Bug odds and sods

Lord Vetinari · September 1, 2008

Some recent bug shots from the garden.

Brian V.

Soldier fly

Heather ladybird about 4mm long

Cabbage white caterpillar (I think)

Menacing woodlouse

Flying red ant- think this is a drone

Leaf hopper

Ichneumon wasp

cyclejoc · September 1, 2008

Brian,

Very cool shots! Love the closeness. Thanks for sharing.

GOLDENORFE · September 1, 2008

great shots Brian. i always remember cabbage white catterpillers being more colourfull, will have to google it!
phil

Marc Langille · September 1, 2008

first and last
Are definitely my favorites. Beautifully done!

Brian, I am curious: what is the most difficult part about using the MP-E 65 lens? My understanding is that it has it's own set of challenges due to it's construction.

Regards,
Marc

stevehapp · September 1, 2008

amazing shots, brian..

tlee · September 1, 2008

The woodlouse looks like some sci-fi horror monster

. It is my favorite--although ALL in the series are great as usual!!

Skippy · September 1, 2008

Lord Vetinari wrote:

Some recent bug shots from the garden.

Brian V.

Soldier fly
Heather ladybird about 4mm long
Cabbage white caterpillar (I think)
Menacing woodlouse
Flying red ant- think this is a drone
Leaf hopper
Ichneumon wasp

My favourites are the Woodlouse his head is shaped like a helmut,
and the Leaf Hopper...... gosh they have the weirdest shaped heads

... Skippy

.

Lord Vetinari · September 2, 2008

Thanks for the comments everybody

- much appreciated.

Marc- Most of the difficulties in using an MPE-65 are just down to the magnifications. It's minimum magnification is the same as the maximum magnification of normal macro lenses (ie 1:1) but it goes onto a max magnification of 5:1
This gives inevitable problems with :-
1. Focus due to the extremely thin DOF and lack of light at higher mags
2 Light - flash is almost compulsory above about 1.5:1
3 Stability to avoid camera shake
4 Weight - my MPE-65/40D flash bracket/430Ex combo weighs in at 2.5 Kg
5 Diffraction softening due to extremely small apparent apertures at higher magnifications.
6. Very close focus distances (1.5" min to 4" max)
It is not a replacement for a normal macro lens but an addition.

Overall it takes quite a bit of getting used to and the normal advice is to play around with a normal 1:1 macro lens for at least a year before even considering an MPE-65.

Remember also you can get near the max magnification of an MPE-65 using ext tubes and reversed lens combos.

Brian V.

BigAl · September 2, 2008

Very nice as usual, Brian - the first time I have ever seen so much detail on a hopper!

Lord Vetinari · September 2, 2008

BigAl wrote:

Very nice as usual, Brian - the first time I have ever seen so much detail on a hopper!

Thanks Al

- long time no see

Brian v.

Marc Langille · September 2, 2008

Lord Vetinari wrote:

Marc- Most of the difficulties in using an MPE-65 are just down to the magnifications. It's minimum magnification is the same as the maximum magnification of normal macro lenses (ie 1:1) but it goes onto a max magnification of 5:1

Overall it takes quite a bit of getting used to and the normal advice is to play around with a normal 1:1 macro lens for at least a year before even considering an MPE-65.

Remember also you can get near the max magnification of an MPE-65 using ext tubes and reversed lens combos.

Brian V.

Thank you Brian. That is quite a series of issues to contend with!!

Currently I have a 200/4 macro, plus extension tubes that I've not played with very often. It's min. working distance from the front element is 11 inches, which is great. I sold my 100/2.8 because the 200/4 suits my needs much better, and I can be further away with skittish or venomous subjects.

Again, thank you for the response and I sincerely enjoy your work - your passion and technique show others what can be done in the right hands.

Regards,
Marc