dragonfly

[Jo.T]

hi all
had some great fun with dragonflys the other day. This one was caugth in in a spider web so i was able to get some nice front on shots. Im not sure about the crop should i have left more of the body? I have the full photo on my Flickr page if you wish to have a look.
At the moment im using my 18-55 mm lense with +3,+2 close up filters (105mm prime lense is on my xmas list )
Any other feed back would be greatly appreciated
Cheers Jo

F29
1/60 sec
ISO 100

[bruceliv]

I prefer the full shot, not cropped. You do some nice work. IMHO, your kit lens is not appropriate for macro work. Close work, OK, but not macro. The image displayed here just doesn't cut it, too blurry.

I would suggest you forget the close-up filters and buy the 60mm f/2.8G Micro and save yourself a dime! The 105 Macro is huge and heavy and difficult to control. The VR on the 105mm is a waste because most macro work will be on a tripod and used with manual focus. The 60mm is a great lens for DX as well as FX -- a terrific prime lens!

[Bluenoser]

Originally Posted by bruceliv

I prefer the full shot, not cropped. You do some nice work. IMHO, your kit lens is not appropriate for macro work. Close work, OK, but not macro. The image displayed here just doesn't cut it, too blurry.

I would suggest you forget the close-up filters and buy the 60mm f/2.8G Micro and save yourself a dime! The 105 Macro is huge and heavy and difficult to control. The VR on the 105mm is a waste because most macro work will be on a tripod and used with manual focus. The 60mm is a great lens for DX as well as FX -- a terrific prime lens!

Not necessarily true. All depends on what your subject matter is. If you're into capturing insects, you'll pretty much never be using a tripod, plus the 105mm gives you more distance from subject than the 60mm.

I have a Canon myself and started with the 60mm but quickly sold it and purchased the 100mm. Huge difference imo.

If you're doing a lot of stationary Macro work, then yes you'll be using a tripod. If you're using a tripod, weight of the lens isn't going to matter, unless of course you have a tripod not designed to hold the weight.

[Jo.T]

[QUOTE=bruceliv;1089304] I would suggest you forget the close-up filters and buy the 60mm f/2.8G Micro and save yourself a dime! The 105 Macro is huge and heavy and difficult to control. The VR on the 105mm is a waste because most macro work will be on a tripod and used with manual focus. The 60mm is a great lens for DX as well as FX -- a terrific prime lens!

Thanks Bruce and Bluenoser for your feed back,
I have only be at this in a more serious way for a few months still learning and enjoying every minute of it.

I have just upgraded to a nikon d90 and a 50mm f/1.8D and tubes to go with it. The rest will come in time.

quick question is there any such thing as a good mini tripod for macro work?

Cheers Jo

[vitalygeyman]

Its a cool shot I would consider cloning out the second black line top right.....

Vitaly
- Fine Art Flowers and Tree Photography, Black and White Nature Photography

[bruceliv]

Jo, the 50 f/1.8 is an excellent prime. Congrats on your upgrade.

Bluenoser, I owned the 105mm for 2 years, finally sold it when I bought the Voigtlander 125mm Apo-Lanthar. The 105 is a monster, OK for hand-held shots and that's it. It's useless on a tripod because of the awful focus shift. When you're close and try to refocus, you get a major image shift.

The Sigma APO MACRO 150mm F2.8 EX DG HSM is tack sharp, costs ~$160 less than the Nikon and affords greater shooting distance with no image shift.