Can I do better?

[Abraham1907]

I got this camera(Canon A75 Powershot) for christmas a little while back, and had been relatively happy with the picture quality until i tried to take pictures of my tank. I could usually get a good picture of my dog, but never my fish. Is this just because I have a low-end camera? Or is it that I'm not good at taking pictures? If anybody else has this camera or can give me some advise as to what i'm doing wrong, I would love some help.


Here is one of the best pictures I could produce with this camera, this is a lucky day....

Here is an average day....

As you can see, not very impresive.


P.S. Yea I know it's freshwater, but thats the best I have right now.

 

[gregr]

I could usually get a good picture of my dog, but never my fish. Is this just because I have a low-end camera? Or is it that I'm not good at taking pictures?

Not your fault and not the camera's fault- aquarium photography is a challenge to anybody, and as for the camera- it's one of the most difficult kinds of picutre taking a camera will ever encounter Combine the crazy lights we use with a layer of glass and some water and you've got a challenge. Regardless, it is possible to get good pics- practice, knowing your camera, and a few tips will help you.
That camera has a minimum focus distance of 5cm, and it has to be in macro mode to get that close. I'm not sure about that particular model but most likely you will have to be zoomed all the way out to the widest part of the lens to get it to focus 5cm away.
You can also try pre-focusing on something nice and contrasty. Point the camera at something that is the same distance away as the fish, and that has good contrast/texture. Press the shutter release button halfway to get the lens to focus, and once it does, frame the picture back up on the fish-- but keep that button pressed halfway to keep the focus point locked. Once you have the fish framed up properly press the button the rest of the way to take the picture.
You can try a flash too- just make sure the camera is aimed at a slight downward angle to avoid the glare.
Greg

 

[Lpabsolute]

Yes...

 

[Abraham1907]

thanks guys!

 

[Michael Dell]

keep on keepin' on