A few new shots with d200

[shaggydoo541]

Thanks. I like the second batch bettter to so hopefully that means I'm making some improvements. The second batch was shot in raw which I immediately liked better and I did use photoshop so I had a couple more options than when I used iPhoto on the first batch.

 

[clippo]

the second batch exhibit similar problems - the best thing you can do IMO is learn about exposure and how it is controlled by shutter speed, aperture and ISO settings (assuming you don't already). This knowledge is crucial. Post processing is something that could be learned later.

Having a 120gal, I assume you glass must be pretty thick... an immediate improvement could be gained by only shooting with your lens perpendicular to the glass. This helps reduce image distortion and chromatic aberrations.

 

[shaggydoo541]

Well all these shots were shot perpendicular to the glass or as clost to perpendicular as I could get. I shot iso 100 on the coral shots. I opened the fstop up as far as it would go to get the best dof possible and let the camera pick the shutter speed. I also set it on my tripod while I tried to scare the fish away due to the long shutter speeds many shots were ruined by fish swimming past or me causing vibrations on the floor and blurring the image (or just bumping the tripod whoops).

For the fish pics I raised the iso a bit to around 400 on most and then picked a 1/125 shutter (I believe) so I could shoot by hand then let the camera pick the fstop.

Other than that I don't know what else I can do besides practice some more and continue to refine my after image editing and then of course practice... did I mention I probably need a lot of practice?

 

[Snowsurfer]

I can see what Clippo is trying to tell you. I also have a D200 and when you say your nikon lens is tack sharp you have not shown it in these pics. The only pictures thats in focus is the trac. The rest are blurred. Im using a sigma 105mm

If i get a chance ill try and post some of my pics up soon, only had my D200 a week before that i had a D70.

Your doing the right thing using a tripod, try using the timer or remote so take pics as this helps with camera shake. Also try to avoid raising the ISO unless you really have too.

Sometimes if your not 100% sure what your doing its better to go for a lower spec camera thats a bit easier to use. The D200 is pretty much a fully manual camera. My D70 taught me a lot.

 

[shaggydoo541]

Well I know what I'm doing (partly) as far as settings go but it does take some practice. Each set of pics I take definitely continues to look better but since it is my first digital SLR I know I've got a long way to go. I know the last clown pic is horrible but it was such a nice 'pose' I decided to put it up anyways. I also did use the timer on all my shots (except fish ones) because otherwise its so blurry you have no idea what I am taking a picture of.

I was going to get the d80 but really wanted the 18-200 lens which was on like a 6 month waiting list, but it did come packaged with the d200... so I went above my skill level on this purchase by a lot. I do feel I got pretty good images with the pink zoas, the angel, and I also like the blue blasto. The rest all definintely show room for a ton of improvement.

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions, any more? I really do appreciate any and all feedback (even if you think I stink, cause I can't learn without criticism). Any other d200 users out there that have some suggestions they just couldn't take tank pics without? Or other suggestions overall? I have found it is MUCH harder to tank tank pictures than in other settings. I went outside and took pictures of flowers, etc and it was so much easier with natural sunlight (especially on an overcast day).

 

[shaggydoo541]

Batch 3

Batch 3

Ok so I took the suggestions given and tried to take better pics with them in mind. I only took pics of fish because my wife has the tripod somewhere. So all these were taken by hand and with how shaky I am, these turned out fairly well I think. Input? Compared to other batches... am I improving?

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9848827@N08/925081590/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1205/925081590_e26e39dd0d_b.jpg" width="1024" height="757" alt="Don't look at me" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9848827@N08/925080042/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1222/925080042_7406c1fbbb_o.jpg" width="1280" height="1250" alt="Hello Yellow" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9848827@N08/924231249/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1217/924231249_ae1ecb0e07_b.jpg" width="1024" height="762" alt="Red Scooter" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9848827@N08/924231671/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1093/924231671_7d4db8cc8e_o.jpg" width="1280" height="1015" alt="Mr Purple" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9848827@N08/924232011/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1074/924232011_a71493d82f_b.jpg" width="1024" height="674" alt="Powder Blue" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9848827@N08/925081838/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1102/925081838_d9205e05bc_o.jpg" width="643" height="800" alt="Diving Clown" /></a>

And this last on I was amazed with. I really like it as it came off the camera in raw like this, with one side illuminated. Maybe not the best picture but I like it because of how unique it came out compared to my other shots of the night.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9848827@N08/924259165/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1124/924259165_49d510384c_b.jpg" width="581" height="1024" alt="Baby Blue" /></a>

Overall I am still confused with how to compress or change from one format to the other. I went from raw (or .NEF) on my nikon, but elements wouldn't change to a format flickr (the site I download to) would accept. So I had to convert to 8 bit and then save to jpeg. Is this normal... it seems I lost some resolution this way.

