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J37A fish pic
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PostPosted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 4:05 am    Post subject: J37A fish pic Reply with quote
This is using the J37A with the longest Zeiss extension tube. This is one
of my 2nd gen males, now breeding size and in full breeding colors:



There's some softening in focus going towards the caudal fin, but the
pectoral fin is not obscured, and the ventrals (long dagger-shaped fins
hanging down) are fully extended from the body. Of course he's strutting
his stuff after feeding time when the floor of the tank looks like crap! Laughing
And I had a lot of spot healing to do with floaties in the water..

Bill

ps Orio, yep this cooks the Viv, and the colors!

Last edited by Katastrofo on Thu Jun 28, 2007 11:32 am; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 5:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Very good result Bill, very contrasty, I like it.
Also I like that the tail is a bit off, this helps with the perception that it's a dimensional figure.
I would use a little Noise Ninja on the pic, however (zeroing the built-in sharpening).


PostPosted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 5:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Orio, I don't have Noise Ninja, but Neat Image, which lobotomizes the
detail quite handily! Laughing I admit my skill at using the program may not
be up to speed.


PostPosted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 5:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Katastrofo wrote:
Orio, I don't have Noise Ninja, but Neat Image, which lobotomizes the
detail quite handily! Laughing I admit my skill at using the program may not
be up to speed.


I'm sorry, I can't help you with Neat Image.
I used to use Grain Surgery, but after I tried Noise Ninja I immediately bought it. It's like upgrading your camera to let you shoot at ISO 800 and get the IQ of ISO 200 (n/k). And it has custom noise presets for all my camera at all ISO settings (including the interpolated settings of the 5D).


PostPosted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 6:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I downloaded the plug-in to use with PSE 4 and downloaded the Olympus
E300 profile, but it looks like I need to remove Neat Image for it to work
in PSE 4. Yes this looks like a much niftier deal than Neat Image,
especially with the camera profiles!


PostPosted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 12:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I love it Bill. Reminds me of my childhood when I went catching them in the rice field. It's tropical fighting fish, isn't it?


PostPosted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 12:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
bigmango wrote:
I love it Bill. Reminds me of my childhood when I went catching them in the rice field. It's tropical fighting fish, isn't it?


Nipon, this species is from Indonesia and has been introduced in
Malaysia, not native to Thailand, but certainly possible that the fish
could've been planted there. They are considered difficult to breed,
are an endangered species.


PostPosted: Sun Jul 01, 2007 4:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I thought I'd add another image, this one using the Flek 35/2.4, same
setup using onboard flash (diffused) and overhead flash on tank which
is diffused at 1/4 power:



I'm going to have to change out some tanks that are simply too
scratched-up for taking pics of fish.

The Flek with its close focusing capability 7.5 inches (?) makes it ideal
for fish photos.


PostPosted: Sun Jul 01, 2007 4:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Great picture, excellent contrast.


PostPosted: Sun Jul 01, 2007 4:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Orio wrote:
Great picture, excellent contrast.


Thank you, Orio! I took a bunch of pictures like this with the Flek, the
downside is that these tanks are breeding tanks with scratched-up glass,
and I'm feeding live and frozen foods to get specimens like this 2nd gen
male. They don't like filtration so it makes for lots of things in the water
I have to spot heal or clonestamp out. Unfortunate about the black
heater in the lower left of the shot, but they like heat, too. Man, this
Flek rocks with these kind of shots! If I get a B+W #5 closeup filter,
this would make for a deadly combo.


PostPosted: Sun Jul 01, 2007 5:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Katastrofo wrote:
If I get a B+W #5 closeup filter,
this would make for a deadly combo.


Be careful with additional closeup lenses, OK with B+W you should be pretty safe, but generally speaking they tend to gather all reflections existing in the world, and since you are shooting through glass...
Tubes are a better choice IMHO. They eat some of the light, but they leave your optics unaltered.


PostPosted: Sun Jul 01, 2007 5:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Orio, I tried with each increment of the Zeiss extension tube set, but
couldn't focus with the Flek. I think it made the close focusing way too
close to be useable.


PostPosted: Sun Jul 01, 2007 6:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Katastrofo wrote:
Orio, I tried with each increment of the Zeiss extension tube set, but
couldn't focus with the Flek. I think it made the close focusing way too
close to be useable.


Keep in mind that even the best closeup lenses induce distortions.

if shooting fish closeup is important for you, I would consider buying a macro lens. There are some old ones that do really well and have a reasonable cost.
All macro Nikkors for instance are excellent lenses that don't cost a fortune.


PostPosted: Sun Jul 01, 2007 6:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Well, the Nikon micro-nikkor 105/4 does a pretty good job, too:



This is an adolescent female same specie as the male above.


PostPosted: Sun Jul 01, 2007 6:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Katastrofo wrote:
Well, the Nikon micro-nikkor 105/4 does a pretty good job, too


ah, ok Smile
But then, why mess with the closeup lenses?
if you need to get nearer, buy an additional tube for the macro lens, that can get a 1:1

Last edited by Orio on Sun Jul 01, 2007 7:04 am; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Sun Jul 01, 2007 7:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Orio wrote:


ah, ok Smile
But then, why mess with the closeup lenses?


I pasted that Flek pic up at Aquatic Photography Forum I guarantee you
it is the only pic there taken with a Flek, regardless of model! Laughing

Quote:
if you need to get nearer, but an additional tube for the macro lens, that can get a 1:1


I still have a PK-13 which is for the 55mm, but does get things closer
with the 105, but not down to 1:1.
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