Canon camera and a tank of fishies

[Vadafallon]

I didn't see anyone repping for Canon so i thought i would start this little gem. I just recently switched from Nikon to Canon and so far i am happy. Not only did i get a 50mm prime lens for 100 dollars vs 300 but taking macro shots and night shots have been made a little easier for me. =) I will upload some photo tonight.

BTW i switched from a Nikon d40 and i still love this camera, but i wanted video and it was not offered. The Canon i got is the 60d.

Anyone else out there rocking Canons? What lenses, settings, etc. do you use for taking shots of your tanks?

 

[Reef Bass]

There are a number of Canon shooters here. Nikon too.

I have the Canon EOS 50D and use the Canon EF 100mm f2.8 USM macro lens for my corals. For fish or FTSs I use the EF 24-70mm f2.8 L.

My exposure settings won't help you as our tanks and lighting are probably different.

I will suggest shooting in RAW mode always.

I shoot remotely, or tethered to my laptop, and control everything except focus from the computer. Another benefit of shooting remotely is that I get a 15" live view display which is very helpful for composing and focusing.

 

[BlueCorn]

I also shoot Canon but honestly, it doesn't matter what brand you shoot.

I'm shooting with a reduced kit at the moment:

Canon 5D
Canon 15 f/2.8
Canon 17-40 f/4L
Canon 24-70 f/2.8
Canon 50 f/1.8
Canon 100 f/2.8

I just sold my 100-400L.

Settings?

RAW
Manual exposure
Manual focus
ISO 200-400

and what ever shutter speed/aperture the scene calls for.

 

[JBen]

How do you find the 15 F2.8 Beerguy.
From reading a number of your post/replies advice I would have pegged you for the 35mm f1.4

I'm Canon as well.

Currently
1DMKiv and S95
16-35mm f2.8
24-70mm f2.8
85mm f1.2
70-200mm f2.8 vii
180 f3.5 macro (Tamron)
400mm f5.6
500mm f4.0
1.4 TC
2.0 TC
430 ex
580 ex and Pocket wizards
And tons more in the way of accessories

Have owned
1DMKiin, 40D and a rebel
800mm f5.6

So yeah Im a Canon guy.
As has been stated many times in many threads. You arent just buying a body, your buying a system.

These days really, you could blind fold someone, have them put their hands in a black bag and which ever they grab they will be more than happy with

 

[BlueCorn]

How do you find the 15 F2.8 Beerguy.
From reading a number of your post/replies advice I would have pegged you for the 35mm f1.4

The 35 certainly is nice lens but I'm mostly a landscape guy. That's changing a bit but I'm almost never wide open anyway.

I bought the fisheye as a toy but it's a lot of fun. I use it way more than I ever expected.

I've considered upgrading my 5D, but I like the image quality too much. It has a much more film-like quality about it than most digital bodies. I bought a 7D to use as a backup; loved everything about it but the images.

You can see more of the type of thing I shoot on my website, but you have to find it on your own.

Cheers

(fixing the dupe post)

 

[Vadafallon]

I am using a 50mm prime with extensions for my macro shots and the prime for most everything else right now. I would love to get a macro lens though. I would prefer one that i could use a zoom too.

Any suggestions?

 

[BlueCorn]

You can't buy a zoom lens that is a true macro.

 

[Vadafallon]

Ah.. ok well then lol. I am not as worried about the zoom anyway. Any suggestions on a true macro lens? I am a little concerned about going to a L series. Those things are hella expensive. lol.

 

[JBen]

Thanks...when Im at work that happens a lot (in finance and so glued to markets). Flip through applications non stop.

Re 35mm. Not sure why but I envisioned a lot indoor/archetural type photography as well and hence thinking you'd have one in your kit.

7D.
Have thought about one as a back up but too many mixed reviews from guys I know that use it. So I keep coming back to a 5D as a second and back up

Fisheyes.
I hemmed long and hard between the 15mm and the 16-35. I needed something wider than the 24-70 for when I get an assignment that puts me in a boat, blind or close to hunters where I cant move for fear of "busting" the hunt..Was really torn between the two. Jury for me is still out.

 

[BlueCorn]

Ah.. ok well then lol. I am not as worried about the zoom anyway. Any suggestions on a true macro lens? I am a little concerned about going to a L series. Those things are hella expensive. lol.

Read the macro sticky. if you thought tanks were expensive, just wait.

Thanks...when Im at work that happens a lot (in finance and so glued to markets). Flip through applications non stop.

Re 35mm. Not sure why but I envisioned a lot indoor/archetural type photography as well and hence thinking you'd have one in your kit.

7D.
Have thought about one as a back up but too many mixed reviews from guys I know that use it. So I keep coming back to a 5D as a second and back up

Fisheyes.
I hemmed long and hard between the 15mm and the 16-35. I needed something wider than the 24-70 for when I get an assignment that puts me in a boat, blind or close to hunters where I cant move for fear of "busting" the hunt..Was really torn between the two. Jury for me is still out.

Keep in mind that I'm full frame. With your crop, my 17 is wider than your 16. The 15fish is crazy wide @ 180°. It's a challenge keeping yourself out of the image. lol

 

[JBen]

And shadows to I bet

I love the 1.3 crop on 1D bodies, sort of a nice blend between FF and 1.6, but yeah every now and then Im in tight and can't change my position and so bust out the 16-35 so I can frame for editorial ( negative space, space for type font and mast heads).

As with all WA then I get to deal with perspective and no matter how many times I tell writers and others to suck their limbs in tight, they thrust forward and everything gets bent out of shape. Not much I can do about it but grin and bear it.

looks fine at first blush.

but if you know what to look for you quickly notice where perspective and scales are way out of whack.

 

[Misled]

I see what you mean J. That poor guy could never pick his nose!!!

 

[JBen]

exactly and that ones tame
That writer and I have colloborated on many assignments together (that was fly in to a remote lake for a few days) over the years. Today we are good friends and work extremely well together, I need little direction from him, and he knows what I need. So I dont end up wasting a lot of time having to direct him.

Despite that and even though he sucked his limbs in (note elbows and knees)...
There are other examples where its painfully obvious versus subtely obvious and really only photographers will pick up on it.