Aqurium Lens?

TooManyShots wrote in post #11233563
They are OK, not as good as this one...

Oh, didn't realize this was a competition..

heycow wrote in post #11233569
Sorry but this is not true. I've happily shot at a couple aquariums at f/2 and ISO 800 with my poor 40D. Just understand the lighting, understand the movement of the fish and there's no reason you should need f/1.4 and a crazy high ISO.

I actually prefer to shoot at F3.5 to F4, at ISO no greater than 800, and flash. Yes flash. Did I say flash. Yes, flash. Regardless the lighting condition, my exposure would always be on the right and freezes actions, with enough DOF to show the environment. I can miss couple of shots due to poorer focusing. The general consensus is to use the fastest glass, higher ISO, using only the available light, and hoping the subjects aren't moving. And a lot of luck too.

sangjiny wrote in post #11233584
Oh, didn't realize this was a competition..

There are better ways to shoot aquarium than the usual suggestions, which are outdated. Restricted yourself only to the available light, faster glass, higher usable ISO, and with slower moving fish. And luck.

Take this shot for an example, do you think all these fishes just swimming slowly? It was the flash that freezes their actions.

You see my problem with flash was the hallways inside were too narrow in most cases.
There were people all over the place and it was kind of rude of me if I were to start bouncing my flash off people's heads.

So for the OP, if you think this aquarium is going to be very crowded, it may be better to use a fast lens versus a flash because there will be people all around you and using flash gets tough. Also depending on the inside hallway area, 85mm maybe too long.

TooManyShots wrote in post #11233629
There are better ways to shoot aquarium than the usual suggestions, which are outdated. Restricted yourself only to the available light, faster glass, higher usable ISO, and with slower moving fish. And luck.

Take this shot for an example, do you think all these fishes just swimming slowly? It was the flash that freezes their actions.


Using only the available light you can't get this shot.

My shutter speed was 1/250s. That's fast enough to stop any fish.
And usual suggestion doesn't meant it doesn't work, now does it? If you're asking about creativity, then this is really upto the OP, all I'm doing is giving the OP suggestions, no need to get excited.

sangjiny wrote in post #11233630
You see my problem with flash was the hallways inside were too narrow in most cases.
There were people all over the place and it was kind of rude of me if I were to start bouncing my flash off people's heads.

So for the OP, if you think this aquarium is going to be very crowded, it may be better to use a fast lens versus a flash because there will be people all around you and using flash gets tough. Also depending on the inside hallway area, 85mm maybe too long.

Dude, all public aquariums are crowded. Rude? You haven't seen nothing yet. Wait until school trips and the kids? Families taking photos right near you. I didn't know using flash is rude... You aren't flashing the people. You are flashing the tank. Of course, even if the OP is going to use the flash, it is not guaranteed he or she still can get the shots. The OP needs to know what he or she is doing with the flash.

any fast wide angle zoom should be great...

TooManyShots wrote in post #11233661
Dude, all public aquariums are crowded. Rude? You haven't seen nothing yet. Wait until school trips and the kids? Families taking photos right near you. I didn't know using flash is rude... You aren't flashing the people. You are flashing the tank. Of course, even if the OP is going to use the flash, it is not guaranteed he or she still can get the shots. The OP needs to know what he or she is doing with the flash.

Relax. Like I said where I went it was rude to use the flash and there weren't school trips or kids, it was more older folks. I've had my run-ins with people where they came up to me for using a flash so close to them in places such as aquariums.

There is no one way to do everything. and like I said before, I'm just giving the OP some options. so chill.

sangjiny wrote in post #11233698
Relax. Like I said where I went it was rude to use the flash and there weren't school trips or kids, it was more older folks. I've had my run-ins with people where they came up to me for using a flash so close to them in places such as aquariums.

There is no one way to do everything. and like I said before, I'm just giving the OP some options. so chill.

Full power or TTL mode? Manual only at 1/32 or 1/16 power. Add a diffuser on it. No one would know a thing...

wow you guys have some great points. Never thought of flash because of the reflection issue. As I will have my kids around, i imagine I will not have allot of time to experiment. Never thought of bringing the sigma 17-35. My daughter will try some stuff with the 50 on my 10d. I'm going to read up on the flash idea. Thanks for all the suggestions.

TooManyShots wrote in post #11233709
Full power or TTL mode? Manual only at 1/32 or 1/16 power. Add a diffuser on it. No one would know a thing...

I wish. 1/16 with a diffuser, yes, and some folks still complained. So I said screw it, bring out the primes.

TooManyShots wrote in post #11233709
Full power or TTL mode? Manual only at 1/32 or 1/16 power. Add a diffuser on it. No one would know a thing...

Victor is that ll the power needed?

J.David wrote in post #11233740
Victor is that ll the power needed?

Pretty much so. Check the histogram. Use the power necessary to keep the exposure to the right. The power you need depends on the distance between you (your lens) to the subject. Shoot everything in manual mode, including the flash power setting. That's why I love my Sigma 50.

You can do a bit of experiment right now. Shoot an object in a dark, low light room. Set the iso to 800, shutter speed to 1/200, F4. Use only the flash to provide the correct exposure. Bounce the flash light off the ceiling. Add a diffuser to get a bit of softer look. When you shoot at the fish tank, you do the same, except that you point the flash head 45 degree. Remember the diffuser. The diffuser not only soften the look but also illuminates the subject in front of you. If you don't add a diffuser, the flash light would just aim right up. In an aquarium, you get nothing to bounce off the light. Use the gold diffuser to even out the light source.

TooManyShots wrote in post #11233249
I posted this a while back. Scroll down a bit here:
https://photography-on-the.net …15191&highlight​=sea+world

Your flash is nothing comparing to kids and adults touching and taping the glass... You won't be the only person using flash BTW. Just look at all the P and S users flashing at the tank. You aren't going to use full power on the flash unit. Maybe 1/32 or 1/16.

Just read this, will give it a try, thanks

sangjiny wrote in post #11233739
I wish. 1/16 with a diffuser, yes, and some folks still complained. So I said screw it, bring out the primes.

Which aquarium is this??? I couldn't imagine during school days when you have school trips with over 30 kids running inside the aquarium. Baby strollers. Family taking photos in front of the tank. Kids screaming because they are getting too excited. Calling all clown fishes Nemo...LOL