Is it me or my camera??? I'm assuming it's me!!

[tygger]

I don't know what type of camera you guys are using, but I have a Canon Powershot S400 Digital Elph:

http://consumer.usa.canon.com/ir/controller?act=ModelDetailAct&fcategoryid=145&modelid=8777

I can't take clear shots of the tank to save my life, let alone get nice sharp macro shots.

I've tried using the macro function, but when I get too close, everything just gets blurry. What am I doing wrong or does this camera just suck for taking tank pictures???

Any advice would be great! I see everyones' nice pictures and I'm envious that I can't take half decent pics.

Thanks

 

[luminary]

Can you post an example of a non-macro picture that "isn't clear"? Sometimes the camera is focusing on a spot that isn't obvious. The most frequent problem I've seen helping people out is the camera focuses on something on the glass, be it algae, snails, whatever.

As for the macro. No matter what, you can't get closer than the minimum focus distance. Though it looks like that camera has a 2 inch minimum distance so I doubt you got closer than that...

Is autofocus setup correctly? Looks like there are at least two focusing modes in that camera.

Can you take clear non-tank macros?

One other thing it might be is the shutter speed. It's quite possible that the camera is choosing too slow a shutter speed for the lighting conditions. Try using a tripod or the flash and see if it clears up the pics.

 

[tygger]

I will try and get some pics. My biggest problem is with macro shots. Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[tygger]

I suck at taking pics, but my problem is mainly with taking tank pics.

Here's a pic of my 15g. It's about as good as I can take...

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y123/tygger27/IMG_2967.jpg" border="0" alt="Image hosting by Photobucket"></a>


Here's my attempt of taking a macro shot. This is prob. one of the best I've taken.

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y123/tygger27/IMG_2963.jpg" border="0" alt="Image hosting by Photobucket"></a>


This is my typical macro shot:

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y123/tygger27/IMG_2965.jpg" border="0" alt="Image hosting by Photobucket"></a>

Here's are non-tank pics that's pretty decent. I also noticed that if I get too close, I don't get a full flash coverage since the flash on this camera is on the left. I usually end up with a shadow on the right. You can tell in these pics:

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y123/tygger27/IMG_3042.jpg" border="0" alt="Image hosting by Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y123/tygger27/IMG_3040.jpg" border="0" alt="Image hosting by Photobucket"></a>


Any suggestions? Thanks!

 

[zorics]

use a tripod or put the camera on something. and then take the picture w/o flash

if your camera has the flower icon, use it. it takes clearer pictures. The last picture of the zoathids, the camera is too close to focus.
I usually use auto focus. so..

What I would do is move your camera back a little bit, and then use the zoom to zoom into the coral. it will give the camera more space to focus

Or, you can move backward, take a bigger picture (high resolution, and large size) and then crop the parts you want.

 

[tygger]

It's kinda hard to tell because photobucket downsizes the pics, but in full size, you can tell they aren't too clear.

On the tank pics, I used the flower icon and turned the room lights off. I didn't use a flash.

I'll try your suggestions... but on the macro shots of my phone, I didn't use a tripod and they came out much clearer than the tank pics. Not sure why I can take pics of things in my tank.

thx

 

[zorics]

the pic of the phone has flash on right?

camera works this way:
when there's enough light, the camera will pick up enough details. so pictures with flash turns out clearer.

but when you don't use flash, in order to take clear pictures, you'd need enough light, or the camera needs to open long enough for light to enter.

In the case of the fish tank
you can use flash but it takes away the lights on the fish tank and it also creates a glare from the tank. Most of the fish tank lights are not bright enough for the camera to not use flash, so we're going to force it to not use flash by turning it off. But then, the camera in auto mode will try to open the shutter as long as it takes to record information. this is why we need a tripod, so that you can keep the camera still when the shutter is open.

So the fuzz coral pic:
the auto focus is not picking up the right spot (which is probably the case)

The reason the camera is not focusing on the coral is probably because you're too close. For example, the camera can focus 2". But if you are at 1" distance, the camera will pick the 2" distance to adjust to focus there instead.

When you took the full tank shot, you're probably farther away, and the pic looks pretty clear...

Solution: back up a little, set on tripod or something that doesn't move.
If you need bigger picture, just zoom in with the button.

by the way, it's not necessary to turn the lights off in the room...

oh and another thing, if you do take pics by putting camera close up to the tank, you'd notice that taking picture at an angle (pointing down or up), the water will deflect, and you'd end up with a fuzz picture too

 

[zorics]

if you look at the zoa pic, you can see the heater in the back is in focus.. that's how much you have to move backward.

in the xenia pic too... the ones in the very front are fuzzy, but the one in the middle is pretty good

 

[tygger]

Thanks so much for the explanation! It helps understanding how the camera works.

Yes, the phone pics were taken with the flash on.

I think part of my problem was also because I was taking the pics at an angle. Didn't know water would deflect.

So I'll try this next time.

1. tripod
2. use more distance and zoom in (Isn't this the same as taking the pics physically closer up?)
3. take a straight on angle
4. leave the room lights on since it doesn't matter

Also, you mentioned that the shutter needs to be open longer for lower light situations. Does this mean I should set the shutter speed slower?

The camera has a manual setting function, but I always keep it on automatic because I don't know what the functions are used for... such as ISO. I think the options were like 50, 100, 200, 400. I'll have to verify.

Thanks again!

 

[BethanyM]

I know you said you used the flower mode, but have you tried the digital macro mode? If you turn on your camera and hit function set, it is in the first line of options, third one to the right. A flower with a 'D' in it. I have the same camera and I hardly use it because I don't understand all the functions. I am more of a turn it on and take pics kind of girl. I have had/used 4 other digital cameras that have been comparable to this one, and they all took wonderful pics without me having to fiddle with them. I have noticed that using a tripod helps a tiny bit, but I do think we should play with shutter speeds.

 

[tygger]

BethanyM, are you sure it's the exact same camera? I have a S400, there's a newer version using a SD card labeled as SD400.

I can't find that function on my camera. My friend has a SD200 and it has Digital Macro. Using DMacro on his camera does make the pics look better though.

I know what you mean about not knowing all the different functions! I usually just turn it on auto and point and shoot. Check this out:

http://www.ximinasphotography.com/lessons/lesson06/techniques_3.html