settings for fz20

[T1KARMANN]

well i have been playing with my new fz20 and it seams to take OK pics without the flash and in full auto mode

the shots im trying to take are of a large fish tank which is made of acrylic

any tips on getting a slightly better shots would be helpful i.e settings which levels would be best the fish are not that fast moving and the tank lights are more than enough

i dont know to much about picture taking but i think the fz20 should be easy enought for me to work out if someone points me in the right direction

thanks

Richard

[rschofield]

T1KARMANN,

If you could post and example of your problem here (or at least describe in detail what the problem is), I'm sure you could get some help.


Dick

[T1KARMANN]

Hi hear are are 3 shot that were taken on the fz20 i think they are fairly good but was hoping you guys could help me tweek the cam

thanks

[genece]

Nice photos and I am no help

[T1KARMANN]

i think the fz20 is good enought to take the kind of shots i want but all the different setting are blowing my mind

does anyone know which auto setting i should put the cam in to get the shots right i like the shots i have taken but have changed them so much i cant remember what they were :(

[belalang]

hi...

even if can't tell for sure (since your pic sample is somewhat small), i think your pic is good, that arowana pic is really good. add some more side lightning, i think golden and orange color of that arowana will be more pronounced.

now, i surely can not tell which setting for that pics, but if you look up in the original picture EXIF data, it will be there :)

[emalvick]

Your photos are pretty good, but if you are looking to improve them or to understand how you might improve them, I think I would set the camera on a tripod and start using the manual settings or aperture or shutter priorities. I do not think you'll find an automatic setting that will give you exactly what you want.

I think your photos are too good for me to give any specific suggestions as, only you know exactly how you might want the photos changed. Perhaps one useful setting (available in all modes) will be the exposure compensation. I think most of us use that to adjust what the camera "thinks" is the right setting. Usually, the camera has a tendency to over expose shots, so setting the EV to -1/3 or -2/3 will help. I find that in dark situations I can use 0 or +1/3 to get a bit more exposure. Again, that is personal preference.

One thing you may find useful if you are taking shots of fish tanks or even water, especially if an external light is involved, is a polarizing filter. That helps remove glare if it is a problem, although you don't have that problem on the shots you made.

Good luck. I'd be interested in hearing your findings as you practice and learn more.

Erik

[genece]

I do not know if you are aware you can view the settings you used for instance here is the exif for the first photo.
File: - C:\Documents and Settings\GENE\My Documents\My Pictures\P1000106.JPG

Make - Panasonic
Model - DMC-FZ20
Orientation - Top left
XResolution - 72
YResolution - 72
ResolutionUnit - Inch
Software - CAMEDIA Master 4.10
DateTime - 2005:12:09 23:17:11
YCbCrPositioning - Co-Sited
ExifOffset - 210
ExposureTime - 1/60 seconds
FNumber - 2.80
ExposureProgram - Manual control
ISOSpeedRatings - 200
ExifVersion - 0220
DateTimeOriginal - 2006:12:08 20:32:01
DateTimeDigitized - 2006:12:08 20:32:01
ComponentsConfiguration - YCbCr
CompressedBitsPerPixel - 4 (bits/pixel)
ExposureBiasValue - -1.00
MaxApertureValue - F 2.83
MeteringMode - Multi-segment
LightSource - Auto
Flash - Not fired, compulsory flash mode
FocalLength - 16.00 mm
FlashPixVersion - 0100
ColorSpace - sRGB
ExifImageWidth - 350
ExifImageHeight - 262
InteroperabilityOffset - 6436
SensingMethod - One-chip color area sensor
FileSource - DSC - Digital still camera
SceneType - A directly photographed image
CustomRendered - Custom process
ExposureMode - Auto bracket
WhiteBalance - Auto
DigitalZoomRatio - 0.00 x
FocalLengthIn35mmFilm - 96 mm
SceneCaptureType - Standard
GainControl - Low gain up
Contrast - Normal
Saturation - High
Sharpness - Normal

