Fancy Pants Camera

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Top Water

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I'm looking to get some nice true to color pictures of my corals.(Mainly SPS cause they are in the water column.) My iPhone doesn't quite cut it.
My corals are pretty awesome but I Just can't get the true colors and detail to my satisfaction.
My options are someone help with a fancy pants camera and port hole thingy or I buy a camera set up.
What is the camera set up best for my needs and estimated cost?

I have an old Cannon Rebel S camera from film days . Will the maco and long range lenses fit the new digital cameras ?
 
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Any entry level DSLR would do the trick for you ..

its more of user based than the camera based when it comes to good pictures with a SLR
 
I to am in the market for a good camera John. If u look on amazon u can find killer deals on entire set-ups. ( tripod, case, lens, memory card etc)
 
I like the Panasonic lumix cameras. They have the functionality of a full size dslr, but are about half the size. I had a cannon dslr but never used it because it was too big to carry around. Thankfully, my house got burglarized and it was taken. I'm much happier with the lumix that the insurance money paid for. I still need a better lens though.
 
Any of the cannon rebel EOS cameras will work. You can probably find a used EOS xt very cheap on craigslist or ebay. If you look at my old build thread for the 75g those were with an EOS xt. Now I use a T3i.
 
I just got a Canon Rebel T3i a few weeks back, and the camera is fantastic. Even the stock lens takes some pretty good closeups, though I'll definitely be getting a macro lens soon. At this point, though, I'm the limiting factor for picture quality, not my camera. :)
 
I've got a D5100 kit for sale right now on eBay i'd let go to a local reefer for a good deal. Or I could come by with my D7000 and porthole and snap some pix for you in trade for a frag. Or we could do both and I could give you a crash course on shooting the camera!

PM me if interested in anything. If you look at my build/pic thread you'll see all those pictures are taken with the D5100.
 
I recommend buying a used DSLR and spend your money on a off camera flash, tripod, extension tubes, and a 1.4 or 1.8 50mm lens. I also recommend buying whatever brand camera your friends have that way they can teach you tricks.

The off camera flash will help balance out the strong blue light most aquariums have and also provide extra light to keep your ISO down, fast shutter speed, and your aperture in the sweet spot.

The tripod will help you balance the camera body and lens or hold your flash keeping images tack sharp.

Extension tubes are a cheaper alternative to a dedicated macro lends. They will allow for a closer working distance and increased magnification over a macro both of which are handy for shooting corals. When paired with a 50 mm (one of the sharpest lenses made by both Canon and Nikon) it makes for a great combination. Using a standard 50mm also allows you to remove the tubes and use the 50mm for portraits, full tank shots, or as a general walk around lens.
 
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