Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

Kim Moore, Bill Hudson, & I spent a few hours searching for six-legged & eight-legged critters in the native & decorative plants at the Jack Dunster Marine Biological Reserve, located at the Alamitos Bay Marina, Long Beach. I hope their photos are better than mine, as I am not particularly pleased with any of any of these.

Multi-Colored Asian Lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis) eating aphids

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5-mm "Looper" Geometrid Moth Caterpillar

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3-mm Golden Grapevine jumping spider (Sassacus vitis)

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Mating Stiletto flies (Ozodiceromyia nigrimana)

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Signaling 2-mm jumper

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10-mm female Red-Backed jumping spider (Phidippus johnsoni).

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kimssight

I'm working on mine. Thanks for your help today.

Larger mating flies on the sign: Stiletto fly - Ozodiceromyia nigrimana
Gold Metallic jumper: Jumping spider - Sassacus vitis http://amazingnature.us/spiders/Sassacus_vitis.html

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

My resident entomologist - Thank you.

Photomacdog Loc: San Francisco (Bay Area) California

Hi Nikonian,

These shots are beautiful. Can I ask you a question? I just purchased a Nikon D5300. What macro lens do you recommend for my camera? I notice you have a Nikon D5200. Did you use the D5200 to take these photos.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

For the last four months, I have used my D5200 with my Nikkor 105G macro lens, for all of my macro-photography. If I had to replace my lens, I would strongly consider the Sigma 105-mm macro lens. The Tamron 90-mm, or the Tokina 100-mm macro lenses are also good alternatives.

D5200 with Nikkor 105G macro lens & Nikon SB-600 speedlight with FotoDiox softbox diffuser

Photomacdog Loc: San Francisco (Bay Area) California

Thanks for answering Nikonian. What is the reason for recommending the Sigma, the Tamron and the Tokina over the Nikkor? I have been trying to take close shots, not macro, with my 18mm-300mm Nikkor lens with close up lenses. Not easy and poor results. Seeing your beautiful macro shots has gotten me all excited about being able to take macro shots. Would a skilled photographer be able to take pictures that are close to the quality of your pictures with my camera and one of these four lenses? I know I am going to have to put out over nine hundred for the macro lens. Seeing your lighting set up looks like at least another thousand or so. I am disabled and sitting down while taking pictures would be pleasurable way to spend time. Thanks for your help.

BillMunder Loc: New Hyde Park. NY

Hello.
Check out Mike Moats. He has always used Tamron lenses on a a budget Nikon body. You can also look for Tiny Landscapes, that is his web sight.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

One of my local photo-buddies is Bill Hudson (FlyExtreme on UHH). He quite successfully uses a Sigma 105-mm macro lens, which cost significantly less than my Nikkor 105G, and the images are outstanding. Other photographers on this forum successfully use the Tamron 90-mm or the Tokina 100-mm macro lenses. Each of these compare very favorably to the Canon 100-mm or the Nikon 105-mm macro lenses. Here is a summary of macro-photographers and their set-ups: http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-116428-1.html#3350076

bogeyeliot Loc: Signal Hill, CA

I have the Nikkor micro 85mm which I love....it's not a 105mm lens, but for the money I believe it's also worthy of consideration, esp for a DX camera.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

A decent lens, designed for APS-C (DX) format: http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/85mm-f35.htm .

A-PeeR Loc: Houston, Texas

Nice shooting Douglass, the Stiletto flies are my favorite of the set. Dead on with this shot. Overhead of the jumper shows excellent detail and nice color contrast on the abdomen. Looks like it was a productive day at the Reserve...

xxredbeardxx Loc: San Clemente CA.

Wonderfully done. I need to take a little trip. Thank you for sharing the photo's and the details.
:thumbup: