8 replies to this topic

[PrettyCranium]

Long time since I last posted! Life is busy ...

I have an opportunity to visit the aquarium in Boston this week, and I'm confused with online tips as to which lens to use. I'm shooting with a D7100 and have a 35mm f/1.8 portrait lens, 105mm micro, 85mm macro, kit lens, and various zooms. Any suggestions or tips? Nikon's site has an article suggesting a 40mm micro, which of course I don't have.

Thanks in advance!

[Serge]

My tips: forget about flash, depending how fast fishy objects are adjust shutter speed to freeze their movement, avoid dark areas of the aquarium. I'd go for S mode (around 1/200 sec.) and Auto ISO. If your lens is not very sharp wide open go for M, f/2.5, 1/200 sec, ISO setting depending on light conditions and 3D tracking AF if there will be no reflections on the aquarium glass. CPL filter would be ideal but will step down your exposure.

 

35 f/1.8 is not a portrait lens but you can use it as it's fast. 105 and 85 mm will be to narrow for bigger objects.

[PrettyCranium]

Thanks! I will be taking the 35mm. Any use in getting the 40mm micro lens?

[RossCumming]

If shooting through glass in the aquarium and not using (or cannot use due to lack of light) a polarising filter, I would also suggest, where possible, if you have lens hoods, put these on and push your lens right up against the glass; this will reduce the amount of flare or reflections on the glass. Ideally you would want a complete seal around the lens hood (petal style hoods cannot provide this), but you could be creative and take a cloth or something whereby you put the camera/lens tight up against the glass and then wrap the cloth around the lens hood creating a "seal" against the glass to prevent stray light hitting the glass in front of the lens.

 

And use the settings suggested by Serge :-)

[PrettyCranium]

Thanks as well. I'm going to buy a round rubber lens hood to hopefully work well and not scratch the glass. Also I have to remember to bring some glass wipes with me, in case the glass is all covered with fingerprints!

[RossCumming]

Yep, your on the ball with this - completely forgot to suggest lens wipes, these will be invaluable because you can almost guarantee the glass will be smeared! Good spot! The rubber lens hood will work very well and is well suited to this sort of thing. Hope you get some good shots...

[Kenafein]

 Nikon's site has an article suggesting a 40mm micro, which of course I don't have.

 

Just some advice, don't go buying lenses that you don't need.  I've been there and done that.  The 35mm 1.8G that you have focuses at 1 ft(minimum).  Unless you can(or want to) get closer than that there is no point in getting the 40mm macro.  Your 105 will be excellent for getting up close to any open pens they might have of starfish, mollusks, etc.  

[TBonz]

Welcome back!

 

I think your lenses will do you well!  Good advice already although depending on how well lit the various tanks are and how fast the fish are, you may need to adjust a bit, but the AutoISO should cover most (if not all) of that.  Excellent idea on the wipes.  You might find the zooms easier depending on the lighting as otherwise you might end up switching back and forth between the 35 and 105 as you move between smaller tanks / fish and larger tanks.  Either way, it should be fun!  Wish I could join you!

 

Good luck and I hope you return to share some of your images!

[PrettyCranium]

Thanks everyone for the advice!  I ended up bumping my shutter speed to 1/400 to get nicer shots, though I did a bunch of them on lower speeds as well.  Those fish are fast!

 

Here's my first processed picture:

 

Ghostly by PrettyCranium, on Flickr