Full tank shots?

naka

naka

New member
What settings for full tank shots? I pretty confident w/ close up shots, but I have hard time taking sharp crisp full tank shots. I currently use Canon D20 w/ 100mm f2.8 Macro and Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM. Here's couple of shots to compare. I can't seem to get nice sharp images for my full tank shots. I'm using tripod, and tried different settings too. Any advice?

Closeup shots - very sharp
img0138jpgbk0.jpg

img0147jpgci5.jpg


full tank - little blury
full3uu6.jpg
 
Last edited:
Very few lenses will match the sharpness of a quality macro lens, especially when you're shooting wide angle like for a tank shot. I think the one you posted above is actually quite good - even exposure, no hot spots.

Part of the problem is simply that small details gets lost in a full tank shot, especially if you're shooting jpeg instead of RAW. You'd be amazed at the difference of that simple change alone.
 
What mode are you shooting in? Are you using RAW?

Here is your EXIF data:
Exposure Time = 1/750"
F Number = F4.5
ISO Speed Ratings = 1600
Exposure Bias Value = ±0EV

A shutter speed of 1/750th of a second is plenty fast to capture a FT shot. I would lessen the shutter speed and use a larger f-stop, maybe around 8. I would also lower the ISO to 200 or 400 to reduce the noise and give you a sharper picture. I would also use something like -1/3EV or -2/3EV and see how that turns out. This should give you a better balance between speed and quality. The pictures of your fish were at 1/250th of a second at ISO 200 using your macro lens to give you an idea.

Here are the settings from a FT shot that I did a while ago (w/ the crappy kit lens).

Exposure Program = Aperture Priority
Exposure Time = 1/40"
F Number = F5
ISO Speed Ratings = 400
Exposure Bias Value = -2/3 EV
Metering Mode = Average
Flash = Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode
Focal Length = 30mm
White Balance = Auto white balance

Full_Tank_DxO.jpg
 
One thing I forgot to mention, make sure you are not using the IS feature if you are using a tripod. It WILL cause blurring.
 
Thanks you Blazer, that's exactly what I was looking for.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8010778#post8010778 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Blazer88
One thing I forgot to mention, make sure you are not using the IS feature if you are using a tripod. It WILL cause blurring.
Click to expand...
What is IS feature? Do I find that in my menu?

Thanks,

James
 
Look how clear your full tank shot is! That's what I'm talking about. I can't wait to adjust my camera settings.

James
 
IS- image stabalizer (sp) .. not to jack ur thread but i just got a Canon S1is can anyone recomend a good macro lense for it?
 
The IS is the image stabilization feature. From what I understand, it is essentially a small spinning gyroscope inside the lens that helps keep a stable image when the camera is hand-held. But when the camera is on a tripod, that small vibration is transferred into the camera (since it can't move on a tripod) and will blur the picture. That is probably why you are getting clear shots with your F/2.8 macro (no IS) but getting blurred shots with your 28.135 IS lens even with a really fast shutter. You should have a slider on the barrel of the lens that will allow you to turn the IS off when using a tripod. And my FT shot was at 1/40th of a second, hardly fast by any means. I'll try to post a new one since I just got my 18-50mm Sigma F/2.8 lens in the mail today :) Post up a new picture once you can get your settings adjusted so we can see how it looks. I hope this has been helpful.
 
Here a full after the adjustments. I'm still little disappointed. It's still not as clear as I want it to be.

fullur6.jpg


James
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8014695#post8014695 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by naka
Here's another one, but I think I need to increase shutter speed.

full2en0.jpg


James
Click to expand...

If you shooting with a tripod then I would trade off shutter speed for aperture. I see nothing in the image that is 'tack' sharp, focus on the clam, use F/8 or greater, ISO 800 if you "have" to. Post an image... :)
 
Naka- Honestly i see very little, if any, difference in sharpness from the closer shots to the full tank shots, except for the motion blur from the fish. I think your mind is playing a little trick on you. The closer shots appear to be a little sharper because the depth of the shot isolates the fish from the background and enhances the edge detail of the subject. With the full shot the entire thing is in focus, so your eyes can't distinguish the edge detail, but what's resolved is the same. If you take a look at a piece of the live rock in the full shot and only look at the fish in focus in one of the closer ones, i think you'll see what i mean.

A little sharpening in post seems to be all you need. The exposure of the shot is spot on. Hope that made sense.
 
Thanks guys, I'm going to try to sharpen my images a bit. I'll increase F-stop and try to sharpen my images a bit. I'll also try to focus on the clam.

James
 
Oops, two more things:

As Astro said above, i agree with stopping down the lens, but i'd go even beyond the f/8 to more like f/11 - f/13 or so. Somewhere between f/8 and f/16 is typically the sharpest region of the lens.

Also, try to zoom in some to get rid of the little barrel distortion the lens is producing. If you can, zoom to around 50mm or so to stay between the barrel and pincusion, and this should help the sharpness as well.
 
Yup, that's it. An off-shoe flash would serve you well, above the tank, and diffused so you don't get that harsh lighting on the fish. Might take some practice but not too complicated. :D
 
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