OP
OP
Cherokee_Dude
Non-member
Please do Ronnie!
Is there a preferred 'Macro' lens for a Nikkon? I've been doing what Jim said.
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- Thread starter Cherokee_Dude
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Please do Ronnie!
Is there a preferred 'Macro' lens for a Nikkon? I've been doing what Jim said.
Nikkor 105mm best for tank micro.
Jim
Jim
Cherokee I am glad you posted this, I want to go this route soon too!
Oh and you have some awesome chalices, I dont have any at the moment (ALL SPS) but want to get some soon, so if you ever do any fragging, please let me know!
Good luck with the photos, it sounds like you are off to a great start.
Oh and you have some awesome chalices, I dont have any at the moment (ALL SPS) but want to get some soon, so if you ever do any fragging, please let me know!
Good luck with the photos, it sounds like you are off to a great start.
delta
Impatient Reefer
Jim that would be an off camera flash, not really a beginner technique. For someone starting out shooting a fish tank, learning the basic functions of the camera and how glass affects light would be much less confusing.
Macro is a term it means 1:1 ration (life like in size). You can accomplish it more than one way. Depending on the method you may need to be very close.
As for preferred lens for macro, for Nikon the 105mm f2.8 is probably the most favored for in tank macros, however I would love a macro lens in the range of 180-200mm macro. My trade off is coupling a 50mm on the 105mm but the depth of field at the range you have to work at is extremely shallow.
For Canon I believe it is the 100mm
For other cameras you can buy macro filter or what ever they call them it is basically the equivalent of putting a magnifying glass over the current lens. They sell these based on filter sizes so you can purchase for most lenses that have the ability to use a filter. They do work maybe not as good as a macro lens but Macro lenses are not cheap $400-800
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Mr_X
Non-member
i use a submersible camera.
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=2590&modelid=18332
you can buy it for about 300 bucks shipped.
it takes no skill at all and takes very good pictures. so good that i sold my DSLR, because i found that i never pulled it out of the case after i purchased this.
here are some samples (on full automatic mode):
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=2590&modelid=18332
you can buy it for about 300 bucks shipped.
it takes no skill at all and takes very good pictures. so good that i sold my DSLR, because i found that i never pulled it out of the case after i purchased this.
here are some samples (on full automatic mode):
OP
OP
Cherokee_Dude
Non-member
Those are great shots Mr. X and thanks for sharing. Please feel free to setup another thread for how to shoot with that type of camera... I would really like for this thread to continue to be about how to shoot with a DSLR 
Back on track: I took my 'Rig' over to my buddy fishfry's house to try my hand through a glass tank. I decided to turn the Sigma lens off of AF and just do my own thing... Full Manual settings and focus y'all... Pics and an update of the steps coming as soon as the finish uploading {I tried using the NEF {RAW} and saving to PSD {Photoshop} format to preserve the majority of the data for the shots.
Thanks for the compliment Neverlost! I'll be in touch since I now have the SPS bug too!
like I needed another way to bleed money right!!! 
edit: Oh and thanks for the lens suggestion! I found a really good review and link specific to that lens that I'll post with my next update.
Back on track: I took my 'Rig' over to my buddy fishfry's house to try my hand through a glass tank. I decided to turn the Sigma lens off of AF and just do my own thing... Full Manual settings and focus y'all... Pics and an update of the steps coming as soon as the finish uploading {I tried using the NEF {RAW} and saving to PSD {Photoshop} format to preserve the majority of the data for the shots.
Thanks for the compliment Neverlost! I'll be in touch since I now have the SPS bug too!
like I needed another way to bleed money right!!! edit: Oh and thanks for the lens suggestion! I found a really good review and link specific to that lens that I'll post with my next update.
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OP
OP
Cherokee_Dude
Non-member
Day 14;
I visited my buddy Fishfry and decided to bring my gear including my tripod.
Fishfry's tank is a 47g Deep with a 250 14K HQI and Blue LED strips from Oznium.com...
These dimensions make it easier to capture wrasse since they pretty much shoot in and out of the rockwork at the same place in the water column. I focused in one area and waited for them to come in the eyepiece. Then I zoomed in quickly and tried to follow and focus. It's not as hard as you might imagine once you get a rhythm going.
Based on recommendations here, I decided to go FULL ON MANUAL and Wow! what a difference! You really feel in control.
Here's what I did;
1: Setup ISO to 100
2: Setup F-Stop to between 5-6.5
3: Setup Camera on Tripod {Leaving a light tension on the Vertical Angle to allow for a little play}
4: Turned Flash off
5: Turned Dial to Manual (M)
6: Also turned the Lens to Manual {Only for lenses that have the AF motor built into them}
7: Zoomed in as far as I could (300mm)
8: Manually focused until clear
9: Moved the tripod back if I couldn't get it 100% (Based on looking through the eyepiece)
10: Re-focused if necessary and SHOT AWAY!
Last week I learned about Lighting and my Lens;
Firstly, I learned that you really need to know the lens that you have. The sigma that I have been using has two important features...
These are important because in the first respect (A) my Nikon {Nikkor} Lens needs more space before the actual tank before it can actually focus, no matter if it's Manual or Automatic. My Sigma Lens needs only 19.7" according to the specs. I was able to get a pretty decent focus ~5" or more from the actual glass. Basically, this minimum spec is fine unless you have your rock work right up against the front glass The Nikon lens specs say min. focus distance is 3'6"!
