First Bug!

Jack'll do

I am reluctant to share this in light of the wonderful detail many here are able to capture. Nevertheless this is my first bug shot and I'd like to know what I have crawling around my yard. Captured this with my 18-135 kit lens at 135mm. The focus is poor (in my excitement I neglected to switch to manual focus). This guy had a 3 inch spread toe to toe. Can anyone ID it for me? I have been holding off getting a true macro lens but now.. I don't know! I just might have to have one.

DaddyO

I think you did a great job with that lens. With a 3 inch dia. toe to toe
this is one very large spider. Pretty sure this is a wolf spider and a
colorful one too. Michael

GOLDENORFE

nice shot with kit lens, a very nicely patterned spider.
phil.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/goldenorfe/

Jack'll do

DaddyO wrote:

I think you did a great job with that lens. With a 3 inch dia. toe to toe
this is one very large spider. Pretty sure this is a wolf spider and a
colorful one too. Michael

Thanks for the nice comment DaddyO. I looked up wolf spider when I first read your post and it sure looks like it.

Jack'll do

GOLDENORFE wrote:

nice shot with kit lens, a very nicely patterned spider.
phil.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/goldenorfe/

Thanks Phil. This is the lens I've used for the flower shots I've been posting. It performs quite well when I do my part

dlplumer

Good capture Jack. Looks like the Tarantulas we have around here in Tucson, but I really don't know. I have been toying with getting a macro as well. Nice shot.

Jack'll do

Thanks Dan. BTW that was a very nice hummigbird capture to put up on the wildlife forum.

Giphsub

Cool shot Jack/John That certainly is a nice colourful spider. It looks very similar to the wolf spiders we had in the small town where we lived when I was small.

Lord Vetinari

Lovely capture - that's bigger than the wolfies we get here
Brian v.

Jack'll do

Giphsub wrote:

Cool shot Jack/John That certainly is a nice colourful spider. It looks very similar to the wolf spiders we had in the small town where we lived when I was small.

Thanks Mike. It scared the heck out of me when I reached down and it jumped out. The biggest spider I've seen prior to this is a Daddy Longlegs!

Jack'll do

Lord Vetinari wrote:

Lovely capture - that's bigger than the wolfies we get here
Brian v.

Thanks Brian. It sure was big. I'm glad to find out that it's not too venomous!

Skippy

Jack'll do wrote:

I am reluctant to share this in light of the wonderful detail many here are able to capture. Nevertheless this is my first bug shot and I'd like to know what I have crawling around my yard. Captured this with my 18-135 kit lens at 135mm. The focus is poor (in my excitement I neglected to switch to manual focus). This guy had a 3 inch spread toe to toe. Can anyone ID it for me? I have been holding off getting a true macro lens but now.. I don't know! I just might have to have one.

The Wolf Spiders here grow pretty big.

Sorta looks mean doesn't it looks good!

Just remember if you do go for a Macro Lens they are not just for Macro use only, unless you go for an MPE 65, that can't be used for anything but Extreme Macro.

Lenses like the 60mm and the 100mm can be used as Portrait Lenses as well.

I'm thinking the hooks are in, and your trying hard to resist becoming a Macro-aholic aren't you give up mate, no point fighting it

You did well .... Skippy
.

Jack'll do

Skippy wrote:

The Wolf Spiders here grow pretty big.

Sorta looks mean doesn't it looks good!

Just remember if you do go for a Macro Lens they are not just for Macro use only, unless you go for an MPE 65, that can't be used for anything but Extreme Macro.

Lenses like the 60mm and the 100mm can be used as Portrait Lenses as well.

I was not aware of that. I had seen that some people use 50, 100, or 150mm lenses but I assumed they were "special" macro lenses. In fact I was thinking of posting a question on "what makes a macro lens macro?" in the technique section. I in fact have a 50mm f/1.4 Nikor. I never thought I could use it for macro. I'll have to give it a try.
Thanks for that info.

Skippy wrote:

I'm thinking the hooks are in, and your trying hard to resist becoming a Macro-aholic aren't you give up mate, no point fighting it

I am rather likeing it!

Skippy wrote:

You did well .... Skippy
.

Thanks for the positive reinforcement and the info.