What macro lens for fujifilm xt4?

fatboyt123 · Aug 16, 2021

This is my first post here. I haven't had an aquarium setup since I was 16 or so. I'm 28 now I just started setting up a 120 gallon with all the the equipment I dreamed of as a child. Yet I have always loved photography and capturing life in the sea. I used an Olympus dslr back then with a 300mm telephoto/macro lens.

The tank is still in the works but

since I have upgraded my camera to document the process I want a good macro lens and filter combo for the fujifilm. The standard 18-55mm doesn't cut it. I can get good color on videos but very hard to get the white balance right on photos.

Its alot I know. Should I go with I fujifilm macro or a different macro with an adapter? Thanks for any help.

kev.2013 · Aug 16, 2021

I’d probably stick native and go for their 80mm macro, this can also use their tc too if you ever wanted more reach

fatboyt123 · Sep 20, 2021

Finally bought the 80mm. I'm still learning everything. These are straight off the camera to my phone.

fatboyt123 · Sep 24, 2021

Clowns finally started hosting after months. Still need a tripod.

TerraMagnus · Oct 3, 2021

Tripod isn't really necessary if you get your shutter speeds up. At about 1/200s on an 80mm lens they should be steady. These do look underexposed. Getting your lights up to full blast while you're photographing should help.

If you set your X-T4 to shoot in RAW mode you should be able to white balance the images afterward which is when the colors really start to pop correctly.

EDIT: Just now remembering that your X-T is when Fuji introduced IBIS, so you definitely should not need a tripod to get good images if the lighting is cranked up.

fatboyt123 · Oct 4, 2021

TerraMagnus said:
Tripod isn't really necessary if you get your shutter speeds up. At about 1/200s on an 80mm lens they should be steady. These do look underexposed. Getting your lights up to full blast while you're photographing should help.

If you set your X-T4 to shoot in RAW mode you should be able to white balance the images afterward which is when the colors really start to pop correctly.

EDIT: Just now remembering that your X-T is when Fuji introduced IBIS, so you definitely should not need a tripod to get good images if the lighting is cranked up.

Thank you.

I will crank up the one AI 16 HD I have soon to try and get better pictures.

Have been shooting in RAW just dont have anyway of editing right now.

I know they are super dark but some new pics

And the new tomini tang that's in QT

maroun.c · Oct 6, 2021

Indeed shots are still a bit on the dark side and WB is off. I advise the use of a flash with fish shots (not the built in flash due to reflections so would be great if you have a camera flash that bounces up with a snap on diffusor to minimize reflections and harshness of the flash.
congrats on the new camera and do continue to post more shots for feedback.

fatboyt123 · Oct 6, 2021

maroun.c said:
Indeed shots are still a bit on the dark side and WB is off. I advise the use of a flash with fish shots (not the built in flash due to reflections so would be great if you have a camera flash that bounces up with a snap on diffusor to minimize reflections and harshness of the flash.
congrats on the new camera and do continue to post more shots for feedback.

I've never had luck with any flash photography. The xt4 has no built in flash so I would have to buy one to try it out. Any brands you can recommend?

fatboyt123 · Oct 6, 2021

Have not tried missing with the light on the tank yet. Just happened to get at full ramp up I belive so some shots came out better. WB is still off but that's okay right now.

Also picked up a little mushroom

maroun.c · Oct 7, 2021

fatboyt123 said:
I've never had luck with any flash photography. The xt4 has no built in flash so I would have to buy one to try it out. Any brands you can recommend?

checkout the photography articles I posted in the sticky part of the photography subforum, I describe flash use for fish shots.
i normally prefer camera brand flashes as they're typically better built and have better compatibility. yet lately many 3rd party flash company are making flashes for specific camera which feature all the brand flash compatibility at a fraction of the price. Godox scores high on the reviews. I haven't used a Godox flash on my Nikon but saw a friend using one made for Canon on her Canon camera and it had full compatibility. so in short any flash that is compatible with your camera and fits the budget, just make sure it can be tilted up and can swivel left and right and also has a diffusor that you can place on the flash. experiment with auto flash mode (TTL) but also with shooting camera in manual mode and fixing flash output to avoid too much flash washing out the colors.
I do most of my fish shots with flash and learned how to tone down the flash to just freeze the movement and bring out the colors a bit.

TerraMagnus · Oct 8, 2021

fatboyt123 said:
I've never had luck with any flash photography. The xt4 has no built in flash so I would have to buy one to try it out. Any brands you can recommend?

Godox! Works natively with Fujifilm cameras and they are priced nicely. Also they work as transmitters/receivers if you start getting fancy and adding additional flashes from the same brand.