Taking pics under actinics.
- Thread starter Haksar
- Start date
electrokate
New member
What kind of camera are you using? Some have more options and controls than others.
RAW is a type of file, like .jpg or .mp3, it is the extension after the name of the file. It must be processed and viewed with programs that are able to use RAW, which generally come with your camera and vary in quality/usability.
RAW is great for shooting, but then I convert the image to .jpg since a lot of people can't view a RAW and save the original RAW file as shot in case I learn of a better way to alter it later. RAW gives you a lot of flexibility and detail to work with. I think some cameras or software will alter .jpg files without asking you.
Actinics are pretty dim, so a tripod is necessary. Some cameras are better than others at handling low light and/or recording actinic spectrum accurately. You might have to play with your camera to figure out how to get good shots. I use file cards to figure out what settings I have tried on tanks, and what I might want to try next. Then I keep what I learn on a file card. So like i have a card for my 120, a card for my friend Eric's 180, a card for my friend Mark's dart frogs... and so on.
I bet more experienced people could give you advise if we know what camera you are using.
Kate
RAW is a type of file, like .jpg or .mp3, it is the extension after the name of the file. It must be processed and viewed with programs that are able to use RAW, which generally come with your camera and vary in quality/usability.
RAW is great for shooting, but then I convert the image to .jpg since a lot of people can't view a RAW and save the original RAW file as shot in case I learn of a better way to alter it later. RAW gives you a lot of flexibility and detail to work with. I think some cameras or software will alter .jpg files without asking you.
Actinics are pretty dim, so a tripod is necessary. Some cameras are better than others at handling low light and/or recording actinic spectrum accurately. You might have to play with your camera to figure out how to get good shots. I use file cards to figure out what settings I have tried on tanks, and what I might want to try next. Then I keep what I learn on a file card. So like i have a card for my 120, a card for my friend Eric's 180, a card for my friend Mark's dart frogs... and so on.
I bet more experienced people could give you advise if we know what camera you are using.
Kate
electrokate
New member
Sounds like a great camera. I have a Canon as well, EOS 50D. A reviewer of your model says in low light not to use "Auto", it won't set the ISO high enough. Your camera has aperture priority and shutter priority, these are better, but manual or custom probably are best with tricky lighting. It also says you have this setting:
"Special Scene (with a sub-menu including night scene, sunset, snow, fireworks, ISO 3200, color swap, indoor, foliage, beach, aquarium and color accent options)"
I'd love to hear how that works. Aquarium option... As an aside I want to know why canon can put high quality features in your camera and beat the price on mine by such a long shot. I can't even get a decent lens for that price. Guess I know what camera to recommend for friends from now on.
You might have to change the light metering setting to capture actinic light. If on "spot metering" it will lock onto that small part in the center and base the exposure on that. Great if you only want the coral you focused on but will not take into account any other objects in the shot.
I tried some actinic shots with my camera this morning just to see what would happen. Not so great. Got exposures as long as 1/6 second at ISO 1000! Probably will work better with a faster lens but still it's going to be a challenge.
What kind of results have you gotten so far?
Sorry I can't help you with switching to raw, it's in the menu under "quality" with my canon which maybe the same with yours as well.
Kate
"Special Scene (with a sub-menu including night scene, sunset, snow, fireworks, ISO 3200, color swap, indoor, foliage, beach, aquarium and color accent options)"
I'd love to hear how that works. Aquarium option... As an aside I want to know why canon can put high quality features in your camera and beat the price on mine by such a long shot. I can't even get a decent lens for that price. Guess I know what camera to recommend for friends from now on.
You might have to change the light metering setting to capture actinic light. If on "spot metering" it will lock onto that small part in the center and base the exposure on that. Great if you only want the coral you focused on but will not take into account any other objects in the shot.
I tried some actinic shots with my camera this morning just to see what would happen. Not so great. Got exposures as long as 1/6 second at ISO 1000! Probably will work better with a faster lens but still it's going to be a challenge.
What kind of results have you gotten so far?
Sorry I can't help you with switching to raw, it's in the menu under "quality" with my canon which maybe the same with yours as well.
Kate
Reef Bass
colors and textures
Not all cameras offer a RAW storage option. RAW files contain the unprocessed image sensor data without the camera having done any white balancing, exposure manipulations or compression. High color temperature reef tank lighting is well beyond the auto white balancing capabilities of cameras, which is why point and shoot pics of reef tanks tend to look very blue. Shooting in RAW and then setting the white balance while post processing allows for accurate colors and pics more closely matching what the eye sees.
