Coloring

[MMM33732]

I've tried several digital cameras trying to get good pictures of my tank. Granted they weren't $2000 cameras, but I'd expect them to still take nice pics. They ranged from $150-500. The clarity was always very nice, but the colors just are never the same. It seems like the tank is almost too bight for many shots. Is there a way most people change this through editing software, or is it simply a matter of using better equipment?

 

[gregr]

I'd have to say neither, with a qualifier
I've never seen a tank that is too bright- in fact, I've never seen a tank that was bright enough that I didn't have to use a tripod or a flash to get great depth of field. The trick is knowing how to deal with the brightness (or lack of brightness) with the camera settings. Unless your camera has absolutely no way to adjust settings then you can compensate for the brightness by manipulating the settings-- it's just a matter of learning how. It may seem a little complicated at first but learning the basics of photography is a piece of cake compared to learning how to keep a good reef tank.
Adjusting the brightness and colors in Photoshop always helps a picture but you should be able to get it looking very good right out of the camera.

 

[JokerGirl]

I've learned that with my Canon Powershot A95 that you can manipulate the brightness of the picture without having to even touch the manual settings. At least with my halide setup, I've noticed that if you get a photo of your target from below it, it'll take photos that don't look so washed out. Also, if you can get a photo from above it, it'll sometimes work that way as well.

Like greg said, it's all about knowing the camera you're working with and knowing how to manipulate your camera/settings.