Macro Photo thread

[DibblyDobbler]

pidsy said:

What's a good entry macro lens for my eos guys?

50 if really on a budget, 60 is better, 100 better still

[GravelBen]

Getting there with the $1 reverse 28mm:

Fly portrait (1) by gravelben, on Flickr

Fly portrait (2) by gravelben, on Flickr

Edited by GravelBen on Saturday 6th September 12:56

[ddarno]

Dragonflies appear to have gone now...


Small Heath by ddarno, on Flickr


Fly by ddarno, on Flickr


Shield Bug by ddarno, on Flickr

[Pvapour]

Ed_P said:

Did it fall out of a lime tree? Could be a Lime Hawk Moth (Mimas tiliae).

a tilleul tree

seems the horn is its rear end according to wiki, strange, miss having the time to study these more, one day....

[pidsy]

DibblyDobbler said:

pidsy said:

What's a good entry macro lens for my eos guys?

50 if really on a budget, 60 is better, 100 better still

Budget would be £150-200. What would that get me?

The insects you guys have posted are incredible.

[DibblyDobbler]

pidsy said:

DibblyDobbler said:

pidsy said:

What's a good entry macro lens for my eos guys?

50 if really on a budget, 60 is better, 100 better still

Budget would be £150-200. What would that get me?

The insects you guys have posted are incredible.

That will get you a second hand 60mm (try eBay). You'll need a flash as well (pop up one will do fine) - preferably with a diffuser otherwise the light is very harsh (this needn't be anything fancy - do some Googling). Any questions - ask away

[OGR4M]

DibblyDobbler said:

Any questions - ask away

• ahem*

I currently have a 70-300mm Sigma which I'm using for macro, but that Fly pic I took on previous page is the best I can do without cropping it.

Am I better off shelling out for a proper macro lens to stand any chance of getting 'up close' properly?

[pidsy]

DibblyDobbler said:

pidsy said:

DibblyDobbler said:

pidsy said:

What's a good entry macro lens for my eos guys?

50 if really on a budget, 60 is better, 100 better still

Budget would be £150-200. What would that get me?

The insects you guys have posted are incredible.

That will get you a second hand 60mm (try eBay). You'll need a flash as well (pop up one will do fine) - preferably with a diffuser otherwise the light is very harsh (this needn't be anything fancy - do some Googling). Any questions - ask away

Thanks.

[DibblyDobbler]

OGR4M said:

• ahem*

I currently have a 70-300mm Sigma which I'm using for macro, but that Fly pic I took on previous page is the best I can do without cropping it.

Am I better off shelling out for a proper macro lens to stand any chance of getting 'up close' properly?

Short answer is yes I'm afraid - to get properly close you'll need a prime lens - eg 50mm, 60mm, 100mm etc. It's the minimum focus distance which is the key (it needs to be low) - this will give you true 1:1 macro

[2slo]

Taken today, anyone know what type of Dragonfly this is? Cheers.

Dragonfly by 2slo7, on Flickr

[ExPat2B]

Common Darter, based on red spots on wings, eyes, red above and yellow below, and orange thorax colour.

[2slo]

Thanks, I wanted to know so I can update the title from 'Dragonfly'

[Dogsey]

Flies on Apple by Mike G Photos, on Flickr

[nre]

Some huge garden spiders in the ..er garden at the minute, unfortunately they're usually head down near the ground entailing lying on the floor to get a head on pic. These two were more accommodating.

garden spider 1 by NRE, on Flickr

garden spider 3 by NRE, on Flickr

and a big eyed pointy headed thing...

heineken fly by NRE, on Flickr

[ExPat2B]

Getting closer to those Lizards !

Sand_Lizard_Closeup by natureiser, on Flickr

[OGR4M]

Couldn't get out recently, so here's a pan full of water:


ETA: taken on Canon 50mm F1.8 - 1/1600 @ f2.0 ISO 1250, s'why it's noisy and fuzzy, honest...

Edited by OGR4M on Wednesday 10th September 20:10

[Ed_P]

A selection of things found on ivy today:

Life in the Ivy by Ed Phillips 01, on Flickr

[ExPat2B]

[ddarno]

Slightly odd question, I currently shoot hand-held as find a tripod too clumsy for wild bug shots. Wondering if anyone uses a monopod and if it's worth it as it only provides support in one dimension?

Cheers
Dave

[Ed_P]

ddarno said:

Slightly odd question, I currently shoot hand-held as find a tripod too clumsy for wild bug shots. Wondering if anyone uses a monopod and if it's worth it as it only provides support in one dimension?

Cheers
Dave

I never use tripod or monopod for outdoor macro, but as lots that I photograph are on the ground, I do use a beanbag. One useful trick that I read about and have used occasionally, is using a long walking stick/cane. In effect, you just grasp the cane at the appropriate height with one hand and then rest the camera on the hand. This gives better control than trying to hold the camera steady in "mid-air". Also, to change height, just slide hand up and down the stick.

Mt favoured technique when an insect is on a plant, is to carefully pinch the stem between thump and forefinger of my "spare" hand and then rest the camera on that hand. The camera and "subject" then move in unison. OK, most bugs fly off, but many will stay put.

And no, before anyone asks, I don't have three hands!