SPS Picture Taking

[specialk]

Hey All

So all of us SPS lovers obviously love these little babies... and just love taking pictures of the growth, colors, etc.

I am really getting into this now that my tank is back and blooming ... the issue is the smart phones take good pictures, but I want better. I am not looking for National Geographic quality photos but you get the idea. I also am not going to drop hundreds on a professional camera...

So while trying to find a happy medium, I am looking into and just ordered a clip on 15x zoom macro lens for my smart phone. It gets GREAT reviews so I figured what the heck.

I am wondering if anyone else has picked one of these babies up ... as mine gets here tomorrow, if it works like I hope it does, it could be a great new toy for all those who wish to get great shots of their sps babies!

anyone...?

 

[specialk]

Hmmm...looks like I am going to be the 1st and the test dummy on this for this piece of equiptment

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Following!

 

[dimo]

Following. My photos always turn out like crap using a cell phone. Don't really want to spend $$$ on a fancy camera just for coral photos.

 

[specialk]

Following!

I get it tomorrow! So pics coming shortly!!!

 

[Rakie]

You need an aquariclip to remove the blue color. Then build a DIY PortHole.

 

[specialk]

You need an aquariclip to remove the blue color. Then build a DIY PortHole.

I am getting the original one that I ordered today. Gonna post some pics. But you bring up a good point, I was so focused on the quality of the "zoom" and close up, I forgot about the blue and how it distorts the true color.

What do you men though, by the DIY porthole?

 

[Sabellafella]

Hey All

So all of us SPS lovers obviously love these little babies... and just love taking pictures of the growth, colors, etc.

I am really getting into this now that my tank is back and blooming ... the issue is the smart phones take good pictures, but I want better. I am not looking for National Geographic quality photos but you get the idea. I also am not going to drop hundreds on a professional camera...

So while trying to find a happy medium, I am looking into and just ordered a clip on 15x zoom macro lens for my smart phone. It gets GREAT reviews so I figured what the heck.

I am wondering if anyone else has picked one of these babies up ... as mine gets here tomorrow, if it works like I hope it does, it could be a great new toy for all those who wish to get great shots of their sps babies!

anyone...?

Hey, when you get it please post some photos. Would be awesome to see how it works.

Also top down, the more you zoom in the more blurry the photo imo. I mostly move all my pieces to my frag rack, take a top down with a acrylic box. Usually hit around 2x about 5 inches down from the camera

 

[specialk]

Also .. I know you can get gel filters as well. For those who do not know ... These are simply a shiny looking piece of film/paper that you can put in between the clip on lens and your phone and it eiliminates the blue light ... enabling you to get TRUE color pics of the coral.

I am looking into if it is better to just get the gel filter withthe macro lens I have already purchased, OR if it is bettter to just get the aquariclip

And .. for those who dont even want to buy the clip (although well worth it imo and not expensive at all) you can simply by some gel filters ($7) and that will eliminate the blues for you

 

[specialk]

Hey, when you get it please post some photos. Would be awesome to see how it works.

Also top down, the more you zoom in the more blurry the photo imo. I mostly move all my pieces to my frag rack, take a top down with a acrylic box. Usually hit around 2x about 5 inches down from the camera

Thats a great pic!

 

[Waters]

As far as removing blues, I use an app called Snapseed. Does a tremendous job. I am curious on how your zoom lens works though....I have never been happy with my pictures clarity when I post.

 

[specialk]

As far as removing blues, I use an app called Snapseed. Does a tremendous job. I am curious on how your zoom lens works though....I have never been happy with my pictures clarity when I post.

Snapseed huh? What filter do you use exactly to remove the blues? Or is it an app where you can take pics thru the app and it does it automatically?

 

[Waters]

Snapseed huh? What filter do you use exactly to remove the blues? Or is it an app where you can take pics thru the app and it does it automatically?

I have always taken the picture first, and opened it up in the app....no filter is needed. If you go to Tune image and set warmth to +100 and saturation to -25 (or whatever looks best for your picture) it makes the picture look 1000% better, and closer to how it would look with the naked eye. I can take a pic and post a before and after later if that will help........

 

[RickG]

Also .. I know you can get gel filters as well. For those who do not know ... These are simply a shiny looking piece of film/paper that you can put in between the clip on lens and your phone and it eiliminates the blue light ... enabling you to get TRUE color pics of the coral.

I am looking into if it is better to just get the gel filter withthe macro lens I have already purchased, OR if it is bettter to just get the aquariclip

And .. for those who dont even want to buy the clip (although well worth it imo and not expensive at all) you can simply by some gel filters ($7) and that will eliminate the blues for you

I bought some cheap orange gel filters on eBay for $6, worked great for me! Brings a variety of different oranges and do any additional editing if needed with Snapseed

 

[MJC]

If you have a Samsung phone these are some great settings.


1.phone is a Samsung
2.Set camera to Pro mode
3.Set the Appratur to 1/90
4.Set the ISO to 50
5.WB to 10000k
6.Use Auto focus

 

[RussC]

I bought an inexpensive camera app called Camera+. It was recommended on another similar post. I have actually been pretty impressed. The key is turning the white balance as high as it will go to remove the blue. It also offers a macro feature for really close up shots. Check it out.

 

[SlvrZ]

following, i just use the pro thing from samsung but the macro is what i'm after

 

[specialk]

If you have a Samsung phone these are some great settings.


1.phone is a Samsung
2.Set camera to Pro mode
3.Set the Appratur to 1/90
4.Set the ISO to 50
5.WB to 10000k
6.Use Auto focus

Good stuff. Gonna play around with this.

Also the new lens got here last night, it has the orange filter on it. As soon as my lights flip on Im gonna post some pics

 

[jwshiver]

Check out the app Aquarium Cam

 

[specialk]

Pretty cool little lens. Im about to grab some pics and see how this bad boy works.