Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey guys I was wondering if some of you could post some pictures and the name and type of camera that you used to take them, thanks! I am looking for a decent macro camera.

Thanks,

Jeremy Thompson
JTColubrids, Inc.

I have a Panasobic DMC-TZ3 with 28mm wide angle, and 10x optical zoom. It's a few years old so I'm sure there are much better ones out there. But it takes decent pics. Maybe if I read the owners manual I could get even better pics, lol. The first pic was taken with macro, and the second pic was a zoomed in crop using a photo program. It kept decent detail after zooming. many get fuzzy if you zoom in too much.

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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

My Site > www.Sierrasnakes.com

I use a Cannon EOS Rebel XS, but any good camera will do with the right lens, F-Stop / Aperature settings.....

My camera is definitely way smarter than I and I never use it to its full capability. I set it to automatic and adjust the lighting, point then shoot.......

The best macro lenses have low F-stops. Mine is only 3.5 - 5.6......There are many more very expensive lenses with lower F-stops.

One day I would like to learn how to use my camera correctly....LOL

Until then I will continue to get sub par photos......
Here's three good ones I took once....in the field.....Except for the last one....

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John Lassiter
Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...

I have the same camera you have John. And just like you I am not even scratching the surface of it's potential. I have some nice shots, but a lot I am truly disappointed with. I was thinking of taking a course at the community college or something like that.

Everybody sure has a lot of nice pics.
--Dennis

I use a Cannon Powershot S3 IS. Its an older model. These are not as advanced as the SLR cameras but still get decent macro shots. You can also get lenses for them. These pictures were taken with out a lens.

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np
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www.Bluerosy.com

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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

My Site > www.Sierrasnakes.com

Ross, Great shots! I actually have a Cannon Powershot S2 IS, How do set your macro settings? I just think yours are better than mine.

Then these were taken by a HP Photosmart 735 set, can anyone tell the difference?


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Jimmy Tintle

Thanks guys!

Jimmy, with those pictures I put the camera in super macro mode. I'm not sure if yours is the same but on mine you hold down the macro button and it puts the camera in super macro mode. With that you can practically touch the snake with the lens and still get a in focus shot. You can't do that in normal macro mode. You also need to use a flash diffuser when getting that close.
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I have the Super Macro Mode and then I can manually adjust it between 0 and 5cm or maybe 0 and 10cm. I think my problem is the flash I don't have a diffuser and I tried lowering the flash out put but didn't work all that well. I have built a homemade light box so I will try some in there on a tripod and get really close to the animal. Thanks Ross

BTW great looking animals too!
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Jimmy Tintle

No problem, Jimmy. You can also make your own flash diffuser. Here's a home made one I found on the internet.

If you don't know how that works, the idea is to shoot the flash to a white piece of plastic just above the lens so that the light bounces strait down. Without that, the lens blocks the light of the flash and creates a shadow when taking very close shots. Good luck with the light box, I've heard they work well.
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Canon T2i with Tamron 90mm 2.8 Macro Lens

Thanks guys! Those are some AWESOME pictures!

These were taken with a Canon PowerShot A-540......

Many times you can also take a bigger sized file with high-resolution, and crop it with the camera program to enlarge the subject, and it can come out just as nice or even nicer than with a macro setting. Usually you need good directed lighting for super-close shots, or they can be fuzzy and grainy looking.

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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -Serpentine Specialties

Nice photos.....I like the one with the corn shedding.......
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John Lassiter
Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...

Nice Doug! I would have to agree with John that one of the corn shedding is a great pic!
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Jimmy Tintle

Thanks a bunch Jimmy!

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -Serpentine Specialties

Thanks John. Yeah, I have always liked that one alot too. It shows the shed skin coming out from underneath each idividual scale in great detail.

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -Serpentine Specialties

Wow Doug nice shots. You get those with Canon P&S? From the quality of your pics I was sure you had some high end DSLR. Maybe I should read my Canon owner's manual.
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BigT
There is a difference between ignorance and stupidity. The ignorant can be taught, stupidity is beyond our control.
1.2 P. m. melanoleucus B/W N. J. Northern Pines
1.2 P. d. deppei Mexican Pines
2.2 P. l. lineaticollis Linis or Lined Pines
1.2 P. m. lodingi Black Pines
0.3 P. c. sayi red bulls
1.1 Drymarchon melenurus Blacktail Cribo
1.2 D. corais Yellowtail Cribos
1.2 M. s. cheynei Jungle Carpet
2.6 L. p. pyromelana Arizona Mt. Kings
1.1 L. g. californiae B/W Cali kings
0.0.3 M. f. flagellum Eastern Coachwhips
1.2 G. m. bottegoi Western Plated lizards

Thanks Big T!.....

