[zhenya]

Great work there my friend!
If anything, I think those may be a tad oversharpened but that is just to my eye. Or is it the way it came from the camera straight?
You know, I wish I had a 50mm macro from Canon because my EFS 60mm doesn't work with the tubes from Kenko. It plain don;t fit on there.

Do you have a full resolution shot of any of the pics you posted? I would love to see them in full resolution if you don't mind( email one to me )
And, get back to the camer and shoot some more pictures...

[charlie]

They may be oversharpened Gene, I noticed that myself. That one looks really grainy, doesn't it?
I have to head out for dinner here in a few. If I told you how many shots I tossed, you would laugh!!!

I do have a question tho, if the corals are farther back in the tank, how do you get pics of them? I am in the planning stages of my 180 sps tank, and none of the rock is gonna be to close to the front. Got any suggestions?


Thanx for the compliments, I was really skeptical at first, but I think I am gonna like these.

[zhenya]

Charlie,

Basically the farther away your subject is the more out of focus it will be if you use longer extentions. I never use them if I have to shoot something in the back of the tank. Longer dedicated macro, like 180mm from Canon or Sigma are the ones for the job in the cases like that. Extention tubes get you really close but they also shorten the working distance and shoot your DOF down the toilet as well... I think you probably noticed that in some of your shots. Light get scarse as well if you stop down your lens to f8, for example, the shutter speed will be like forever. You can press the button and go have a cop of tea, comeback and it shoud be done by that... Just kidding, buddy!

[charlie]

I think what I may have to do Gene is get real good at taking shots from the top down!!!! The tank is 4'x3'x2', and I should be able to walk around 3 sides, so I will have access, as long as I don't fall in. I guess I won't be able to have a few toddys and try to take pics huh?

I did really notice the DOF, but I can live with that if the pics turn out. I really miss taking sps pics. Softies are great, but once youv'e had the bug, it never goes away.

[Poseidon]

Pretty good Charlie. I would turn off the pumps, reduce the ISO, and increase the F-stop number to increase depth of field. You will have shutter speeds that run into several seconds though, so be prepared.

Why not use that 100mm Macro for the next test?

[charlie]

Originally Posted by Poseidon

Pretty good Charlie. I would turn off the pumps, reduce the ISO, and increase the F-stop number to increase depth of field. You will have shutter speeds that run into several seconds though, so be prepared.

Why not use that 100mm Macro for the next test?

I would be up for that Mike.
Hopefully the tripod holds for the extended periods!!!!!

[Poseidon]

It should. Gene nailed the question about working distance too, longer focal lenghths will get you back farther. You should try that 70-200 too.

[charlie]

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, never thought of that.

[zhenya]

Originally Posted by charlie

I guess I won't be able to have a few toddys and try to take pics huh?

And why not? Little cold water dipping never hurt anyone, except camera eqipment, of course...
You should be OK, Charlie, like Mike said, give that 70-200 a try. However, for that particular lens I would consider the 500D diopter for a longer reach (magnifiction).

You can als build a top down box, much like the one melev sells on his website.
Anyway, I think your 100m macro lens is outstanding piece of glass that should be able to cover anything in the tank size that you posted. If anything, you can always crop the image slightly in PS ( all you have to do is compensate for it smartly ).

[charlie]

I have a top down box that Kevin gave me when I started this whole mess up. Gene, do you have a link to the one you were talking about? Always looking for another toy.

[zhenya]

Originally Posted by charlie

I have a top down box that Kevin gave me when I started this whole mess up. Gene, do you have a link to the one you were talking about? Always looking for another toy.

Sure, here it is... top down box. I think Marc wrote nice article about it.

I think I would have more luck with it if my canopy was made differently, but it isn't.., so I struggle...

[charlie]

Thanx Gene, I had forgotten that site!!!! I now have it bookmarked. He odes have a nice writeup on it for sure!!!

Did you get my e-mail yesterday?

[zhenya]

Yes, I got it and the picture too. Just didn;t have any time to loor at it closely and maybe play with it in PS a bit. Maybe later on today... I hope.