In the case of the second feature (B); both have a second rotational piece that is a Manual Focus Adjustment. It's the second set of ribbing you can see in this pic on the farther right side... Some of the cheaper lenses do not have this 'Crucial' feature.
a; Minimum focus length
b; Manual Focus Adjustment
This article was really helpful with the suggestions of 'Where' to focus when shooting fish and also understanding lighting.
http://www.uwphotographyguide.com/macro-underwater-photography
Because of these considerations, and the lack of funds to buy a "True Macro" lens, which is different in design than a lens that just has Zoom... {We'll learn about that if I have $$$ after the tank upgrade
} Here's the link I mentioned above for the review of the 105mm Nikkor Macro lens ~600 USD http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/105vr.htm
As far as lighting... I initially thought of it as an adversary in this context. Which was a really odd feeling since I try to get as much as possible in my tank... But, I digress... in reality, it's like the big angry dog in your neighbor's yard. You've just got to get to know it... It's just doing what it's supposed to do and you can actually befriend it, if you understand it.
For our reef pictures, we want the pics to show "What we see" right? Well, I stopped fighting it and decided to learn it.
I'm absolutely not ready for the 'Advanced Techniques' mentioned above. So, for now I'm adjusting the ISO to a lower setting (100) and adjusting the White Balance in Photoshop. Again, DO NOT USE FLASH! It'll wash out the colors you see... That is unless you're taking a pic of your refugium
OK, Enough with the talk. Here are the latest shots!
I visited my buddy Fishfry and decided to bring my gear including my tripod.
Fishfry's tank is a 47g Deep with a 250 14K HQI and Blue LED strips from Oznium.com...
These dimensions make it easier to capture wrasse since they pretty much shoot in and out of the rockwork at the same place in the water column. I focused in one area and waited for them to come in the eyepiece. Then I zoomed in quickly and tried to follow and focus. It's not as hard as you might imagine once you get a rhythm going.
Based on recommendations here, I decided to go FULL ON MANUAL and Wow! what a difference! You really feel in control.
Here's what I did;
1: Setup ISO to 100
2: Setup F-Stop to between 5-6.5
3: Setup Camera on Tripod {Leaving a light tension on the Vertical Angle to allow for a little play}
4: Turned Flash off
5: Turned Dial to Manual (M)
6: Also turned the Lens to Manual {Only for lenses that have the AF motor built into them}
7: Zoomed in as far as I could (300mm)
8: Manually focused until clear
9: Moved the tripod back if I couldn't get it 100% (Based on looking through the eyepiece)
10: Re-focused if necessary and SHOT AWAY!
Last week I learned about Lighting and my Lens;
Firstly, I learned that you really need to know the lens that you have. The sigma that I have been using has two important features...
These are important because in the first respect (A) my Nikon {Nikkor} Lens needs more space before the actual tank before it can actually focus, no matter if it's Manual or Automatic. My Sigma Lens needs only 19.7" according to the specs. I was able to get a pretty decent focus ~5" or more from the actual glass. Basically, this minimum spec is fine unless you have your rock work right up against the front glass
The Nikon lens specs say min. focus distance is 3'6"!In the case of the second feature (B); both have a second rotational piece that is a Manual Focus Adjustment. It's the second set of ribbing you can see in this pic on the farther right side... Some of the cheaper lenses do not have this 'Crucial' feature.
a; Minimum focus length
b; Manual Focus Adjustment
This article was really helpful with the suggestions of 'Where' to focus when shooting fish and also understanding lighting.
http://www.uwphotographyguide.com/macro-underwater-photography
Because of these considerations, and the lack of funds to buy a "True Macro" lens, which is different in design than a lens that just has Zoom... {We'll learn about that if I have $$$ after the tank upgrade
} Here's the link I mentioned above for the review of the 105mm Nikkor Macro lens ~600 USD http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/105vr.htmAs far as lighting... I initially thought of it as an adversary in this context. Which was a really odd feeling since I try to get as much as possible in my tank... But, I digress... in reality, it's like the big angry dog in your neighbor's yard. You've just got to get to know it... It's just doing what it's supposed to do and you can actually befriend it, if you understand it.
For our reef pictures, we want the pics to show "What we see" right? Well, I stopped fighting it and decided to learn it.
I'm absolutely not ready for the 'Advanced Techniques' mentioned above. So, for now I'm adjusting the ISO to a lower setting (100) and adjusting the White Balance in Photoshop. Again, DO NOT USE FLASH! It'll wash out the colors you see... That is unless you're taking a pic of your refugium
OK, Enough with the talk. Here are the latest shots!
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OP
OP
Cherokee_Dude
Non-member
OP
OP
Cherokee_Dude
Non-member
Couple more...
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OP
OP
Cherokee_Dude
Non-member
Figured, I was already in Photoshop... So, what the heck right?!
OP
OP
Cherokee_Dude
Non-member
Thanks everyone... I got this one.
28-300mm F3.5-6.3
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/389309-REG/Sigma_795306_28_300mm_f_3_5_6_3_DG_Macro.html
what is the fish on the last picture? Very nice picture. Love this fish
