Impossible focus in curved tank?

[davantalus]

So I have a curved plexiglass tank which seems to give some "magnification" on the front panel. The two side panels are flat.

It would appear that unless pictures are taken absolutely orthogonally to the two flat side panels, a well focused picture is impossible. Am I crazy?

Little bit of background - 5DII+Macro. I'm a professional wedding photographer, I'm using live view, zoomed in, with manual focus, I can take excellent macros shots under any circumstance with the exception of my tank.

 

[Wolverine]

Nope, you're not crazy (or, I can at least say this isn't the reason). Optics are against you in this situation. To me, it's the biggest downside of curved tanks.

 

[davantalus]

Thanks for the confirmation, Wolverine.

A question then, for those of you with flat paneled, glass tanks. Do you find that it's easier to focus through the glass with your lens pointed flat into the panel? (which is to say 90º or orthogonal from the panel).

Or does angle to glass not seem to matter?

 

[Brett9917]

With a flat paneled aquarium, you will get the best result shooting straight on to your subject. If you are above or below the subject, or to the left or right of the subject, the glass will distort the picture, and make it difficult to get a good sharp picture.

 

[Wolverine]

Thanks for the confirmation, Wolverine.

A question then, for those of you with flat paneled, glass tanks. Do you find that it's easier to focus through the glass with your lens pointed flat into the panel? (which is to say 90º or orthogonal from the panel).

Or does angle to glass not seem to matter?

Straight on definitely gives you the best shot.

A few people have a nice work-around, which is to get an underwater housing. That way you can get any angle you want.