Photos of fish in a tank w/S3

[black udder]

Anybody have recommendations for best shots?

It's really hard to get an action shot - typically, the camera won't focus when you get close to the tank (which you need to do to avoid the reflection). Then if you're close, the fish move, so they're all blurry.

Is this something that falls into the realm of a DSLR or SLR? Fast shutter speed in possibly lower light settings (from the tank light)?

I got some good shots with my S1 but am having a harder time with the S3. With the S1 I used the "sports" mode, but with the S3, the sports mode comes out very grainy with an ISO of 100. Not sure why.

[BowerR64]

Do you still have the shots you took with the S1? you can open the images in zoombrowser and look at the settings. I would think the S3 could pull off the same shots. You may have to use a different mode and have the auto focus focus threw the front glass before you point it at the tank. Like say move the camera to the wall behind it, push the shutter halfway then move camera back and compose the shot so it shoots threw the front glass. I would think you would want little to no flash at all. A tripod might help with a slow shutter speed.

You want to freeze the action but you dont want the flash glare from the glass on the tank.

[black udder]

Boy, I just pulled out the S1 after trying to take a shot with the S3 and I'm sorely disappointed. I picked up a macro lens and got some great shots with the S1, but the S3 won't even focus.

Tried TV mode, but as soon as I jack up the shutter speed past like, 250, the aperture becomes so dark I can't focus or see anything.

I tried portrait, which is ok, but nothing close to the tank, everything has to be without zoom entirely.

Is it possible I have a bad camera? Or is it possible that in 2 generations of camera this just isn't possible any longer?

[bharada]

When I got back into aquarium keeping all I had was a Canon S400. It has a macro mode, but trying to focus on anything moving was a trying experience. I'd guess that my keeper rate for anything in motion was 1 in 40 shots taken. Lucky digital is cheap to keep snapping away with. :)

Eventually I switched over to a DSLR with a 105mm macro, remote flash and a tripod. Now I have a 1 in 5 keeper rate. The key is the remote flash positioned over the top of the tank. Having a light source which allows 1/125" or faster exposures makes all the diffference...well, that and being able to actually see what you're focusing on. ;)

You can see my tanks and fish over on my web site... http://bharada.com

[BowerR64]

I need to get a slave flash. Ive been wanting to get one for months but i cant find one that i think is good enough to spend the money one.

Ide like to get one that i can mount and it will swivel.

[JTL]

A great slave flash: http://www.srelectronics.com/dlx3000.html

This is the one I have...it works fine. Tilts and swivels and even has a "zoom" head: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?A=details&kw=PHD92BZS&is=REG&Q=&O=productlist&sku=311150

[AMDnut]

Fish tanks are hard...

I did some playing with my S2 and did this in about 5 minutes. Could be much better, but it isn't awful bad. You need to focus at an angle to the glass, use your flash, and set at 1/200 or more. Adjust the flash power for what you need. Takes some playing around, but I think you can get a setting to work OK.

[AMDnut]

With a tripod, a slave flash, and playing to find the right settings, you should be able to do much better. I only tried 1/200 but you can see it needs faster. Flash was about 2/3 power, and white balance was set to fluorescent. ISO100 and on Macro. I need to play more....

[bharada]

Fish tanks are hard...

I did some playing with my S2 and did this in about 5 minutes. Could be much better, but it isn't awful bad. You need to focus at an angle to the glass, use your flash, and set at 1/200 or more. Adjust the flash power for what you need. Takes some playing around, but I think you can get a setting to work OK.
Depending on the tank size (thickness of the glass) you can end up getting pretty servere distortion shooting at an angle other than 90° to the tank front. This presents a big problem using a camera's onboard flash as it'll just produce a giant glare spot on the glass (unless you have the lens right up against the glass).

Since the Canon HF-DC1 is triggered by the S3's onboard flash you should be able to place a small piece of white cardboard in front of the camera's flash, angled up so that the flash pop will trigger the remote flash, but not light up the tank's glass.

If you have some secure means to prop the external flash above the tank you can handhold the camera to track moving fish. Just stay within the lateral coverage area of the overhead flash.

[black udder]

I took this with my S1 and the new macro lens in about 5 minutes. Got a handful of great pics. Just turn to the "action" setting on the wheel and click away.

For some reason, the action setting on the S3 has the pictures turning out very grainy. More research. :confused:

Thanks for the suggestions folks! And, Bill, those are some fantastic looking tanks. Mine is ok, but those are quite beautiful. I imagine they take a good amount of care what with feeding, fertilizing and trimming the plants :)

[AMDnut]

Hey, I never thought about manual focus.... that might be worth a shot.

Of course, we probably are in DSLR territory here though... man, I need my D50 sooooon!!!!!!

[BowerR64]

A great slave flash: http://www.srelectronics.com/dlx3000.html

This is the one I have...it works fine. Tilts and swivels and even has a "zoom" head: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?A=details&kw=PHD92BZS&is=REG&Q=&O=productlist&sku=311150

Is the Digi-Slave Deluxe 3000 worth $130.?

[TenD]

Boy, I just pulled out the S1 after trying to take a shot with the S3 and I'm sorely disappointed. I picked up a macro lens and got some great shots with the S1, but the S3 won't even focus.
Have you set the S3's menu for the lens you're using? I haven't read the S1's or S3's manuals but I do know my S2 wants to know if I have an accessory lens on it. It's actually not clear to me if you have the accessory lens mounted for the fish shots or not.

Tried TV mode, but as soon as I jack up the shutter speed past like, 250, the aperture becomes so dark I can't focus or see anything.
Sounds like you don't have near enough light.

I tried portrait, which is ok, but nothing close to the tank, everything has to be without zoom entirely.

The camera is trying to focus on the glass, either you have to turn off all of the lights in the room and leave the aquarium lit, or manually focus for best results, why the S1 will focus, I don't know. http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/autofocus3.htm

Is it possible I have a bad camera? Or is it possible that in 2 generations of camera this just isn't possible any longer? Nope doubt it. Nope this thing is entirely possible and not outside the realm for this camera. A DSLR is not needed for taking snaps of aquariums.

I will give the same advice I gave in your other post: Purchase and read "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson. Know what the settings on your camera do, what a portrait mode might do, what a landscape mode might do. Hopping aroud the dial on your camera hoping to hit a setting that works will rarely produce good results. If you know how to get where your going, getting there is much easier.

[black udder]

Thanks again TenD.

The information is starting to sink it. I'm trying to move around on the dial to see how what the manual says affects the shots. I'll be the first to admit my primary mode with the S1 was the "sports" mode. It gave me good solid pictures w/out a flash and good shots outside. However, I can't do the same with the S3, so now I'm having to explore the other dials and actually learn what the manual dials seetings do.

I still find it strange that the same setting on both camera's yields such different results, but I guess that is par for the course when it comes to cameras.

I feel better about the camera just knowing that the odds are against it being flawed and also that I should be able to do what I want without going DSLR. I can work with adjusting and experimentation (especially when it saves $1,000!).

As for the setting for an add-on lens in the camera. I have the ability to choose the wide angle or the tele photo, but there is no choice for a macro lens. Dunno if I would choose telephoto or leave it as is...

At least the "film" is cheap :) Back to the experimentations.

thanks all!