Photographing A Bow Front Tank

[Keith P]

I'm upgrading to a 29G Biocube (bow front) and I really want to get into photography again.

I have read about people complaining about taking pictures of tanks with bow fronts. How big of a deal is this?

Any input would be appreciated...

 

[ellebelle]

It depends on how serious you are about photography. The bow front will distort all photos taken through it. If you take the photos towards the edges or very close up/very far away, you can minimize the effects. But things tend to look blurred and distorted.

 

[meschaefer]

Forget about photography, I find that the distortion gives me a headache if I look at one for to long.

 

[Keith P]

So I'll be limited to macro/micro shots from down through the water only?

This may be a deal breaker. I may put my new tank on hold and look for a non bow front tank. Bummer :banghead:

Can anyone provide a sample of how bad the photos will be?

 

[MikeyNYC]

I have bow, no problems taking pictures. I would say that the camera equipment is more factor on potential limitations then the actual refraction caused by the glass.

Got some picks in the gallery, take a look. I posted a full tank shot a little while back

 

[Phyl]

Even macro photography on a bow is difficult. From far away the distortion is lessened. If you have "flat" sides to the bow it won't be so bad, but anywhere the glass curves it will cause distortion to the images that are beyond repair. Top downs are the only sure way to take photos.

Have you ever taken a picture on an angle through regular glass (especially macro)? That is the same distortion you get going "straight" through a bow. I would never own one for that reason (and they give me headaches too).




.

 

[ellebelle]

I have pretty much top of the line equipment for a non-professional photographer and I still find it difficult to get good shots. Here are examples (from Domboski's 72 bowfront):

most of these were taken at the least bowed parts of the tank. The photo of the ribbon eel (which wasn't actually eating mysis - Dom is good, but not that good ) was taken at a more extreme part of the bow. They lived in PVC pipe so I was limited in the angle I could take the photos at.

Here are some of my aquarium photos from flat fronted tanks:

Those are three example just to show you what my photos normally look like.

(And before someone asks - all photos were taken with Pentax dSLRs. The more recent ones with the k20d and the older ones with a k10d or *ist DS and either a 100mm macro or a 28-200mm zoom)

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

It's a pain in the butt to photo.

 

[jackson6745]

Would an aquapod be considered a bowfront?

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

LOL Rich that is what I am calling a pain in the butt

 

[reefman]

bowfronts magnifies the object by a small percentage. other than that, taking pics is no problem. the reason it may be at a disadvantage is cause of the depth of the tank. since the depth will be greater, the focus will be harder unless the subject is very close to the front glass which chances r slim unless u place it there just for that purpose.
check out my pics. all r taken in a 92 bowfront.

camera - canon s45 with manual focus settings

heres a shot with a frag up front :

this one is at least 2 feet away:

note: of cause the type of camera n skill r very important too.

 

[jackson6745]

LOL Rich that is what I am calling a pain in the butt

Even more reason to get a solana

 

[jackson6745]

Reefman that makes sense and I have problems getting deeper images to come out clear

about 5" from glass. I could never get corals in the back to come out this clear with the same lens.

 

[Keith P]

Well that put a damper on the party. Thank you every one for the great examples!

The money I planned on spending on a custom made sump to fit under my 29G Biocube may go towards a new stand and tank :irked:

 

[bad coffee]

Good choice. My 'dream tank' for a while was a 72 bow. Then I sat down in front of one and tried to watch it for a while.

1 headache later, the bowfront was off the list.

B

 

[RaSooch]

If you are looking for a similiar system the RedSea Max does not have a bow front to it even though it is seamless. The front pane of the tank is still flat and the only distortion the glass would make would come from the corners. Try and see if you can see one in person to determine. Hope this helps.

 

[Awibrandy]

Ditto on the photography answers. I never once got a headache from looking at my 155 G bowfront. Close up or from 10' away can't say I ever got a headache in the past 2 years that I've had it. I do have problems with taking pics but since a friend told me to go at a 45 degree angle I can get better ones and I don't have a dslr. All I have is a Canon PowerShot S3 IS.

 

[Keith P]

I'm impulsive and I change my mind quickly (which can be dangerous).

I swapped the biocube for an oceanic stretch hex 40g.