Maker Note (Vendor): -


and the 2nd one

File: - C:\Documents and Settings\GENE\My Documents\My Pictures\P1000265.JPG

Make - Panasonic
Model - DMC-FZ20
Orientation - Top left
XResolution - 72
YResolution - 72
ResolutionUnit - Inch
Software - CAMEDIA Master 4.10
DateTime - 2005:12:10 20:03:59
YCbCrPositioning - Co-Sited
ExifOffset - 210
ExposureTime - 1/10 seconds
FNumber - 2.80
ExposureProgram - Normal program
ISOSpeedRatings - 200
ExifVersion - 0220
DateTimeOriginal - 2006:12:09 21:01:53
DateTimeDigitized - 2006:12:09 21:01:53
ComponentsConfiguration - YCbCr
CompressedBitsPerPixel - 2 (bits/pixel)
ExposureBiasValue - 0.00
MaxApertureValue - F 2.83
MeteringMode - Multi-segment
LightSource - Auto
Flash - Not fired, compulsory flash mode
FocalLength - 8.40 mm
FlashPixVersion - 0100
ColorSpace - sRGB
ExifImageWidth - 450
ExifImageHeight - 337
InteroperabilityOffset - 6436
SensingMethod - One-chip color area sensor
FileSource - DSC - Digital still camera
SceneType - A directly photographed image
CustomRendered - Custom process
ExposureMode - Auto
WhiteBalance - Auto
DigitalZoomRatio - 0.00 x
FocalLengthIn35mmFilm - 50 mm
SceneCaptureType - Standard
GainControl - Low gain up
Contrast - Normal
Saturation - Normal
Sharpness - Normal

Maker Note (Vendor): -

[pipe]

Beware of one thing, the camera focus/takes measurements up to the glass. So, maybe is better to take shot from distance with little zoom. Definitely "more light" from side/front and little light in back. (auto mode)

[pipe]

this little golden one is in the window (20f zoom)
http://www.janvasa.us/ny72.jpg

[T1KARMANN]

OK so my last shots were to small so hear are some i took today

i dont think i can improve on them but if someone knows how please let me know

[tim11]

That's not bad considering the light you have there. You may think it's bright enough but human eyes automatically adjust to various lighting conditions while camera lenses are dumb. I think the fastest shutter speed you managed was 1/40sec according to exif and most are 1/10sec to 1/20sec. Some jitters are expected at such speed even if the fish only moved slowly. I suggest you brighten up the tank for the shots. I recommend a tripod as well. And manual focus and burst mode can be handy - pre focus on the route you expect the fish to swim when when they come just fire away.
I attached a photo of a baby crocodile (less than 1 foot long) I took at the zoo recently. It was far away in glass enclosure. I think I used P mode but not having a tripod I put the lens flat against the glass. Luckily the croc didn't move so I still managed to get a decent pic with only 1/4 sec. (ISO200).
I wish I had a tankful of fish like yours to experiment.

[T1KARMANN]

The better shots seam to be in the M mode

but its xmas next week and a tripod was top of my list to santa :D

[tim11]

I have a cheap portable $30 tripod :o . Tripod or no tripod, I think you need to brighten up your tank to take pictures with higher shutter speed.

[Cichlidfreak1]

Hello I am new to this i took some photos of my fish hope u dont mind if i post them here I also hava a FZ20 and i want to improve my shots

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y187/cichlidfreak1/MaleKantalamba.jpg

[Cichlidfreak1]

One more i use the "S" mode alot no tripod and i have a shakey hand i thinking of getting a tripod i use ISO 100 and everything esle standard i dont really understand the settings i just put it on that and snap away:D
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y187/cichlidfreak1/mobanewcontest.jpg

[jcon]

Those are 2 very impressive pictures!

[tim11]

Cichlidfreak1, nice photos you got there.
T1KARMANN, the difference between your and Cichlidfreak1's is SHUTTER SPEED.
MaleKantalamba.jpg >>>> ISO100, F/2.8, 1/60sec.
mobanewcontest.jpg>>>> ISO100, F/2.8, 1/200sec!! (That's brighter than outdoors on a cloudy day!)
T1KARMANN's best shutter speed is 1/40sec on ISO200 I believe.
Apparently, Cichlidfreak1's aquarium has more light that's why higher shutter is possible and sharper pictures.

[T1KARMANN]

I was happy with the shots i took now i have seen the 2 shots about wow i need to play with this cam

so if i put the cam on the S on the dial and ISO 100 will the auto focus sort out the rest ?

[Cichlidfreak1]

yes pretty much that is what i do because i dont really know about my camera settings and they do so i just but it on the S mode and ISO on 100 and shoot lol pretty lame but it works for me but i am learning from this site.Always willing to experiment

[tim11]

I was happy with the shots i took now i have seen the 2 shots about wow i need to play with this cam

so if i put the cam on the S on the dial and ISO 100 will the auto focus sort out the rest ?
If the light is low you should use higher ISO, maybe ISO200. Auto focus will sort out... focus; that's all. You can use S mode and pump up the speed but without brightening up your tank, all you will get is a dark frame.