Suggestions on how to make these shots better.

[ngn8dogg]

I know the macro lens isnt a good lens for fish shots but it has the lowest aperture of my lens so far and i needed light. Its a little grainy because I neede higher ISO for a faster shutter speed. Would an external flash have made these turn out better? I have one on the way but thought I would get some advice on how to make these better. thanks.. Nate
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo197/ngn8dogg/clownfish.jpg
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo197/ngn8dogg/blenny.jpg

[IPT]

They look just a tad soft. Did you sharpen them? WHat shutter spped? A flash is good, but I tend to prefer the light from just the tank if I can get away with it. Look online for "neat image". It has a free trial download that will virtually elimate the noise (though the trial will only let you save JPEG). Also look at "Noise Ninja".

[ngn8dogg]

I sharpened just not too much. It was kinda hard to get them in focus. Im sure that cuz its the lens though. So those sites will take away the grain from the higher ISO?

[ngn8dogg]

well I downloaded the trial you suggested. I didn't know what the heck I was doing? Do you own Neat Image or Noise Ninja ?
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo197/ngn8dogg/blenny_filtered.jpg

[ngn8dogg]

http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo197/ngn8dogg/clownfish_filtered.jpg

[hypertech]

I haven't tried it yet, but I'm going to try fish shots with the flash on a remote cord pointing down into the tank from above. I get too many reflections if I try to use flash from outside the tank. If you have tried flash, does it help moving it up above the tank?

[IPT]

I don;t use either too often. I usually shoot low ISO so don;t have issues. it came to mind though because I was printing a scanned film image that was real grainy from a higher ISO and being pushed. Even the trial version worked very well.

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk319/IPTalaska/Neat-image.jpg


Read the "help" section if you didn't. Basically (and I do not know the best approach as I have mearly dabbled with it) there is a way to "sample" the noise, then apply the filter to correct. Sorry I can't be of more help than that.

Shouldn;t get reflections from the flash if you shoot just a little off head on and are not suoer close to the tank. May want to use more of a zoom lens and back up as another option.

[TitusvileSurfer]

Unfortunately no, a flash would not have made them much better. It would allow you to turn down the ISO down but you could not turn up the shutter speed. Until fairly recently in photography terms, a flash photograph could not be taken faster than 1/200 of a second. Technology has bumped that number up to 1/250 on most all current DSLR cameras. Your shots were taken at 1/200, which IMO should have been fast enough for a sharp image, but with flash the MAXIMUM you could achieve isn't much more than what you already have.