LF DSLR that wont break the bank

[myjohnson]

well, I'll be a monkey's uncle!

You already posted a picture!

[cichlid1409]

I mean....if you don't post anything how do we really know you actually got a camera?

It is technically "tomorrow" now.

man, gotta give me time to charge the new battery and actually take some pics.

[myjohnson]

I mean....if you don't post anything how do we really know you actually got a camera?

It is technically "tomorrow" now.

[myjohnson]

For best results, just try to take shots at night with all the lights off except the tank. Try to add as much light over the tank as possible. Use lamps or table lights or anything you can find to place over the tank.

Also, turn off all the filters and let the water settle down. Parties in the water may also cause blurs if you you trying slow shutter speed.

[myjohnson]

oh i definitely intend to play with it and push its limits!! but i know these guys and if they don't get pics they'll kick you in the balls

This is very true.

i figure i can use his as a starting point and find my way from there.

Yup! This is what I did with Donald. He was a big help to me in the beginning.

BTW what lights are you using on that green macro tank thai?

On that tank I have a 6 foot 96xw CF fixture.

But I use the bs-600 wireless flash. I point the flash down towards the tank so it's like have MH on roids.

[sunrise]

I would first play with the different focusing modes and the depth of field (aperture) to see what works best for your situation.
sunrise

[cichlid1409]

At least your not wasting several rolls of film!

I can't even imagine... and then having to wait to develop the film to see if any of them came out...PITA

[sunrise]

At least your not wasting several rolls of film!

[cichlid1409]

oh i definitely intend to play with it and push its limits!! but i know these guys and if they don't get pics they'll kick you in the balls

i figure i can use his as a starting point and find my way from there.

BTW what lights are you using on that green macro tank thai?

[sunrise]

cichlid1409 wrote: "save me some more and tell me iso and aperture settings your using.....please."

That is what experience and trial and error are for!
If one tells you what to do and you follow it, you will never learn a different way to get a unique result!
Just play with the camera and see what happens when you change one or multiple settings at a time. A good starting point is the automatic mode. Then choose a setting to change above or below the original automatic mode setting. You will retain the result better that way. Just remember that you cannot break or ruin the camera by changing the settings! You just get one of the following: no picture at all, bad picture, an interesting result or just maybe a master piece!

sunrise

[myjohnson]

Picture shutter speed, aperture, and ISO as a light triangle.

Depending on how much light is there will determine the value of these variables.

For what we do, the one that can not change is shutter speed. Slow shutter speed can capture the speed at which the tropheus and petros move. If you are taking pictures of the SW tank or some discus or something then you can slow down the shutter speed to allow in more light.

For the most part, I use my wireless flash so shutter speed is at 200. I normally only adjust aperture to allow more or less light in. Smaller the f-stop number means more light is coming in. I like to use high f-stop numbers cause more of the picture will be in force.

Sorry no real short answer to the question unless you have the same amount of light I have....

But here goes:

1) shutter speed: 200
2) Aperture: 7-11
3) Lowest ISO setting (to have less grain)
4) 90% of my pictures have wireless flash

[cichlid1409]

save me some more and tell me iso and aperture settings your using.....please.

[myjohnson]

Nice!

You will love it bro!

To save you some clicks, if you are going to take pictures of your tropheus then shutter speed has to be around 150-200. Anything slower will make them look blurry.

[cichlid1409]

camera comes tomorrow!!!

[myjohnson]

I tried some VR lens my brother had. I didn't really think it had to big of a difference.

I just keep the shutter speed as high as I can...mostly around 200 cause I use wireless flash (higher if I can use other lighting over the tank).