 

[Scubadiva7]

Wow, Great job. I loved the colors.

 

[Snowsurfer]

Def an improvment.

Try just taking a few pics in JPEG fine and see how these turn out. I only use RAW now and again mainly i find JPEG fine suits my needs.

What sort of shutter speed are you using ? Some look like you need a slighty quicker speed. Also are you using a flash ? I used to use the onboard flash when taking fish pictures and now i use a SB600 flash gun i bought. This really allows you to up the shutter speed and also up your Fstop to get more DOF (depth of field)

Here are some examples

 

[shaggydoo541]

Wow. Very nice snowsurfer. I was using anywhere from a 1/500 shutter speed to 1/125. I was just playing around with about every combo I could find but most shots were too underexposed at the 1/500 level and I had absolute no dof on any of them, my fstop was always at the minimum. I do have a speed light. I will have to try that next for the fish pics. I think I'm also switching back to jpeg fine just because saving afterwards is a pita in raw so until I get a better raw converter or figure out what I'm doing, I think jpeg will be easier.

 

[Snowsurfer]

If you have a speedlight try giving it a go. You will be able to open your fstop up. Set camera to manual then try and use around F8 or a little higher, and a shutter of around 1/250. Always shoot horizontal to the glass or looking slightly downwards at the fish. If you try and shoot up at the subject you will get the reflection of the flash.

 

[Snowsurfer]

Forget to say have the speedlight pointing directly forward when mounted on the camera.

 

[shaggydoo541]

Now with speedlight

Now with speedlight

Ok these were all shot in jpeg fine with my speedlight 800 on. It was definitely different but did allow me to open the fstop more as recommended. Wait do you all think?

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9848827@N08/930919713/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1166/930919713_0b797396f3_o.jpg" width="701" height="800" alt="Eye of the powder" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9848827@N08/930918589/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1243/930918589_cc64a8e855_b.jpg" width="1024" height="398" alt="Yellow fellow" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9848827@N08/930921133/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1042/930921133_d4d16f9856_o.jpg" width="1280" height="1021" alt="Coral Beauty" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9848827@N08/931769100/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1214/931769100_4a2e1d12e5_b.jpg" width="1024" height="734" alt="The chase is on" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9848827@N08/931767440/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1062/931767440_61b84e3f93_o.jpg" width="1280" height="916" alt="Mandarins fins" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9848827@N08/930920263/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1359/930920263_d155e28e96_b.jpg" width="1024" height="654" alt="Takeoff" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9848827@N08/930919251/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1080/930919251_80bc9513f9_b.jpg" width="1024" height="670" alt="Mohawk" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9848827@N08/930920851/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1118/930920851_3d780c0f86_b.jpg" width="1024" height="573" alt="My clown again" /></a>

 

[Snowsurfer]

Again defintalty more of an improvement. But seems like you still have your ISO turned up as they look a little noisy, either that or are you heavily cropping the pictures?

 

[shaggydoo541]

I did turn the iso up a bit. But only to 400 on most shots. Some of the shots are pretty heavily cropped as my tank is very deep (2') and so some of the pics were of the fish further back in the tank.

 

[Snowsurfer]

Just try again using setting around this:

ISO 100
Shutter 1/250
F8
and use your Sb800

The D200 has enough megapixles to crop nicely and still get good images. But with the ISO turned up it shows more when using a macro lens and then even more if you also crop the picture.

 

[BigMojo]

As a fellow D200 user, I agree with what's been said, they images shouldn't be that noisy. My best advice is to keep shooting, and shooting a lot! There's no film to burn or process, so shoot a lot, use different settings you'll get there.

Here are a couple tools that might be handy to look at:

If you are shooting on a tripod, get this little electronic release. Removes any camera shake from you pressing the shutter button.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/439328-REG/Dot_Line_DL_1486_Remote_Release.html
This one is $40, don't bother with the $130 nikon model. I have the $40 one, and it works flawlessly.

I don't recommend this one as a fallback for over-cropping, but, it does have a place and works really well at removing noise.
http://www.picturecode.com/

 

[shaggydoo541]

Thanks everyone. I have learned a lot and will definitely keep practicing. I'll try and get some more images uploaded to show any futher progress I make. Thanks again.