Photographing tarantulas

[Catherine]

I've only recently bought a digital camera, and to be honest, the shots i'm getting are poor at best.
What do people on here use? I reckon I'll have to upgrade the camera, but can anyone offer any tips? Do you use a tripod or macko lens? Then fiddle with the image on a computer photo programme?

I need help, I'm not getting any detail of the spiders at all, and anything small just comes out blurry. :wall:

Also, when people are photographing tarantulas mating, does using the flash ever affect them? I know their eye sight is poor, but someone flashing bright light at them, has anyone known it to affect them? Only, cause when I've paired tarantulas in the past, its always been low lit, and would need a flash.

Any thoughts or help would be apprecieated.

 

[Cpt.nemO]

so man for you to capture the details from close, u need to use a special function on the camera called macro. When its activated it will appear on the screen of the cameras lcd panel the design of a small flower. Everytime that you want to take pictures from close to capture details u must turn the macro function on. To activate the macro function u need tro press a button on the camera that has a flower drawn beside it. Let me know if you are still having trouble.

 

[danread]

It all depends on how good your camera is as to whether you have a macro function on it or not. Your best bet is to look at the manual and see if you do. If you have a macro function, turn it on. You then need top make sure you have good lighting on the subject, natural sunlight is the best, although a white lamp is not too bad. Then fiddle around with the camera until the pictures look in focus. The best way to do do this is by looking at the LCD screen. Hold the button down half way, see if it is in fpcus on the screen, if it isnt, move the camera back a bit and then hold the button half way down again. keep on moving it back until the picture seems to be in focus. Then take your picture!

Cheers,

 

[TheDarkFinder]

Could you list your camera? It is alot easier to help you if I know what your camera is. As for a upgrade, what is your price range?
TheDarkFinder

 

[shogun804]

and also you do not need a macro lens to take good photos. you just have to learn how to use your camera...what is the megapixel size, mine is only 4.1 and it works really well IMO.

 

[Crotalus]

The closer the mimimum range are from the lense to the object the better close up pictures?

/Lelle

 

[ORION_DV8]

Does anyone have any experince using Canon Powershot S40? Im having trouble with white balance and macro shots.

thanks
ORION

 

[bagheera]

Does anyone have any experince using Canon Powershot S40? Im having trouble with white balance and macro shots.

thanks
ORION

S400? I use an Ixus (Powershot 400) for general use. Look for a cartoon of a flower and a mountain. Select until there is flower on the screen (either on top or the display) . Start with white balance at the default value, maybe set ASA to a higher number. Daylight is best.

Nothing beats a tripod for stability. digital media is 'slow' as a rule. Forget about the built in flash, it will only give nice pictures of.the.flash. um.

 

[TheDarkFinder]

Does anyone have any experince using Canon Powershot S40? Im having trouble with white balance and macro shots.

thanks
ORION

Sorry Auto white balance is really bad with this camera (s40) in artificial light.
You can correct this in photoshop or simply use manual white balance. Manual white balance with straighten out your balance problem.
As for the macro shots I can not begin to help with out pictures. My guess is that your either getting to close (max wide is 4 inchs, max tele is 11.8 inchs ), or you are not getting quick enough shutter speed. This camera is very limited with aperture so you will not get a whole tarantula into focus. 2.8-4.6f/stop if I remember right. I'm not the expert but if you shoot a 4.6 from 11.8 inchs your in focus range is like 3 inchs. So every thing 1.5 inchs from center, front and behind your focus, will be in focus. To give you a idea here is a picture of sola with a very small aperture. The field of depth would be smaller then below.
5.6f to 4.6?f

5.6f at about 6 inchs way. Focus range= 2 inchs. focus dead center

PS the 18-55 is a really bad lens but it does the job.
PSS only resized the picture nothing was done to its sharpness/contrast.

EXIF information.
Camera Model
Canon EOS 20D
Shooting Mode
Aperture-Priority AE
Tv( Shutter Speed )
1/80
Av( Aperture Value )
5.6
Metering Mode
Evaluative Metering
Exposure Compensation
0
ISO Speed
1600
Lens
18.0 - 55.0 mm
Focal Length
38.0 mm
Image Size
3504x2336
Image Quality
Fine
Flash
Off
White Balance Mode
Auto
AF Mode
Manual Focus
Parameters Settings
Contrast Standard
Sharpness Standard
Color saturation Standard
Color tone 0
Color Space
sRGB
Noise Reduction
Off
File Size
3413 KB
Drive Mode
Single-frame shooting
TheDarkFinder

 

[rubra]

It also helps to have the lcd screen on and to be using that instead of the viewfinder to take the picture. Once you have the thing in macro mode, you can try focusing on the subject and push the button if you actually see a sharp image on the screen. If the camera won't focus on your spider, try and focus on a flat surface closeup, then hold the button halfway down. This will lock the focus and aperature, so you then point the camera at the subject, adjust the distance until the spider is sharp, and then push the button the rest of the way.

