Help With FTS

[reefer334]

I am having trouble taking decent FTS. They always come out terrible!
I have a Nikon D40X with the following lenses ,
18-55mm lens
AF-S Nikkor 55-200mm
AF-S Nikkor Micro 105 mm.


Which one would work best for FTS?
Also what mode should I be shooting in for FTS.

I am a complete photo novice, so any help would be awesome!

Here is a FTS of one of my reefs( it is getting an overhaul as we speak)

That one was taken on a tripod with the 18-55mm lens.

same lens different tank

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

What do you expect them to look like? You aren't going to be able to mold the image to your tastes using Automatic mode. The whole point of a DSLR is to use it manual. Your going to have to learn to drive stick. That said I don't see much of a problem. The lens you used is pretty cheap. Again I don't know what you expected but better lenses produce better images.

 

[MrSandman]

Aside from your camera settings there are other things to consider. Reflections....

For that top shot, maybe try blocking off some of that light that is reflecting off the back wall. Or even better, get a dark background because that light is very distracting.

For the bottom shot, a suggestion may be to minimize any reflections off the tank glass. Turn off all lights in the room where the tank is, and if you have blinds in the room, close them off to block the daylight from entering. It should improve your contrast a tad.

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

There is a lot of noise from your ISO 800 as well.

 

[reefer334]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14116080#post14116080 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TitusvileSurfer
What do you expect them to look like? You aren't going to be able to mold the image to your tastes using Automatic mode. The whole point of a DSLR is to use it manual. Your going to have to learn to drive stick. That said I don't see much of a problem. The lens you used is pretty cheap. Again I don't know what you expected but better lenses produce better images.

Thanks for your help.

I have 3 lenses I listed above, would you suggest using one of the others instead?
If not what is a good lens for taking FTS?



Also I see you mentioned my iso of 800, what would be a better setting.
I will use the camera in manual mode as you said, I use that way about half of the time now.

 

[reefer334]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14116436#post14116436 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MrSandman
Aside from your camera settings there are other things to consider. Reflections....

For that top shot, maybe try blocking off some of that light that is reflecting off the back wall. Or even better, get a dark background because that light is very distracting.

For the bottom shot, a suggestion may be to minimize any reflections off the tank glass. Turn off all lights in the room where the tank is, and if you have blinds in the room, close them off to block the daylight from entering. It should improve your contrast a tad.

Thanks for your input.

I will try that. I was thinking of taking the pics at night with just the tank lights on.

 

[Toddrtrex]

I have the D60, and both the 18-55 and 55-200 lens. I wouldn't even consider using the 55-200 lens, won't be able to get it into focus, unless you are standing really far away. All of my FTS are taken with the 18-55 lens. I know that I should use my tri-pod, but I take them with free hand.

I try to take the picture at a slight angle, so that there are no reflections. If I am doing a quick shot, I will use the auto mode, but most of the time I will use the "A" mode -- since I adjust the white balance. Depending on the time of day I will use the flash, when I do I never use the flash at full power -- usually around -2.0 or so.

In this shot, I was at a slight angel, but still get a little reflection off the hood, but nothing off the glass. Was using the "M" mode and ISO was at 200. The MHs were off, and just the PCs were on (( 1 dual actinic bulb and one 50/50 bulb )), pretty sure the flash was at -2.0.

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14117460#post14117460 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefer334
Thanks for your help.

I have 3 lenses I listed above, would you suggest using one of the others instead?
If not what is a good lens for taking FTS?



Also I see you mentioned my iso of 800, what would be a better setting.
I will use the camera in manual mode as you said, I use that way about half of the time now.

ISO 100 is always preferred. The higher up you go, the lower quality the final result will be. If you have to use higher ISO speeds then you have to do it, but it does sacrifice quality.

I also noticed a lot of barrel distortion. It seems like a lot...maybe you have a bowfront tank and it is supposed to look like that. Your use of 18mm is causing this. If you use more in the range of 50mm, everything will look more proportionate.

