Macro Focus Problems

[DJRansome]

I used to be good at film photography, but I haven't been doing much and I've barely touched the digital camera. I'm going straight to photographing fish in an aquarium!

I've got a Canon PowerShot S70. I'm using the flash with the lens against the glass to avoid reflections. When I use the optical zoom, the camera won't focus and the manual focus doesn't seem to work either. Any advice?

[Jon]

In-home aquarium or a big place? You need enough light for the camera to focus - in an Aquarium, this may be a problem; in a home fish tank you have more control.
Maybe some shots of the setting and an odd example problem shot?

[BBoi]

If you hold against the tank and have the focus on auto, chances are it'll focus on the glass surface itself, had similar with a mouse cage. Macro is usually only effective on subject within around mmmm what, 2-30cm away - any more, and really, don't use macro. My advice, move away, use flash but use it at an angle so you dont get direct bounce back, and pop a CPL lens on to help avoid reflections. If you have a zoom function, use that instead with manual focus.

[Yuztoo]

I'm new here, and to photography in general, but have been keeping and breeding fish for some years. I've even been known to try and take pictures of them.
Heres a few things I found out through trial and error.

Make sure the glass is spotless inside and out, otherwise the camera will have more of a tendency to focus on it instead of whats inside.
Bring the camera right up to the glass.
Autofocus will have a hard time focusing in on moving fish beyond the glass, so I like to focus on a rock/log/plant that approximates the distance the fish are swimming at.
If you can get the above object sharp you can then lure the fish to it by dropping in some sinking food.
I've had the best success with slower larger fish and ones that intermittently stop swimming like bettas, corys and other catfish.
These are just a few things I can think off the top of my head.

Just a final note, to really bring out fish colours consider doing a water change a few hours before hand, cleaning the inside glass before emptying the water.
Having less particles floating around will help with the photography too.

Sorry if these are painfully obvious.

Let me know how you go and show us some pix.

[DJRansome]

The aquariums are in my home. The focus is OK without using the optical zoom, I just thought maybe there was a trick Canon users would know. Good hints on fish photography Yutzoo! I'd like to get a slave flash in order to fire it at an angle, but wanted to prove to myself this camera could at least take decent pics before investing in accessories.
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s84/dransome/Socolofi.jpg

[Yuztoo]

I forgot to mention a few extra points (sorry I was on my way out the door).

It helps to have inside the aquarium the brightest place in the room, so shooting at night in a dark room with your aquarium lights on works best.
My main tank is a planted one, so it's pretty bright in there, and I've never had good results using flash. It just bounces off the glass and it just seemed to do more good than bad.

The above experiences are all shooting with a friends G3 or 5? The equivalent of todays S3 or S5 I think.
I can't tell you the settings I used as it was some time ago, and I have just purched my 400D and haven't yet really aquainted myself with it.
I have two somewhat succefull photos, but I think I'll shoot some more tomorrow (just did a water change and cleaned the glass).
I'll need to work out the photoshop thing too, as I have just opened that for the very first time.
So much to learn, I think my head is going to explode. :mad:

As you can see I'm no pro, so take it all with a grain of salt.
I'll do more experimenting tomorrow and report any new findings.
In the mean time maybe you'llhave someone with your particular camera chime in.