Help the noob! How do I get good pics of a moving fish?!

[ToTaLCHaoS13]

I can get good shots of my stationary items but am struggling with the setting for a swimming fish. What ISO speed, shutter speed, aperture setting would you experts recommend?

BTW, I am using a Canon S2 IS.

 

[Sk8r]

You're digital? I'd start with Program, ISO of 800, pump off. Observe the fish and figure out where he turns or dithers. Aim there and snap without waiting to frame. You'll at least get a picture. Try to improve your timing with that fish. Go down to 400 and see if you can get away with it. If film, wait for someone who really is a virtuoso with the camera, because the learning curve could get expensive.

 

[ahullsb]

Good advice. Keep your iso very high. If you have control over both aperture and shutterspeed, then set your shutterspeed higher. The guy above is right. Try 800 and see if that stops the fish in motion. Then work your way down to get allow more light for a better picture. I'm in class so if you want more detailed help, email me!

 

[Blazer88]

I normally use shutter priority and set the shutter between 1/80 and 1/125 depending on the fish. I can get good shots of my Tang at 1/125 but my slow clowns only need 1/80 or so. I'll try the ISO at 400 and see if I can still get the DOF I want; if not I'll bump up to 800. Nothing works better than trial and error though!

 

[Snausages01]

I usually do auto ISO (to keep it as low as possible) and shoot in shutter priority with a speed of ~1/200th of a second. However, as others mentioned it depends on the fish. With a wrasse I usually go around 1/250th.

*Shutter: 1/200th
Aperature: 4.5 (auto)
ISO: 720 (auto)

Shutter: 1/125th (auto)
*Aperature: 8
ISO: 800

Shutter: 1/250th

*Shutter: ~1/200th

 

[kryppy]

I shot these with S2IS full auto. Not the best, but I was surprised considering they were moving pretty fast.

In manual anything over ISO 50 has too much noise for me. I can't get a good fish shot without the flash with this camera.