Cheap Camera for Coral Pics

[BigJohnny]

Want to take better normal pics and try some macros. Looking to spend under 300, preferably 200 or less. This obviously limits me to the point and shoot digital variety but there's a lot of good stuff out there. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[stingeragent]

I don't know what phone he has but that's about the best I think you will get. I have a DSLR with a non macro lens and the above pic is better than what I can get.

 

[BigJohnny]

Just took this with ma phone its not macro but im sure you find something good for 200$ View attachment 330146

I don't know what phone he has but that's about the best I think you will get. I have a DSLR with a non macro lens and the above pic is better than what I can get.

Neither of these were actually helpful haha! Thanks though! I have a galaxy s5 and although my camera is great, everything has an overly blue hue in the pics. I have t5s and run at about 14-16k, but the photos appear sooooooooo blue. Some point and shoot digitals can adjust settings and take RAW photos which you can then post process white balance. Some also have macro settings, some good, some bad. Hoping to hear from people who have had success with one.

One day I'll get a dslr and buy an 800 macro lens, but not now [emoji6]

Thanks!

 

[Dkuhlmann]

BJ I'll tell you how to make your phone take better pictures. PM me for my phone number and we can talk over the phone. Too much to type LOL

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Here is an example taken with my cell phone G3 While not perfect it's not to bad once you change a few settings.

I've got one more to come



View attachment 330154

 

[Dkuhlmann]

This one has a lot going on, all of my fish and all of my Ricordea and fuzzy mushroom and one PO'd toadstool LOL But at least you can see that from your phone you can get at least decent pictures. I'm not finished fine tuning the settings but I'm way closer than before

View attachment 330155

 

[Isaacs55]

Just upgrade your phone and buy an S6 haha I also take all my photos with my phone (note 4)
No for real though I can't find any or know of any good quality cameras under that price that has interchangeable lenses. What I have been wanting for myself is the nikon D5200 with an added Macro lens and that's about 6-700 on amazon. They have a D3300 that's about 490 and it's an interchangeable lense also. Check them out on amazon

 

[jordon.l]

I have an xperia z3 it has a great camera, 20.7 megapixels and tons of setting to adjust white levels, background blur etc.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

I have an xperia z3 it has a great camera, 20.7 megapixels and tons of setting to adjust white levels, background blur etc.

Show us some sample pictures of your tank please

 

[jordon.l]

Show us some sample pictures of your tank please

I haven't really got anything to take photos of in my tank yet but I have a few other photos taken of my dog

Keep in mind that the first three will be lower in quality because I lost all my photos and had to copy them back from my Facebook and the sizes of them had to be converted down also they are converted down when attached to this thead

 

[jordon.l]

You're also buy a macro lens for Sony Xperia z3 but u can with any phone

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Those are very nice pictures but I'd asked to see pictures of your tank please. The point of this is to be able to take pictures of fish and corals. The actinics are what dominate most cameras and thus putting out blue pictures, not true color

 

[ajcanale]

Everyone keeps mentioning their phones. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think OP is looking for a new phone/data/service plan.

You could probably get a decent point and shoot for around what you mentioned. My advice is if you are planning on getting a dslr/macro lens eventually, you are better off saving up for one. There are deals out there, you just need to be patient and keep an eye out. Ebay/Amazon/Craigslist etc.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

You're right he is looking for a camera not a phone camera. I was pointing out to him that there is an adjustment that will fix his problem. Besides most people take pictures most of the time with their phone camera as they have it handy LOL most have it glued to their ears

 

[MaccaPopEye]

Generally I just use the camera on my Samsung S4 as well. BUT there are some other good cheap options.

If you want to take good photos but not spend much I really recommend a waterproof point and shoot style camera and get your hands in the tank. I had (I say had because it finally broke tonight) an old Olympus tough camera (bought almost 5 years ago and used heavily). It had 16MP, was waterproof and had settings pre built into it for underwater photography etc and you could also use the macro mode or adjust the white balance if you wanted to. I only recently thought to use it in my tank and got some great photos. I'm at work but will try to post some pictures I took with it soon.

This looks like it is the newer model of the one I had.
http://www.getolympus.com/us/en/digitalcameras/tough/tg-860.html

Cheers,

Macca

Edit: can't upload the photos nicely while at work. But here is a link to a gallery with the photos. http://imgur.com/gallery/BcVLn

 

[BigJohnny]

Just took this with ma phone its not macro but im sure you find something good for 200$ View attachment 330146

Do you have t5s? If so, what settings do you use on your phone to eliminate the blue?

 

[BigJohnny]

BJ I'll tell you how to make your phone take better pictures. PM me for my phone number and we can talk over the phone. Too much to type LOL

Can you just pm me the instructions by using speak to text haha? I would appreciate it.

 

[BigJohnny]

Just upgrade your phone and buy an S6 haha I also take all my photos with my phone (note 4)
No for real though I can't find any or know of any good quality cameras under that price that has interchangeable lenses. What I have been wanting for myself is the nikon D5200 with an added Macro lens and that's about 6-700 on amazon. They have a D3300 that's about 490 and it's an interchangeable lense also. Check them out on amazon

I don't need one with an interchangeable lens though. There are plenty of digital point and shoot cameras with big zooms that have macro modes. I'm just looking for a recommendation from someone who uses one, I know your out there!

 

[BigJohnny]

I have an xperia z3 it has a great camera, 20.7 megapixels and tons of setting to adjust white levels, background blur etc.

Thank you! Someone who actually recommended a point n shoot camera haha. I'll look into it.

 

[BigJohnny]

I haven't really got anything to take photos of in my tank yet but I have a few other photos taken of my dog

Keep in mind that the first three will be lower in quality because I lost all my photos and had to copy them back from my Facebook and the sizes of them had to be converted down also they are converted down when attached to this thead

These are great pics but yea taking pictures under tank lighting is a whole different ball game.