Tropical Fish Forum

Tropical Fish Keeping => Gallery Showcase => Fish Photography Tips => Topic started by: Paddyc on June 18, 2016, 08:18:22 PM

Title: Getting the best from my Bridge Camera (Nikon Coolpix L310)
Post by: Paddyc on June 18, 2016, 08:18:22 PM
Ok so it's time I really started trying to get the best out of my camera, I've got by until now by trialling a few shots and different settings whenever I want to use it... But I really struggle to photograph my fish to a decent quality.

I do have a continuous sport setting where it will take several images as long as the button is pressed... I have had the best results in this way but there's acres of room for improvement.

Example of my best sport continuous shot...

(http://i.imgur.com/xYDKMUD.jpg)

@Evolution Stu , I remember you mentioning showing the image details... I am unsure how to access these details but I'll have a poke about the camera and see what I can come up with.

Any help and advice most appreciated in advance  :)
Title: Re: Getting the best from my Bridge Camera (Nikon Coolpix L310)
Post by: Extreme_One on June 18, 2016, 08:25:29 PM
I have the Coolpix L340 which is very similar to the L310.

The first thing I recommend is to get a tripod if you haven't already, it makes a huge difference. :isay:

I also use the Sport mode as it has the fastest shutter speed but I find the autofocus is the biggest problem. By the time the camera has found the focal range the subject has moved. :fishy1:

Thankfully my new camera has manual focus.

RE: Exif data - I downloaded your photo from Imgur and right-clicked it (Windows) and selected Properties. The EXIF data is stored on the Details Tab but it's empty for me - perhaps IMGUR stripped it.


You should be able to see it if you open a file from your camera's memory card before it's been uploaded. Some sites do maintain the EXIF data, I use Google Photos and this keeps the EXIF data intact.

Title: Re: Getting the best from my Bridge Camera (Nikon Coolpix L310)
Post by: Evolution Stu on June 18, 2016, 11:24:38 PM
Hi guys,
Spotted this one a bit late, sorry.

Im happy to help if I can but need to figure out a way to do so that will make sense and encompass some information thats going to be of use.

If you can find that EXIF data for the image that would be of great use. Hosting sites like facebook etc strip that as its unecessary weight. There are quite a few EXIF Viewers in the public doamin to make it easier to access.

EXIF is your friend. As an example, if you take three or four shots at different settings and three are blurry and one great, the EXIF will let you pinpoint what changed to make it work.

As mentioned above - a Tripod helps massively. Im always handheld for stuff like this but then my camera has a few toys to allow that luxury. Id recommend a tripod strongly.

Anyone reading this who wants to move to manual control of the camera to really bring the camera to life needs to understand the exposure triangle. To save me waffling on for hours, this site nails it down very well.
http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/camera-exposure.htm

Pay attention to ISO.
Thats the cameras sensitivity to light, and whilst your aquarium may look bright, compared to daylight it really isnt... its very dark. Your going to have to shoot with high ISO in most aquariums and sadly, thats where most cameras fall down. High ISO = High noise.

I need to get to bed as ive to pick my little girl up from Lancaster in the morning, but I hope this topic grows and I will try to add some value to it tomorrow night. Framing properly can make even a dull image interesting, I will try to explain a few golden rules for composition that may help.
Title: Re: Getting the best from my Bridge Camera (Nikon Coolpix L310)
Post by: Fiona on June 19, 2016, 11:31:25 AM
Boys and their toys  ::) :)
Title: Re: Getting the best from my Bridge Camera (Nikon Coolpix L310)
Post by: Littlefish on June 19, 2016, 12:42:25 PM
 :rotfl:
Title: Re: Getting the best from my Bridge Camera (Nikon Coolpix L310)
Post by: ColinB on June 20, 2016, 07:46:06 AM
Boys and their toys  ::) :)

:rotfl:

Ha.... just wait 'tll us boys post up all these stunning photos of our fish while you two sit in the fuzzy blur corner!  :raspberries ;D
Title: Re: Getting the best from my Bridge Camera (Nikon Coolpix L310)
Post by: Littlefish on June 20, 2016, 08:02:15 AM
I know my place - and it's in the fuzzy blur photo corner.  ;D
Title: Re: Getting the best from my Bridge Camera (Nikon Coolpix L310)
Post by: Fiona on June 20, 2016, 01:02:17 PM
I know my place - and it's in the fuzzy blur photo corner.  ;D
Yup its quite cosy in here  :raspberries
Title: Re: Getting the best from my Bridge Camera (Nikon Coolpix L310)
Post by: Littlefish on June 20, 2016, 03:06:46 PM
I know my place - and it's in the fuzzy blur photo corner.  ;D
Yup its quite cosy in here  :raspberries

Very cosy.  ;D
It is sometimes also know as the "living within driving distance of Crews Hill" corner.  :fishy1: :fishy1: :fishy1:
 :raspberries :fishy1: :raspberries :fishy1: :raspberries :fishy1:
Oh, no she didn't  :o
Oh yes, she dissed him with that big burn.  ;)
Title: Re: Getting the best from my Bridge Camera (Nikon Coolpix L310)
Post by: Fiona on June 20, 2016, 03:08:58 PM
ahahahahahahahahahahahaha  :rotfl:
Title: Re: Getting the best from my Bridge Camera (Nikon Coolpix L310)
Post by: Paddyc on June 20, 2016, 03:28:52 PM
There's something in the air today, I think... A few of my colleagues have shown some uncharacteristically silly behaviour... Then I come on here to see this and Colins post in another thread saying it was a slow day... Lol.

I'll have whatever happy pills you're all having, please!   :cheers:
Title: Re: Getting the best from my Bridge Camera (Nikon Coolpix L310)
Post by: Littlefish on June 20, 2016, 03:38:43 PM
It must be the weather.  ;D