 

[samdaman316]

Don't forget the tripod, table , chair, etc........something to hold the camera.

 

[Grouperhead]

Hey Chris, what kind of goby is that in the bottom right of your first pic?

Tanks look great as always

 

[reefer334]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14117798#post14117798 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Toddrtrex
I have the D60, and both the 18-55 and 55-200 lens. I wouldn't even consider using the 55-200 lens, won't be able to get it into focus, unless you are standing really far away. All of my FTS are taken with the 18-55 lens. I know that I should use my tri-pod, but I take them with free hand.

I try to take the picture at a slight angle, so that there are no reflections. If I am doing a quick shot, I will use the auto mode, but most of the time I will use the "A" mode -- since I adjust the white balance. Depending on the time of day I will use the flash, when I do I never use the flash at full power -- usually around -2.0 or so.

In this shot, I was at a slight angel, but still get a little reflection off the hood, but nothing off the glass. Was using the "M" mode and ISO was at 200. The MHs were off, and just the PCs were on (( 1 dual actinic bulb and one 50/50 bulb )), pretty sure the flash was at -2.0.

Thanks for the info I will try it out.

Nice tank to!
I really like the pic to the left of the tank to.

 

[reefer334]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14117959#post14117959 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TitusvileSurfer
ISO 100 is always preferred. The higher up you go, the lower quality the final result will be. If you have to use higher ISO speeds then you have to do it, but it does sacrifice quality.

I also noticed a lot of barrel distortion. It seems like a lot...maybe you have a bowfront tank and it is supposed to look like that. Your use of 18mm is causing this. If you use more in the range of 50mm, everything will look more proportionate.

Thanks for the help, I am learning a lot!!

I have set my ISO to 100 but now the shutter speed is so slow the fish are causing color streaks in the pics. Any suggestion for fixing that?

 

[reefer334]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14122139#post14122139 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by samdaman316
Don't forget the tripod, table , chair, etc........something to hold the camera.

I always shoot with a tripod, thanks for the input though.

 

[reefer334]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14124180#post14124180 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Grouperhead
Hey Chris, what kind of goby is that in the bottom right of your first pic?

Tanks look great as always

Thanks Bo!!!!


How is your stuff doing? The goby is a pink spot watchman goby, I have 3 in that tank.

 

[Grouperhead]

Everything is doing well, thanks for asking. I'm looking for a tiger pistol right now to add with my pinkspotted watchman. I posted some newer pics of my undy and nano in the FO section...check em out.

 

[reefer334]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14143130#post14143130 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Grouperhead
Everything is doing well, thanks for asking. I'm looking for a tiger pistol right now to add with my pinkspotted watchman. I posted some newer pics of my undy and nano in the FO section...check em out.

Lookin Good Bo!!!
Love that Undy!!

 

[reefer334]

Any other input?

Is there a better lens than what I have for taking FTS?

Thanks

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

Your 105mm (f/2.8?) would be the best lens for this job, unless you cant back up far enough to see the whole tank. I would say turn your aperture down but its already pegged most likely. If your fish are streaks then turn the ISO back up until they freeze, or be patient until movement slows down for just a moment.

 

[reefer334]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14171243#post14171243 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TitusvileSurfer
Your 105mm (f/2.8?) would be the best lens for this job, unless you cant back up far enough to see the whole tank. I would say turn your aperture down but its already pegged most likely. If your fish are streaks then turn the ISO back up until they freeze, or be patient until movement slows down for just a moment.

Thanks for the input, I will give it a shot.

Now you say turn the aperture down, I no this is probably a dumb question but what do you mean by that, increasing the F stop # or decreasing it? The larger the F stop # the smaller the aperture right?

I am very new to all this so I apologize for the rookie questions.

Thanks Again

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

Yes that was poorly phrased. Turn your aperture wide open (closest to f/1 it will go) if you don't have enough shutter speed. A higher ISO will degrade image quality. I would guess the DOF will still be wide enough to encompass the whole tank. Make sure your lens is perpendicular to the font of the glass. Focus on a subject 1/3 deep in the tank.