Photography

I would like to begin taking pictures of my native fish to share with you all, but I have no clue as to what equipment I need. I would like suggestions on a good digital camera. Remember, I am new to photography so simplicity is what I am looking for!
Thanks

something with a good, easy to use macro function.

i like my kodak easy share.

What kind of photos do you want to take?
Underwater, inside an aquarium or in a photo tank at the waters edge?

What kind of photos do you want to take?
Underwater, inside an aquarium or in a photo tank at the waters edge?

I would like to be able to take photos under water and from outside the tank. Again, I have no clue about this stuff, so I will appreciate all the help you could provide!!

I took the below shots with an old Samsung 2.1 megapixle. You can do good shots with any digital camera, especially the newer ones with more megapixels and functions. Plus you don't waste a bunch of shots, since it is easy to quickly view then delete any bad shots and learn from them.

I just shot these in less than a minute to add to this reply. With more time involved better shots could be obtained. They are good enough to show the fish and the tanks.

The only drawback I have found with digicams I have used, the blues seem to wash out. I can never get the vivid blues most sunfish and pygmy sunfish show, even with messing with the pictures with software programs to enhance them.

After my camera that I had for 6.5 years conked out on me last month, I got an Olympus Stylus. So far I really it. I know several others have Olympus on the forum and they can share also. Although it is waterproof and can take underwater photos, I have yet to try this. I have taken several shots of my tanks and fish with it and I am very pleased. I really love the LCD light feature with the Macro. If you play with it and the shutter speed you can get great shots of even the fastest of fish.

After my camera that I had for 6.5 years conked out on me last month, I got an Olympus Stylus. So far I really it. I know several others have Olympus on the forum and they can share also. Although it is waterproof and can take underwater photos, I have yet to try this. I have taken several shots of my tanks and fish with it and I am very pleased. I really love the LCD light feature with the Macro. If you play with it and the shutter speed you can get great shots of even the fastest of fish.

I'll second your opinion. I have an Olympus Stylus 850 SW. It's shock and waterproof. I haven't had the opportunity to dunk it yet, but I've dropped it several times. It also is resistant to cold, I forget how low it goes. I took it on a winter camping trip last month and took a lot of pictures outside. They all came out well. That LCD light feature is great!

I generally use a Canon Rebel XTi, but some of my earlier photos were done using a Kodak EasyShare Z740.
It had to be fussed with to get a decent photo, but did a pretty good job.
The Canon, along with my best prime lens, was dropped last year and hasn't worked right since.
I cracked the back of it and seriously dented/cracked my prime lens that cost me more than the actual camera did.
If I ever get around to sending it in for repairs, I'll start getting more photos.

Since the newer model is out, I think that prices have dropped and they're more affordable now.
You're in a historic town and are surrounded by nature, so you might think about preparing for the enevitable.
With all the photo opportunities, you'll soon regret not upgrading earlier.
I wish that I'd bought, at least, a 50D or better at this point.
The XTi seemed way more than I'd ever need when I first bought it, but now I wish that I'd upgraded even higher.
Get the best that you can afford and don't get the cheap lenses that they'll try to sell you.
They're complete crap, but they'll act like they're doing you a favor by throwing them in for "a minor cost"!
I only use three main lenses and have never even unpacked the ones that came with it.
Buy the body only, get the lenses separate and get the ones that you want.
Your camera will eventually have to be replaced, but your lenses will outlast you and are the most important part.

I'm now drooling over one of the Sony HD camcorders! ;~)
But, I've no current plans and repairs on my Canon are more of a concern.

My orchid obsession prompted the camera upgrade, as so many flowers were too small to get without a serious macro lens.
But...
I rapidly started taking photos of everything else and it's earned it's keep.
Well, almost! ;~)

Scott

One thing you will notice, I have funny angles to the shots, usually really low or off to the side. This is to avoid the flash, and reflection from lights in the back ground. I know some use those remote flashes and get better results, and better colors too. Mostly I am trying to illustrate you can get some good shots with a junk camera like the one I used above, nothing publication quality maybe, but plenty good to document your set ups and get some good shots of your fish to share with others.

Our newer camera does a much better job, and it is not as nice as the Olympus others have talked about. I think the worst camera you could go out and buy today would be twice as good or better than the Samsung I used for the shots above!

Can't you turn off the background lights?
I always have and even turn off some of the aquarium lights to cut down on glare.
But mine is also only half water, so a lot of light comes out unless I block it off.
I don't use the flash either. I just adjust for a lower light level instead.
I do have a pretty eleborate twin-light flash system, but I rarely use it, let alone tried it with my fish.
I don't use any kind of flash for my flower photos either.
You'll really wash out much of the color of your objective.
And when it comes to aquariums...
Clean...Clean...Clean!!!
Anything and everything will show up and look huge.
Every tiny water spot and every little bit of agae will be made worse than it actually is.
It'll look like you have a rotting swamp, instead of an actually very nice tank.;~)

This is with the Canon and wasn't that crisp, but the little monsters seem to be moving at full speed all the time.
Plus, as I've mentioned, I really messed it up from a nasty drop.
 Apalachee_Shiner__Pteronotropis_grandipinnis_.jpg   23.3KB   4 downloads
All the colors come out, even the blues and colors that are difficult to otherwise see clearly.
Oh yeah!
A good tripod will make a huge difference, if your camera can use one
It'll help make you more steady and cut down on too many blurry shots.

If I remember correctly, this was with the Kodak.
Since it was from January seventh of '06, it's a pretty good guess.
Not quite as good, but still, no flash and most other lights were out.
 Enneacanthus_chaetodon_Black_banded_Sunfish_.jpg   71.75KB   5 downloads
Hmm...!
Note to self:
Must get more black-bandeds!!
They were my first intro in small sunfish, 20 yrs ago, and the first ones I bought when I got back into natives!
My last one died, sometime back, and I am sooo drooling over your tankfull!!:~)
I really miss 'em!
Sniffle! :~(

If you've never seen it, MonsterFishKeepers has a pretty good article on aquarium photography.
http://www.monsterfi...ead.php?t=18274

I've skimmed it and it seems quite good.
Now, if I'd only actually spend more time reading it! ;~)

Scott

Scott,
What is that substrate you have in the last picture (with the blackbanded)? It is lovely!

The top layer is river sand.
I got it from the lower part of the Rogue River, here in Oregon.
Several miles inland from Gold Beach, so it was pretty clean to begin with.

I'd seen it before and really liked the color.
So the next time I went back, I brought a shovel and a large tub.
I really need to go get some more.
I just bought a couple of bags of sand from in town and it's nowhere as nicely colored.

Scott