DSLR settings for tack sharp photos

[mpderksen]

It would be helpful to see meta data for some of the shots here. As I try and get really sharp shots, I know the basics, like: clean the glass, turn off the pumps, use a tripod etc.
I use a macro that has great depth of field, but not getting really crisp shots. I shoot in RAW since I have LEDs.
Do you guys shoot in aperture mode? Or full manual?

I'd like a short list of settings to start with of ISO, f-stop and exposure.

 

[Misled]

I shoot in both. Show a pic of your's so we can see.

 

[mpderksen]

Here is an example. last night I turned off the Blue LED channel completely. I used a tripod, and a remote to fire the camera (no flash).
Exp 1/50 sec
f/8.0
50mm
ISO 1600
no post processing
<a href="http://s1224.photobucket.com/user/mpderksen/media/_MG_5463.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee380/mpderksen/_MG_5463.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo _MG_5463.jpg"/></a>

Michael

 

[howaboutme]

If you shoot in RAW, you should post process as pure RAW photographs tend to be flat with little contrast, saturation, etc.

 

[JaYbIrD1969]

It may be me but I think I see a lot of marine snow or spots on the glass. Both of which are the kiss of death with aquarium photography.

 

[Mattewell]

The secret to tack sharp photos is to simply make sure your focus is correct.

Setting your aperture to a higher f-stop will help with depth of field ensuring you get a larger in focus area, but this will decrease your available light and make you bump your ISO higher or slow your shutter speed. It's a balancing act.

Also make sure you lens is 90 degrees to the glass. If you are not at 90 degrees you will get some refractive distortion. If you don't want to be limited to 90 degrees from the glass, use a looking box and shoot from the top of the tank. Make sure you are still shooting at 90 degrees from the viewing pane in the looking box.

 

[tektite]

When you have the camera on a tripod, do you still have image stabilization on if your lens has it? If so, turn it off, when on a tripod it can cause problems and keep you from getting that crystal clear image.

What camera and lens are you using? Photo had no exif data on that.

 

[tektite]

Also, have you taken a series of identical images at different ISO's to see how the image quality changes with that? ISO 1600 is pretty high, a lot of cameras have very destructive noise at that level that will never render high detail in the resulting images.

 

[3dees]

for the sharpest pics with good depth of field, off camera flash hung over the tank is the way to go.

 

[johnnymu]

yeah lower your ISO. See if you can set at the lowest setting, since you are using a tripod your shutter speed might take longer but that's ok. f-stop 8 to 11 is fine if you want to capture the whole setting. Practice practice practice. GL

 

[Reef Bass]

Are you shooting straight through the glass? Shooting at an angle through glass introduces distortion and will kill sharpness.