A-PeeR Loc: Houston, Texas

It was a rain shortened macro day. It started pouring by 10:00 AM. Could have had a lot more keepers but I got distracted trying to capture bees in flight. I was surprised with HSS I could shoot 1/500 to 1/1000 with decent illumination. Did get some subject motion blur. I suspect it's coming from the flash pulsing as the shutter slit travels across the sensor but I'm not sure. More research is in order.

Two static shots from today. Butterfly is standard parameters with Sigma 105 on 72mm of tubes.

Bee is ISO 200, 1/1000 at f/13, Sigma 105 on 72mm of tubes.

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tinusbum Loc: east texas

nice! that butterfly gave you a perfect pose and you nailed it

A-PeeR Loc: Houston, Texas

Thanks Tom, a true overhead shot standing up. I was surprised it allowed me to encroach it's space without fluttering off. Even the blind squirrel gets a nut every now and then...

martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida

Picture Perfect Focal Plane, Nice Captures.

sford122 Loc: Amarillo TX

Sweet butterfly. You really pinned it... I mean nailed it!
<Bazinga!>

waltchilds Loc: Central Florida

These are all very sharp and detailed shots. Nice work.

A-PeeR Loc: Houston, Texas

Thanks Martin, interesting session it allowed me to pop off 6 or 7 shots directly overhead before flying off.

A-PeeR Loc: Houston, Texas

Thanks Susan and aren't you the funny one. I wish I could splay and pin a butterfly that well. Working with dead critters for stacks I have a new appreciation for the talent that goes into a nicely presented mount..

A-PeeR Loc: Houston, Texas

Thanks Walt. I almost wonder if the lens is too sharp.....

waltchilds Loc: Central Florida

No, they are not too sharp in my opinion, to me they are close to perfect. I have a couple of questions on how you achieved this level of sharpness. Since you shot them at 1/1000 does that mean you didn't use a flash. The reason I ask is my maximum sinc speed, in order to use a flash, is 1/200. Also, I have not tried using tubes yet. Where did you purchase your 72mm tubes and do you find they work better than not using them.

A-PeeR Loc: Houston, Texas

Walt - Maximum sync speed on my camera for one flash pulse is 1/200 as well. For the bee shot I used flash in High Speed Synch mode. Basically instead of one flash pulse the camera fires multiple bursts as the slit formed by the shutter curtains travels across the sensor.

I bought my Kenko tubes off eBay. Actually I got two sets of 68mm so I could have more tube length options. Some very good deals on eBay for the patient buyer. My two sets, very lightly used, cost less than a brand new set. Tubes are good for increasing magnification without degrading optical quality. Getting the hang of stabilizing your camera at higher magnifications is challenging. Now that I can do that, with sufficient ambient light, I find it easier to focus in on specific parts of the subject at high magnifications than say 1:1. I do find tube setups awkwardly balanced compared to the telescopic magnification zoom of the MP-E 65. This is overcome with proper hand placement, cupped under the lens.

waltchilds Loc: Central Florida

Thanks, William, I appreciate the clarification on this.