HELP Nikon coolpix s550 digital camera picture taken stinks!

[Chris Derrick]

Can anyone give me some good sound advice on best settings to be on this camera for taken pictures in living room lights off all around except for above tank, black background bright white sand Ikola Tropheus. I pretty much want to toss the instructions they confuse the snot out of me! I have a tripod also. Thanks CD

[ddaquaria]

Tripod helps

ISO 400 to 800 or use auto iso
shutter 1/200 or faster (denominator gets larger)
ƒ-stop 2.8 or wider (number gets smaller)

with the white sand, I would start with matrix or "regular" metering (don't try spot metering till later)

[myjohnson]

Use flash when taking the pictures.

Crop out flash point.

[myjohnson]

Post some bad pictures and lets see what we can do!

[ddaquaria]

ddaquaria is correct, if you have the choice of using manual settings on your camera.
...
And yes, let us see what you have now. They may be better than you think!

Yes, I did make that assumption (OOPS)

+2 on showing what you have now.

[myjohnson]

If you find you must use the flash, take the photos from an angle. Straight on and you will get the flash reflection.

+1

I've added a lot of lights to my tanks before. I found that no matter what I add it's nothing like the built in flash.

I take my pictures at a slight angle with flash and crop out the flash reflection. Best results from my experience.