Cheap Camera for Coral Pics

[BigJohnny]

If pictures like that were taken with a $200 point and shoot from outside the tank then I think you have answered your own question :rollface: that camera should be the top of your list haha

The camera I used underwater would have taken photos just as good after playing with the settings a little but only from within the tank.

This was actually an underwater one as well! Pentax optio wg 2

I really try to avoid putting my hands in the tank unless I have to though. It's frustrating because your right, that's the way to go. Most for your money because they have macro modes like 1 cm macro where you have to be on top of the coral but then the quality is amazing.

 

[BigJohnny]

LOL I never said they were great by any stretch of the imagination. I said they weren't BLUE

They certainly are not blue and I found those settings and they did help a bit with my photos but only under all 6 of my t5s which run at about 14-16k. I actually had most success with the cloudy setting[emoji106] .

Unfortunately under my 18-20k only, even with those settings, still way too blue.

 

[MaccaPopEye]

BJ I understand not wanting to put your arms in the tank a lot, I feel the same. Generally I wear arm length gloves when I put my hands in the tank (including when I take photos). Not always, but at least 95% of the time. And before putting the camera in there I give it a good rinse in tap water (which for me is <30TDS but you can also use RO if your tap water us bad).

 

[Dkuhlmann]

They certainly are not blue and I found those settings and they did help a bit with my photos but only under all 6 of my t5s which run at about 14-16k. I actually had most success with the cloudy setting[emoji106] .

Unfortunately under my 18-20k only, even with those settings, still way too blue.

That's interesting because when I took those pictures I still left my actinics on, and no blue, but my T5 is a 4 bulb unit

 

[BigJohnny]

That's interesting because when I took those pictures I still left my actinics on, and no blue, but my T5 is a 4 bulb unit

I have a 6 bulb ati sunpower, with
3 blue+ bulbs, 1 coral +, 1 purple plus, 1 true actinic. My blue is probably a lot bluer and more intense then yours due to the # bulbs, quality and type of bulbs, and fixture.

 

[Big E]

Buy an old Cannon that has capabilities to shoot in RAW mode. My Powershot G3 is ten years old......I would think you can find them on Ebay or Amazon for 100 or so.

You don't have to buy my model, but just look for a decent brand like Canon, Nikon, ect. that's 5+ years old.

I'm limited in that I can't do super close macro shots, but you'll find yourself taking a lot more normal sized shots than macros.