Camera set up?

[j’s_reef]

Curious what some of you guys use for pics/vids other than your phone? I’m looking into a Sony a7iii but what wondering was what other ppl use

 

[Gumbies R Us]

One of the more popular ones I see people use is the Olympus TG-7. For a Point-and-shoot camera, it produces some stunning results. I use a Nikon 5600 (showing its age) and an iPhone 17 for my photos.

What is your budget for cameras?

 

[kizzy89]

Depends on how lazy i feel on that particular day. I'll use my phone with an orphek kit, a nikon d500 with tamron 90mm macro or a nikon d600 with an older tamron 90mm macro, also have kenko extension tubes for even closer shots 12mm, 20mm and 36mm.
Honestly any camera with a macro lens and some extension tubes depending on how close up you want to get will work great

 

[NanoSteam]

I found using an orange lens really dulls my videos/photos or it doesn't look true to life. I found better results using my phones "pro" mode which lets me adjust white balance until the image on the phone matches what I'm seeing in person. I get much better shots this way.

Here are some examples taken with my Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra using "Pro" mode and no lenses.

 

[kizzy89]

The gorgonian was phone with orphek lens, the others were with the d500 with extension tubes, i dont remember how many. Hopefully this helps give an example. I have more photos gor examples if needed

 

[kizzy89]

I found using an orange lens really dulls my videos/photos or it doesn't look true to life. I found better results using my phones "pro" mode which lets me adjust white balance until the image on the phone matches what I'm seeing in person. I get much better shots this way.

Here are some examples taken with my Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra using "Pro" mode and no lenses.

Those are excellent photos, almost makes my nikon obsolete.

 

[NanoSteam]

Those are excellent photos, almost makes my nikon obsolete.

Phones have really come a long way... I've been throwing around the idea of getting into a DSLR again but then I look at what my phone could do and the price tag is discouraging me, I just don't think I'll see benefits without spending some big bucks on a good lens.

 

[kizzy89]

Those are excellent photos, almost makes my nikon obsolete.

Phones have really come a long way... I've been throwing around the idea of getting into a DSLR again but then I look at what my phone could do and the price tag is discouraging me, I just don't think I'll see benefits without spending some big bucks on a good lens.

If i didn't have a camera or need it for my photography gigs i would use the money on a new phone, it can do more than take photos and for the money it seems to be a better choice, unless like me you're into taking pictures of osprey and eagles that requires a long lens and fast shutter speed and iso changes quickly. Your phone may do that also too though

 

[maroun.c]

I've shot most of the Nikon cameras (pro-Entry level and Pro cameras) currently using a Z8 Nikon.
i admit that even the older DSLRs are very capable of great image quality for aquarium photography however I did see an improvement with each camera upgrade I did over the years.
with mirrorless I have used the Z7 and the Z8 and saw great improvement in the body performance with that upgrade alone.
One huge advantage to Mirorrless over DSLR is the new lenses which got revamped and crazy imprvoements over the same lenses in DSLR model. Namely:
the 50 mm lense of the new mirorless cameras is even better than the 50mm 1.4 i used to have ith DSLR
105 1.8 macro Z is way better than the older 105 macro lense of DSLR
I won't even go comparing DSLR or Mirorrless cameras performance to mobile phone, you do get lucky with few shots on a mobile but its no way the resolution, Clarity, and image quality of DSLR camera sensor or glass! yes nowadays we're used to looking a small vertical pictures on our mobiles so we don't even get to check resolution or sharpness! Our kids even prefer softm hazy over filtered pictures with off colors for their social media over our pro photos with "correct" image standards so yeah you can get nice images with a mobile with maybe a bit better WB performance over a DSLR or a Mirorless camera but if yuo look at focusing, metering, sensor, Glass a mobile phone picture physically cannot get clsoe to a camera picture.