I bought a DSLR camera and can't actually focus for detailed photos!

[Pharmasqueek]

Hi guys. I've never done any photography with a DSLR camera before, but the photos in Pro mode on my Samsung Galaxy note 20 ultra 5G with filters just weren't cutting it. I got a Nikon D70 with a Nikkor 35-80mm macro lens and I just picked up a 70-300mm Tamron AF tele-macro lens. I also got a tripod and have been learning about the photo modes and got a cable so I could actually upload the photos. I also have a photoshop license along with all of the other programs from my school. However, I just can't get any detailed photos. When I try to get anything close, I just can't get it focused. I've tried auto-focus and manual focus and I can get stuff in focus, but nothing like I've seen in macro photography forums or even when you just Google "macro reef photography." What am I doing wrong? I so badly want to take beautiful pictures of my corals. Please help! The picture of the camera is of my actual camera before I bought it, but the picture of the tele-macro isn't my lens, but I have the exact same lens.

 

[Tonycass12]

If your camera lens isint right up against the glass you will have refraction issues and distortion. Ive noticed that with mine. Also faster shutter speed tends to be better in my opinion. Taking photos through glas with a dslr is not easy and takes some time playing with your camera to get it right especially if your trying to get up close macro shots.

 

[Pharmasqueek]

If your camera lens isint right up against the glass you will have refraction issues and distortion. Ive noticed that with mine. Also faster shutter speed tends to be better in my opinion. Taking photos through glas with a dslr is not easy and takes some time playing with your camera to get it right especially if your trying to get up close macro shots.

When I put it right against the glass though I can never get it to focus. I've been told that I need to place the camera farther away? I have no idea what I'm doing though, so I'm seeking advice from the community!

 

[DracoKat]

Try manually focusing, it's hard when you're trying to shoot fish, but at least you can get nice coral shots with manual focus

Also use the eye piece view finder, not the preview window when taking pics. Preview window is slightly slower to focus and snap pics.

 

[Pharmasqueek]

Try manually focusing, it's hard when you're trying to shoot fish, but at least you can get nice coral shots with manual focus

Also use the eye piece view finder, not the preview window when taking pics. Preview window is slightly slower to focus and snap pics.

I've tried auto and manual focusing and i do use the viewfinder. I just can't get anything detailed like this stuff. I can get it to focus, but nothing closer than like 6 inches away of detail maybe. I've tried putting the camera right up on the glass and I've tried putting it on a tripod farther away. What mm macro do you shoot with, like what's your lens and what mm do you use on the lens. I'm really hoping it's just me and I don't actually need several thousands of dollars worth of equipment to do anything nice.

 

[attiland]

There are a few things to consider here. The 75-300 is a tele lens so you will have to go fare and zoom in. Not necessarily a problem but you will need space. A lot.
the 35-80 on a crop sensor is x1.6 on the top of my head (sorry I am a canon guy) so you can use it for now.
the trick is the flash need to go off camera in about 45degree sideways so no reflection from there. Make the room dark if you can an you will have to go manual with your settings.
depending on what is the subject coral /fish you will need different settings but I would start 1/250 is speed and 5.6 aperture. You than alter your settings. A step or two down in aperture and the speed ideally up.
I doubt you can do decent pictures without flash as the aquarium lights are less than ideal for photography.
Play with the settings you will get there. Do raw pictures so you actually can have all the information on the pictures. If you shoot in jpeg your settings need to be perfect.
there are some tools can help like a light meter. The phone app one is enough for start but soon you will find yourself buying one
There are cheap pence peace’s will help you too. I would buy Polaroid filters for sure and maybe some coloured gels too to deal with unwanted light and colour temperatures.
latter can be applied in photoshop.
Taking aquarium pictures is a complete side of photography.
Good luck

 

[Acro76]

I would ditch both those lenses, they are close to useless for aquarium photography. Get a dedicated macro lens, you be much happier with the results.

 

[WVNed]

Don't use high ISO settings. Yes it magically makes any picture possible but it destroys detail.
You have to use a tripod or some way to stabilize the camera
remote release
kill the pumps and let the water settle.
Keep the lens square to the glass.
At 1 foot you have about a 0.2 inch depth of field. It's all in how you use it.

This is a small moth licking the salt off the ear piece of my glasses in the summer

Taken with a Sigma 105mm macro on a EOS 7D

Camera	Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi
Lens	EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
Focal Length	55.0 mm (88.8 mm in 35mm)
Aperture	f/5.6
Exposure Time	0.01667s (1/60)
ISO	200
Date Taken	2009-05-25 11:22:08
Author	Ned

 

[attiland]

You love these numbers. Getting into photography you will find the numbers are true for that one situation and it will be not applicable for an another. Anyway my guess wasn't too fare off.

EOS 7D
EF 24-70mm f1/2.8L II USM
No Flash + Manual mode.

F2.8
1/200
ISO 800

I haven't touch up any of the images and haven't touch any of the settings just converted to JPEG. Probably could push lower ISO by reducing the exposure time but this bugger was in and out of that Duncan. Cleaning the glass would have helped too

 

[Galvano]

However, I just can't get any detailed photos. When I try to get anything close, I just can't get it focused.

As your camera approaches the subject in order to get more details, the lens has to move away from the photo sensor to keep the subject in focus. Now the mechanical design of the lens tube determines its maximum extension and thereby the maximum reproduction ratio / magnification achievable with that lens. In order to get a higher magnification beyond the lenses' capabilities you have to bring it farther away from the sensor, e.g. by mounting an extension tube or bellows between the camera and the lens.

Both pictures were taken with an SMC Pentax-M 1:1.4 50 mm standard lens on a Pentax Auto Bellows M attached to a Canon Rebel T2i / 550D.

 

[Pharmasqueek]

Hi guys! Thank you all for those who gave me advice. I realized that my issue is that both of my lenses had too long off a minimum focus distance and I was looking for something that I could get under a foot away. Not only did I buy some close up lenses for that nikkor 35-80mm lens, but I got an AF Micro Nikkor 60mm 1:2.8 lens. It's minimum focus distance is 0.219 m or 8.622 inches. I also ordered some close up lenses, +1 +2 +4 +10 for this lens in case I want to magnify even more. Now I'm getting the closer up pictures that I want. Here's an example of the post edited photos that I did today...hellfire torch, orange octospawn, blue ninja tenuis, the grinch acro, and my super mario bower.

 

[WVNed]

Dont hit me.
Your pics lack a subject. Something that is in sharp focus. The point you want to make to someone. Look at this

Does you camera have the ability to chose a single focus point? That is what I always use. Then you think in planes. There will be a very narrow plane that is in focus and everything else will blur. Something can be elsewhere in the frame and if it is in the same plane as the subject it will be in focus too.

 

[Galvano]

I also ordered some close up lenses ...

You have to consider that a simple close-up lens immensely erodes image quality due to optical aberrations. Better use extension tubes or a bellows and thereby an optically neutral air gap with your expensive high-tech camera lens.

 

[maroun.c]

Good you sorted the min ficus distance thing. Try to experiment with composition and focus points. Make sure camera is perpendicular to glass and close to it. U might need a camera upgrade down the line if the D70 doesn't cut it as its a very old body and newer ones might be better at focusing, pixel count, exposure and overall image quality.

 

[attiland]

Although d70 is an old entry level body from 2004 I would advise not to upgrade as just yet. Play with it and figure out if it good enough for what you do It willl be better than any of the phone you can take pictures with and at the end of the day you are not planning to be a professional photographer just want to take nice pictures of your tank.