photographing fish question

ty15906

I wish I could fit in my tank
Mar 2, 2005
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i want to photograph my tank with a standard 35mm camera and i was wondering, flash on or off?
 
If your camera is a SLR (with built-in light meter) try and use it without the flash. If your light meter says it is bright enough, then you should be fine. If that's not the case, or your camera is a basic point and shoot, try shooting down into the water to avoid the glare from the glass. If you must shoot through the aquarium glass, try to do so at an angle that will miss the glare from the flash. Tricky, and you may waste film.

The only good shots I have gotten from my tank are ones without flash using natural tank lighting. I had to crank the exposure way down but they were fine as long as I used a tripod.

Sorry if that doesn't help.
 
I use a Kodak digital camera, turn off the auto flash and use the macro setting when I shoot individual subjects.
 
thanks all for your input, but it seems like everyone is using digital and answering as if i was to, i'm not, i'm using a plain-jane 35mm.
 
Okay, well, same principals apply to digital as well as standard. No flash. It washes out the tank and you generally get a reflection and glare. I shoot using a low wattage lamp rather than my compact flourescents that I use to grow plants as well. If you have a macro lens, it works well for individual subjects. Forget about auto focus and use your hands to dial it in. Also, a quick shutter speed is better.
 
You don't need a tripod for faster shutter speeds. Its slower exposures that blur because of motion or camerashake.
 
IME it is prob best to try to replace the 35 if you really want to do aquarium shot's. The answer to on or off also really depends on how good the camera is. Many people gave good suggestions above but some of those suggestions need a nice camera. If all you have is a one button auto focus low end 35 then the pictures are probably going to give you problems no matter whether you leave the flash on or off. At the end of the day it is best to experiment for yourself.
 
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