Which Camera...for The Planted Tank?

[Waterloo Kid]

I'll try and have a look at that for you. All depends on my workload today (yes, I work in between posts!).
This Minolta you talk about. The 4000 by any chance. I have both the 4000 and 9000. The 9000 is a stunning camera. Only problem is a slightly dodgey film transport which has lost me a couple of rolls in the past, the last one being my best friend's wedding which I wasn't happy about! They are wonderful cameras. Built like bricks too. The best thing about the 9000 over the 4000 is the satisfying clunk as the shutter is released. None of this motor driven rubbish. All manual and chunky.

WK

 

[craynerd]

lol, no its older than that....its the Minolta SR-T 303 !! lol

Chris

 

[davisef]

I would like to recommend doing a custom white balance. Read your Digital SLR's owner's manual. You can fine tune your SLR to the exact lighting you have in your aquarium.

Second, pick up a 50mm F1.8 lens. This lens is around $100 US and is perfect for shooting without flash, which can give you glare off of the glass. It doesn't require flash because it lets so much light in. It lets in so much light that you can even add a circular polarizer to cut the glare off of the glass. The 50 mm lens is a wise investment, and is usually one of the sharpest lenses a manufacturer offers.

Just my 2 cents...I work in management of a large camera store. 50mm lenses are so often overlooked, but are so useful at such low cost. You'll notice fish pictures that are clearer and better focused almost instantly.

I would like to recommend doing a custom white balance. Read your Digital SLR's owner's manual. You can fine tune your SLR to the exact lighting you have in your aquarium.

Second, pick up a 50mm F1.8 lens. This lens is around $100 US and is perfect for shooting without flash, which can give you glare off of the glass. It doesn't require flash because it lets so much light in. It lets in so much light that you can even add a circular polarizer to cut the glare off of the glass. The 50 mm lens is a wise investment, and is usually one of the sharpest lenses a manufacturer offers.

Just my 2 cents...I work in management of a large camera store. 50mm lenses are so often overlooked, but are so useful at such low cost. You'll notice fish pictures that are clearer and better focused almost instantly.

 

[craynerd]

Hi davisef.

I am currently using a 50mm F1.7 on my minolta.

What Fstop and shutter speed should i be using would you expect?

Chris

 

[davisef]

Hi davisef.

I am currently using a 50mm F1.7 on my minolta.

What Fstop and shutter speed should i be using would you expect?

Chris

I would set the lens at F1.7, set the shutter speed to where the meter says you are properly exposed, focus and shoot away. You would certainly have a fast enough shutter speed with 400iso film (USE FUJI - better color, finer grain) to get rid of any camera shake. The depth of focus will be shallow, so make sure you've got the focus dead on. It can be helpful to wait for the fish to swim just where you want him to snap the shot. If the fish is large, or you're taking a length shot, make sure you have the depth of focus, so you might want to go to F5.6 or F8. Just make sure that your shutter speed never drops below 1/60 or you will see camera shake that will make the picture look blurry or out of focus. Patience is the key.

Eric

 

[Underwurlde]

You lot earn way too much money.

Either that or you're not married.
Or have Kids.
Or have Horses / Cats etc.
Perhaps I should meet God half way & actually buy a lottery ticket.

Ho hum.

Anyway, on a brighter note, this interesting & concise article improved my photo's 10 fold.

http/www.jjphoto.dk/akvariefoto/index_uk.htm

(I use the Canon Digital IXUS 50)

Andy

 

[davisef]

You lot earn way too much money.

Either that or you're not married.
Or have Kids.
Or have Horses / Cats etc.
Perhaps I should meet God half way & actually buy a lottery ticket.

Ho hum.

Anyway, on a brighter note, this interesting & concise article improved my photo's 10 fold.

http/www.jjphoto.dk/akvariefoto/index_uk.htm

(I use the Canon Digital IXUS 50)

Andy

Married, one cat, one tank (working on convincing the wife on #2 - the cat's fine with it)

I actually use antique cameras. I have a 1956 Yashicamat and a Pentax K1000. You don't need a fancy camera to get the pictures. Craynerd's camera has also got some age on it. Not much money on this end

 

[zig]

I would go with the D70 if the budget can extend that far, the D70 has commander mode which allows you to trigger flash wirelessly, will even work out the exposure for you if using a Nikon SB 600 or 800 flashgun, the D200 camera can do the same thing, basically you can have the flash over the tank (or anywhere you like for that matter) and the camera somewhere else, and the camera will remotely trigger the flash and work out the exposure as well, it can trigger multiple flasheads this way. Anyway its a feature the canon does not have.

The Canon is an excellent camera as well though and will give you excellent results, Oliver Knott auctually uses a 300D not a 350D, so his is a good bit older (in digital camera terms) IMO you cant go wrong with either the D70 or the 350D.

Heres a good site in Germany for all things digital, i have bought 2 cameras from these guys this year with no problems, signed for delivery was within 5 days each time, there are some bad stories about the after service on Pixmania, basically if you have a problem after purchase you can be left high and dry for many months, but thats just my opinion others may differ, anyway heres the Link for the German site, just click on photo at the top of the page, basically these guys do everything you could possibly want photography wise.

 

[davisef]

D70s & Rebel XT (350D) are both great choices. You can't go wrong with either one. I even had my hands on the Nikon D80 last Tuesday. That camera knocked my socks off. It was pretty cool. Canon will be making several announcements of new models shortly, I am hoping that they announce a low-priced camera to their line-up.

If you're looking for something cheaper, check out the Pentax *ist DL http/www.adraycamera.com/index.asp?PageA...PROD&ProdID=630 After rebate this thing cost less than $500 and it's certainly better than every point and shoot digicam on the market.