Kodak DX2900 Easyshare question.

[cofstl411]

I have a Kodak DX2900 and I can't seem to get any clear pictures of my tank. I realize that it is not a great camera but I figured I could at least get some half-decent looking pictures of my finned friends to email my brother in CA. I am a rookie with cameras but was wondering if there was a setting that would improve my photos.

[Poseidon]

Not real familiar with that particular camera, but here are some pointers. First make sure you hold your camera parallel to the glass. If the lens is on an angle it will cause distortion as the light is refracted thru the glass and water. Also make sure you are not TOO Close, every camera has a minimum focus distance, make sure you are far enough away. Third, depending on what lighting you have, you may need a tripod. If your shutter speed is less then 1/30 of a second, you DEFINATELY need a tripod. As a last resort you can use the flash, but that changes the appearance quite a bit, and opens a whole new can of worms.

[Fish R.Ph.]

If your shutter speed is less then 1/30 of a second, you DEFINATELY need a tripod.

My camera is a little different, I have an HP Photosmart 4.1 MP, but I could definitely use some tips on getting better pictures of my wet friends. I want to email shots of my fish to my brother so I can get him as addicted to this hobby as I am! How does ISO relate to shutter speed? I read your post on shutter speed, which was very helpful! But I only seem to be able to change the ISO setting on my camera. In other words, how do I know if my shutter speed is less than 1/30?

As a last resort you can use the flash, but that changes the appearance quite a bit, and opens a whole new can of worms.

If you don't use the flash, do you use any other source of light to get a good picture, or just the aquarium lights? The pics you have posted are awesome!

Thanks,

Jason

[Poseidon]

Jason, ISO relates to shutter speed DIRECTLY. The higher the ISO the FASTER the shutter speed you will be able to get, under the same light. Here is an example, (just example values here, so you can see how they relate.)

If you are at ISO 100, and f4 with a shutter speed of 1/60, then you could also use:

ISO 200, f4, and 1/125
ISO 400, f4, and 1/250
ISO 800, f4, and 1/500
ISO 1600, f4, and 1/1000

This is an example of "reciprocity". As you can see as the ISO raises the shutter speed decreases, meaning it takes LESS time to get a properly exposed picture. SO why not use higher ISO all the time? Because of NOISE!!! As the ISO goes up so does the "graininess" of a picture. Most point and shoot digicams only give an option of 100, 200, and MAYBE 400. The noise increases substantially with each step up.

As far as my shots, almost all of them are with the tank lights, some are just sunshine from a window though. I almost always use a tripod though, as with my close up lens, I get a very narrow depth of field, so I have to use a very small apeture, which translates into a LONG shutter speed.

Guess I will be doing an ISO piece next.

[Fish R.Ph.]

Guess I will be doing an ISO piece next.

Thanks Poseidon for your patient contributions to the "photographically challenged" like myself!!! I'll be watchin' for the ISO article!

-Jason

[cofstl411]

Thanks for the reply. I will use my camcorder tripod and see if I can figure out what ISO capabilities my camera has.

[cofstl411]

Big difference. I put the ISO to 400 and the exposure to 2". I then put the camera on a tripod. The pictures are considerably better.

[Poseidon]

Big difference. I put the ISO to 400 and the exposure to 2". I then put the camera on a tripod. The pictures are considerably better.

Your fish hekd that still, for 2 SECONDS? No Way! He must really like his picture taken!