What Camera Do You Use To Monitor Your Reef Tank

Is there a clear option out in that location for us reef keepers when it comes to finding the all-time photographic camera for a reef tank? Recently, I did some extensive inquiry while in the market place for a new camera and I believe the camera I settled on, a Sony A7 three, is ideal for aquarium hobbyists, especially for video.

Granted, it is not a cheap solution but I do recall it'southward justifiable to spend decent $$ on photographic camera equipment given how much we tend to invest in corals and tank equipment. Hey, if you accept a bitchin' tank and then why not do your all-time to show it off to the rest of the world? Several years agone I ended up purchasing a Canon 5D Marker iii to take videos and photographs of my reef. I chose the Canon since it could have HD video and was too a popular selection amidst professional notwithstanding photographers. The camera did a solid job on the video front end merely it lacked certain features, most chiefly the power to capture 4K video.

Mirrorless versus DSLRs

The Canon 5D Mark iii is a DSLR simply what I quickly learned while investigating options is that mirrorless cameras are typically better for video. Why? Well, without a mirror they are lighter and more compact, making it easier to stabilize the camera. Mirrorless cameras as well tend to have superior autofocus……plus an increasing number of mirrorless cameras capture 4K video, something only higher-end DSLRs can do

Focusing on mirrorless cameras, I narrowed my search down to 3 choices: the Canon EOS R, Panasonic'south Lumix GH5 and Sony's A7 iii. The Catechism EOS R is Canon'south brand new entry into the mirrorless camera marketplace and I really wanted to stick with a Catechism since I had invested a good chunk of change in Canon lenses. Just in that location were several issues with the EOS R.

Issues with Canon EOS R

• Information technology is brand new, a scarlet flag since new products are more susceptible to problems versus established products.
• No prototype stabilization in the photographic camera body. Canon lenses practice accept IS but the GH5 and Sony A7 iii both accept in-torso IS that can be paired with IS lenses. Stabilization is important to have for taking videos of a reef tank since information technology smooths out hand-held shots, specially when yous are tracking fish.
• Cropped 4K Video – The epitome when shooting 4K video is cropped by a factor of 1.7x, significant less field of view. You tin shoot full frame 4K video with the GH5 and Sony A7 iii.

The GH5

Ok, what almost the GH5? By many accounts, the GH5 is one of the top cameras for taking 4K video. You tin can shoot 4K at 60 fps (frames per second) and 1080p at 180 fps, allowing the shooter to capture brilliant video in slow motion. The Sony A7 iii can only record irksome motion video at 120 fps while shooting at 1080p. Only equally you tin can see from this video, the slo-mo coming out of the Sony at 1080p is not too shabby, especially when you use a gimbal.

For advanced shooters who like to exercise their own color grading/correction, the GH5 is capable of outputting 10-chip video (with a billion colors) versus a lower eight-bit output for the Sony. The large event with the GH5 is auto-focus. By many accounts it stinks and for me that was a deal breaker since on the fly focus really helps when shooting moving critters in a reef tank.

Actress Attain with Sony A7 iii

Another benefit with the Sony A7 iii is the power to zoom in further on a shot while shooting 4K video. In crop fashion you can proceeds an actress one.5x accomplish while the Clear Paradigm Zoom style provides an additional i.5x accomplish (the GH5 only has ane.4x ingather in 4K). Pair these features with a really good macro lens, such every bit the Sony Iron 90mm F2.8 macro lens, and y'all volition exist blown away by the details you can capture. Utilize a set of extension tubes and get fifty-fifty closer!

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In terms of cost, the Sony A7 3 body is priced at $2,000 while the Panasonic'southward GH5 body costs a scrap less at $1,700. The Canon EOS R is the nigh expensive at $ii,300. Overall, the benefits of the Sony A7 iii motivated me to switch from Canon, fifty-fifty though I had to spend a bit more cash on new Sony glass, including the 90mm macro lens and a good all purpose lens.

Justifying Choice as Best Camera for a Reef Tank!

So how did my switch to the new camera work out? Well, the proof is in the pudding and after 2 months I am really diggin' this new camera!

Boosted Resource

If yous would similar some assistance with a new tank build, including assist designing a custom aquarium, or help re-configuring your current setup and then you can visit this page for more data. And if yous are looking to add together some equipment, I do sell GHL, Pax Bellum, Reef Octopus Calcium and Kalk Reactors and Royal Exclusiv products, including Dreamboxes, which is the equipment I use and recommend. I also sell Reef Brite metal halide and LED fixtures as well as Maxspect & IceCap Gyres.

Equally for additional insights and information, please explore my many other reef tank and SPS related articles equally well as my YouTube channel. For an fifty-fifty deeper dive into reef tank care y'all can check out my Reef Keeping Master Class. This online course is an immersive and one of a kind educational tool designed to assist reef aquarium hobbyists build and maintain a cute SPS reef tank. The course is a series of video presentations with some supplemental video from my YouTube channel. There are besides quizzes to aid students retain and understand the data presented in the course.

Need some frags…..I can assist with that likewise 🙂 Please visit my SPS Frag shop to run into what is available.

Source: https://reefbum.com/photography-videography/best-camera-for-a-reef-tank/

Posted by: bryantheareather.blogspot.com

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