as i would like to track the tanks progress and stages with pics.

always a pleasure to talk to you all

Justin

[marie]

Try taking pictures without the flash.

[kellehar]

thanks for the quick response. I tried that and for some reason they turn out dark even though with all the lighting from the tank? could it be a setting i have it on ?

[marie]

I am unfortunately not a camera expert, I just point and shoot
But what i usually do is have the camera in macro mode and no flash,
I'm still working on full tank shots and good, crisp fish shots(if only they would just stay still).

[kellehar]

those are real nice shots. really like the one of the blenny. I guess i'm just going to have to keep trying all the setting till i get it right

thanks again marie

Justin

[marie]

Thats the nice thing about digital cameras, you take 100s of pics to get one good one and then you can just erase the rest

[IslandReefer]

Here is a few tips..
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...2005/tips.html
What helped me was; Tripod, no flash, color correction and a slight angle to the glass to limit reflection. You can also increase your iso for greater light sensitivity.
ohhh and the biggest tip, Take lots of pictures, keep the good deletethe bad before anyone sees them
Good luck

[Jason McK]

Kellehar, What camera are you shooting with?

Most cameras have a "P" program mode
"A" aperture priority
"S" Shutter priority
"AUTO" mode
and a bunch of preset funky modes

I would suggest you use "P" to start This will automatically set exposure for you. Turn the flash off. I will put my lens directly against the glass. This will eliminate any reflection
Many cameras will have metering modes. These will help a lot for ensuring correct exposure of you subject. Spot metering is good when shooting something that is lit and the back ground is very different. Like a fish on white sand. Average metering would be good for full tank shots.
There is also usually some "MACRO" Modes this will allow you to get subjects that are too close for the camera to focus on in regular mode.
It is very difficult to hand hold a camera if the shutter speed is greater than 1/16 and for me I can't hand hold anything slower than 1/125. so a tripod is a very good idea.

I hope I haven't rambled on about things you already know if so sorry.

Any ? let me know
BTW IslandReefers right "take lots of pics and delete the bad one

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

I usually set my macro to ISO 200 or 400 so I don't have to use a flash. I need to get a tripod so the shots are clearer though.

[kellehar]

its a fuji finepix, it has an auto mode but they turn out dark. I'll try and see if i can follow your recomdations.


Justin