taking pictures up close

mannyhernz · 09-23-2005, 10:31 PM

does anybody have experience taking pictures of corals up close?? i tried but pic comes out blurry...!please help!

Birdlady · 09-24-2005, 06:32 AM

Hi! It mostly is a function of your camera. The camera needs to have a macro function. Even with the macro function, some cameras are better than others at this. What camera are you using and perhaps we could better answer the question about your specific camera!

Welcome to 3 Reef!!!

Michaelr5 · 09-24-2005, 07:13 AM

In addition to a camera capable of macro photos... three words: tripod, tripod, tripod.

That will steady the camera, especially if you are using the LCD screen on the back of a digital camera!

Bruce · 09-24-2005, 08:15 AM

yes tripods help alot...i can a pretty close pic without a trypod with my new camera...but if i try to show a close up part of a coral its blurry

also...if it is a slr camera...i think it really has to do with getting a macro lense, but if it does not have changable lenses then the "close up" setting might help

Jason McKenzie · 09-24-2005, 08:24 AM

What Camera are you using?
Most non Macro cameras have a minimum focus distance of 3.5 feet. you will have to check you camera spec.
Most digital cameras have some form of Macro, but even macros have limitations as to how close you can get.
As Micheal said use a tripod or anything to steady your hand. I would not try to get a macro shot without a tripod if your shutter speed is anything longer than 1/125

Let us know what camera your working with and even post your blurry pictures an we can help more

J

Michaelr5 · 09-24-2005, 08:50 AM

I just bought a new camera myself (part of my Fuge budget since everybody here seems to like pictures). It's a Fuji E-510 Digital. One of the main reasons I bought it was because it has a Macro range from 7" to 18", and an Ultra Macro range from 1.5" to 7.5". Plus it can go from full auto to full manual and anywhere inbetween, including adusting the flash intensity! For only $200 at Target!!!

BTW thinking of Flash, Mannyherns, if you use one, try to take the picture at about a 45 degree angle to the glass to avoid reflection of the flash messing up the picture.

Mike

Bruce · 09-24-2005, 10:10 AM

i dont know if it is just me..but since the lighting in the tanks r pretty good, u really just need to adjust the shutter speed, for mine i dont use the flash and it is still nice and bright

Birdlady · 09-24-2005, 01:27 PM

I try to take pics at a 90 degree angle to the glass to avoid distortion of the glass. Hehe...altho if I use a flash, that is difficult

mannyhernz · 09-27-2005, 09:41 AM

ok guys i have a sonydsc-w1 camera with a macro of 2 3/8 in. to 11 7/8 from lens surface...is that enough???

Michaelr5 · 09-27-2005, 11:02 AM

Hi! I took a look a the manual for your camera and it should be very good for taking the kind of pictures you want. I would like to mention a couple of things that I saw. I don't know how much you have read, so if you already know this, please do not be offended.

According the manual the minimum focus distance is 19" unless you set macro mode. Macro mode minimum distance varies with the Wide/Telephoto setting from the 2-11" you mentioned.

Your camera has a multipoint auto-focus mode and a center AF mode. For the type of shot you are talking about, I would suspect that the center Af mode would be less apt to misfocus than the multipoint.

Also the manual suggests that you use manual focus when shooting through glass. I have not had that problem so far with my Fuji, but thought I would mention it since the user guide does.

If the camera is on a tripod, or steady surface, I also would try using the selftimer release for a "hands off" shot. That should eliminate any vibration that could blur a closeup picture.

The really nice thing about a digital camera is you don't waste any film with trial shots, so try, experiment, try again until you are happy with the results.

Hope this helps!

Mike