As for your camera, if its anything better than a cell phone camera it should be possible to take at least decent pictures.

Peter

 

[TheDarkFinder]

It also helps to have the lcd screen on and to be using that instead of the viewfinder to take the picture. Peter

Will only work on the P&S Digtals. DSLR do not have the lcd screen option. The veiw finder is much better then lcd with DSLR.

If the camera won't focus on your spider, try and focus on a flat surface closeup, then hold the button halfway down. This will lock the focus and aperature, so you then point the camera at the subject, adjust the distance until the spider is sharp, and then push the button the rest of the way.

The only problem is that the camera is better at getting focus then you are. If you recompose the shot with one focus, then aperture/shutter is off.
A white peice of paper gives off alot more light then a tarantula. The second reason is that the camera will nail focus 99% of the time. With P&S cameras you will get it one percent. Try to turn your P&S camera manual focus before recomposing the shot. This will allow the camera to get aperture and shutter speed right before you press the button. THE NUMBER ONE PROBLEM WITH PICTURES IN THIS FORUM IS USING A FLASH and OVER/UNDEREXPOSURE. The second is they move in too close for the camera. IF your camera does not beep a focus then it will not be in focus. To get a good shot start will bright light and no flash.
TheDarkFinder

 

[ORION_DV8]

I think I myself just need to get me a good DSLR what would you guys recommend that is also easy on the wallet, i used to use a Nikon 8000S 35 mm but then this whole digital thing is alot less expensive than buying film and processing.
thanks
ORION

 

[Catherine]

Thanks for all your replies,
Sadly, the camera doesn't have a macro lens, its a Kodak CX7300. Price range wise i can afford (after a bit of saving!) around £120.00
(about $229.00) Any recommendations?

 

[danread]

Thanks for all your replies,
Sadly, the camera doesn't have a macro lens, its a Kodak CX7300. Price range wise i can afford (after a bit of saving!) around £120.00
(about $229.00) Any recommendations?

Hi Catherine,

i just looked up the specs for your camera and it doesnt have a macro function unfortunately. If you are thinking about getting another one, let me know how much you might have to spend and we can recommend you a decent one.

These two wensites are the best place to start for researching a new camera.
http://www.steves-digicams.com/default.htm
http://www.dpreview.com/

Cheers,

 

[rubra]

>Will only work on the P&S Digtals. DSLR do not have the lcd screen option. >The veiw finder is much better then lcd with DSLR.

Well, I had been assuming this was a P&S digital, because people who have DSLRs usually know photography basics, and DSLR AF is good enough that you can focus on anything.


>The only problem is that the camera is better at getting focus then you are. >If you recompose the shot with one focus, then aperture/shutter is off.
>A white peice of paper gives off alot more light then a tarantula. The second >reason is that the camera will nail focus 99% of the time. With P&S cameras >you will get it one percent. Try to turn your P&S camera manual focus >before recomposing the shot. This will allow the camera to get aperture and >shutter speed right before you press the button.

Ok, when I try to take macro shots with my dsc-s70, it often focuses on the backround. So I find a surface with similar lighting, and lock focus and aperature, and get great shots every time.

Peter

 

[rubra]

If you'd like to upgrade to a camera with great macro (and zoom for that matter) that is easy to manage, I'd suggest the Nikon Coolpix 4800. It does not have a lot of manual controls, but takes some amazing macro shots (within 1 cm.). If you shop around you should be able to get it for under $300.

Nikon Coolpix 4800 review

You might also look into the Sony DSC-S85; it was discontinued long ago but you can still get it on ebay within your price range. There are also older models (DSC-S70 and S75) which are similar, but with only 3 megapixels. Overall these are great cameras, and the macro gets you within about 1".

If you don't need super macro, I'd suggest a canon G3 or powershot A85, these are good and easy to use cameras.

I, myself am currently saving up for a panasonic lumix dmc-fz15, which has both amazing macro and huge zoom, as well as lots of manual controls.

Peter