Canon 50D with 100m Macro lens settings advice

[DeepReefExotics]

I have a Canon 50d with the Canon 100mm Macro lens, a Manfrotto tripod with thier ball tripod head, and a remote trigger. I cant seem to be able to get good clear macro shots of my corals with it. Anyone have any advice on a good starting point to play with to get some good pictures taken.

Also i am relatively new to DSLR photography and have read every article i can get a hold of to better myself. Just wanted to know if anyone has any personal experience with this camera that they can help me with.

Thanks in Advance.

 

[dendronepthya]

Here's a starting point.
1. Use Av shooting mode
2. Set aperture to f/11
3. Set ISO to 100
4. Set your remote to 2 to 10 second timer
5. Shoot away!

There's a good chance that it will be a somewhat long exposure which is ok when you are using a tripod and taking a picture of a stationary coral.

 

[Jacob D]

Use live view and manually focus.

 

[BlueCorn]

First off, understand that I'm not trying to come across as condescending....

You need to learn how your camera works and how exposure works. You'll never make good images by trying to copy someone else's settings. Every situation is different. Go buy Bryan Peterson's "Understanding Exposure" and read it a couple of times. Really.

Cheers

 

[Hookup]

That book, and his other one.. Learning to see creatively.. are excellent!!! I still re-read them from time to time, his writing style is friendly and fun...

 

[aquariumclown]

Maybe post some of the pics your taking so we can see what you mean by not "good clear macro shots" coral shots. Perhaps we can see if it's focus problem or something.

 

[Mykayel]

I love that lense for macro... but my preference is to shoot it wide open (f/2.8) as I love the shollow field of view. I do recomend a tripod but you don't have to do very long exposures as someone else recomended. Wheather or not you use very long exposures, I recomend turning off the water flow so that things don't move (and blur) on you. If you shoot at f/11 and have a 10 second exposure, turning off the water is absolutely necessary.

 

[Reef Bass]

I have the same camera and lens. +1 for what everyone else has said. Some very good photographers have already chimed in.

The other thing which is vital which I haven't seen mention is to shoot straight through the glass, not at an angle up down left or right. It's an annoying limitation but you will not get clear pictures shooting at an angle through glass. If your tank is a bowfront you will have issues because of the curved glass.

You have a tremendous camera and lens and your results now are limited only by your own abilities. Read, learn, shoot, evaluate, shoot some more. By trying to understand why your "bad" shots are bad, you will improve quickly. People on this site are very kind and helpful.

You could always try shooting something out of the tank, like a coin or keys, just to get a handle on the process of using live view and manual focus. That may be a good starting place.

 

[IPT]

Basics covered, like all the pumps off?