Yes, but they ALL don't turn out this nice at will every time by any means..LOL!. There are so many settings and lighting situations it is ridiculous, and the changes you make with the many settings can look FAAAR different when you upload them to the computer than they do on the camera screen. Most people set their cameras on "auto" and accept whatever happens, but when the manuals are read, it definitely makes you go.....oohhh!!, so THAT'S what that does??...cool!!..

In other words, LOTS of trial and error with the different settings and lighting situations..LOL!. I did however study the manual pretty well. Seems these cameras are capable of doing WAAAY more things than you could possibly imagine.

So basically, experimentation still seems to be the best "teacher"..LOL!
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -Serpentine Specialties

great shots, doug.

two tips that have served me well:

1) shoot in bright light. if you can't set up a suitable flash, shoot outdoors in sun, or inside in a bright room. heck, even position a simple desk lamp over your shooting area. extra light gives you greater focus because of a smaller f-stop, and it gives you greater sharpness because the faster shutter speed minimizes camera jiggle.

2) if you're not using an SLR that allows you to SEE the focus area (many in this thread are using very compact digital cameras that can give great results but don't allow that sort of view) go to settings in your camera, and set it to focus on a tiny point in the center of the image area, probably called center focus. You can then aim THAT point at the snake's head, for ex, and depress the shutter half way, and then move the camera--the snake's head no longer has to be in the middle of the composition to be the focus of focus, as it were. If your camera's set to auto-focus on a broader part of the image area, you're at its mercy to guess what you're trying to accomplish--and you won't be satisfied.

Thanks Terry!,......

Yes, you are SOO right on all those tips!. Apparently you read your manual too, as well as comprehended what was in it. Those are all definite key factors with getting good shots my friend.

Also, as you know the "types" of different light settings make a huge difference in how the shots can turn out.

Yep!, low-light closeups just don't cut it Terry..

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -Serpentine Specialties

I use currently a Kodak EasyShare C763. The macro on it is ok, but I do think the Canon cameras are better, in terms of that feature.

The Kodak cameras are very easy to use as well.

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Genesis 1:1

Cannon Powershot SX120 IS.

It's decent all around camera, including some macro work. Wish it had higher zoom but that cost real money.
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We wouldn't have 6 and a half billion people if you had to be beautiful to get laid.
6.6 African House snakes
3.2 reticulated pythons
.1 corn snake
4.2 Florida Kings
1.2 speckled kings
1.2 ball pythons
0.0.1 Argentine boa

Jeremy,
To me (and many others) there are only two brands of camera to consider: Canon and Nikon. Don't get caught up too much in the Nikon vs Canon debate, though. Both companies offer great cameras.
Pick up a good SLR in your price range and learn to use it.
I'm a Nikon guy and my buddy is a Canon guy. If we switched cameras, his pics would still be better than mine because he's a better photographer than I am.
At the "prosumer" level, it's more about the skill of the photographer than the brand of the equipment. I've worked with several pro photographers (I'm in advertising) who feel the same way.
I've tried using a nice point and shoot for reptile pics and haven't had much luck, so I'm sticking with my Nikon D70s. It's a few years old, but has been sturdy and trouble-free. I need more practice, though, before I'll be happy with my snake pics.
Good luck!
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http://www.mikefoux.com
http://www.snakerack.info

Hondurans
Pueblans
Corns
Grey-banded King
California Kings
Speckled Kings (Calcasieu Parish locality)
Brooksi
Goini/Brooksi Crosses
San Diego gophers
Texas Rat
Jungle Carpet Python
Ball Python
BCI
Sulcata
Leopard Geckos
Wife, Caucasius Mexicana Integrade WC

If you can afford it and if you have a passion for photography, then definitely spend the time and money on an SLR. If you just want something inexpensive and easy to use, then here are some sample pics from a point-and-shoot style Canon SX130 IS. The optical zoom isn't great though or maybe i'm just not using it right.

What a perfect excuse to show off some pics! These were taken with an auto setting:

This was taken in macro mode. It's my first time ever playing around with manual aperture. I have no clue what i'm doing, but i do see the potential in taking better pictures with manual settings. The tongue shot was actually in focus whereas it was always blurry in auto setting.

I meant to post this under the main thread. Sorry for any confusion.

I need to start messing around with my camera some more, clearly I can get nice pictures with the Cannon that I have, just need to try different settings! AWESOME AWESOME pics coming from all of you!

Thanks again!

Jeremy Thompson
JTColubrids, Inc.

Canon PowerShot A300
This shot taken this morning with macro on and in early morning light; flash went off but it didn't seem to mess up the shot. Every so often I struggle with the owner's manual. LOL!

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Bob
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire
Keeping cats allows man to cohabitate with tigers. Keeping reptiles allows man to cohabitate with dinosaurs.