Hi

[Mindcrime121]

I followed a link in a post at Aquaria Central and figured I'd join up and try to learn a little something. I have a Kodak EasyShare Z712 IS which does great when I'm out and about shooting all sorts ofthings, but I'm having a heck of a time figuring out how to change modes and get settings off auto so I can have more control over the dang thing for shooting close up shots. I originally bought it intending to shoot wildlife around the lake, and it has proven great at that task with 12X optical zoom, but when it comes to macro mode I'm missing my old 3.2 MP Fuji that died on me a couple years ago, although I'm certain that this is a much better tool for the job if I could just learn to use it right.

 

[phishphorphun]

I used a Kodak Easyshare for my first fish pix. I found the best results were shooting in the 'macro' mode.

Share some shots with us soon.:-D

 

[Mindcrime121]

Thanks. I've been trying that, but can't seem to get it to autofocus when doing so, hence my dilema concerning manual focus and my inability to figure out how to get it OFF auto focus, lol! I moved shortly after purchasing the camera and have been unable to find the owners manual which certainly doesn't help. My last camera I purchased for shooting closeups of my tarantulas, and being that I did not have glass and water between my lens and my subjects more often than not, I had no issues with autofocus in macromode, but in this situation autofocus simply refuses to find its footing in macro mode. I'll get it figured out eventualy I'm sure, assuming that it CAN be taken off of auto focus at least.

 

[phishphorphun]

Allen, you may have to move either closer or farther away from the subject to get it to auto focus. Most likely farther away. Just a guess.

 

[Mindcrime121]

Having to move further away seems to defeat the purpose of macro mode, doesn't it?

 

[Mindcrime121]

Finally found a manual online for my camera and am playing with settings, trying to figure it out. Have restorted to staying away from macro mode to shoot for the time being and am playing with Fstop, ISO and shutter speeds with and without flash. Thinking about buying a small hallogen light setup to bombard my tank with radiation from overhead so I can get shots of my fish with more true to vision colors and use faster settings for less blur of moving critters without having to use flash, which I've been reading is why the colors change so drasticly in the pics since flash reflects differently off scales. Makes for a lovely enhanced blue for my GBR shots, but I really need to learn how to get around it for shots of things I acually con't want "enhanced" in that fashion. Been reading a LOT more than posting. Maybe soon I'll have some shots WORTH posting.