these are really impressive photos. Beautiful.

well, I've had to show my license a few times, but always manage to get off with a warning.... probably looked at my pic and decided he best be nice.. I could haunt him in his dreams!

Well, I'm 71 and have been shooting with Sony mirrorless cameras since 2014. I have a A6000 APS-C and a A7R3 full frame. The A7R is a little bit larger and heavier.. even heavier, depending on how big the FF lens is.


The new Sony ILCE C7 is FF with 5 axis stabilization, 24MP and the size of the A6000 series cameras. I would love getting it, but can't justify the expenditure at this time.

Check it out here: https://electronics.sony.com/imaging/interchangeable-lens-cameras/all-interchangeable-lens-cameras/p/ilce7c-b

A good site to compare cameras and sizes for weight is: Camera Size Comparison .. https://camerasize.com/

from what I found... the 'new' Sigma 17-70mm lens has a minimum focus range of 7.9" throughout it's focal range. I'll round it up to 8 inches. Means your camera cannot be closer than 8 inches to your subject. Just back up a bit.

I use Manual mode and focus peaking.. I can tell when the lens isn't focusing through the view finder and I usually need to back up for the lens/camera to focus. I shoot hand-held.

Auto focus struggles to get a focus when you're that close to a subject .. in shade or close to the ground.. your body shadowing the subject or surrounded by other plants and flowers... shots are also usually noisy. That's why most Macro shooters work in Manual focus mode and/or use some kind of lighting (a small ring light). You can also stop down your aperture to let more light onto the sensor.. I can't tell you how many times I've done a photo shoot and most of my shots are noisy from lack of proper lighting ON A SUNNY DAY no less! I usually do studio work with plenty of lighting. ( I need a camera light. ) You CAN get a sharp macro/close-up hand held... don't breath.

Keep on practicing, you'll get it.

Nice to have a bit of a zoom.

The new Sony A7c, 24mp, Full Frame camera has a [3.0" side-opening vari-angle touchscreen LCD] ...
I'm thinking that could be interpreted as being fully articulating. Sony has a way with words!

Eeek!

I tend to read the low reviews first... they are usually honest, because they want to warn people. Some of those rave reviews are false.. sometimes I wonder if they even used the item they're talking about. I skip the I love this monitor.. don't give any reasons.

Anyway, BenQ is supposed to be a great monitor...I wouldn't buy this one though.

feeling happy. Wonderful image.

Hibiscus? Pretty darn perfect capture.

Not sure, but those "worms' look awful familiar as army worms/catapillars. Very destructive. When we had our farm we sprayed the trees and grounds for them.

It would make sense to see if you could borrow your friends lens for a while and see for yourself how you like it. It would be in his and your own interest to do so.

Venus Laowa 100mm, f/2.8, 2x Ultra Macro lens... $500 is getting rave reviews. (for canon/nikkon/sony etc)

OMG, looks like your post got HI-Jacked. I don't know what more information anyone could need.. I was going to suggest what camera they were used on, but you gave that info a while back....several non-subject replies after that informative post. I have sony equipment myself. ;)

Canon 5DM2 camera... (5D Mark II)
SIGMA Lenses/Canon MOUNT ..

Every lens has a 'minimum focusing distance'. Your lens isn't a macro lens, even with extension tubes, you'll need to get further back from your subject, until the minimum focusing distance for your lens is reached.

Try your camera in Program mode and use the Macro setting. That's what the IPhone does.

They "tried" to double the monthly payment
https://digital-photography-school.com/adobe-price-hike/

and now.......
Adobe tells users they can get sued for using old version of Photoshop. (Not sure, but I think this pertains to the cloud versions)

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/a3xk3p/adobe-tells-users-they-can-get-sued-for-using-old-versions-of-photoshop

I've been watching and getting newsletters from Mike Browne for years. I happen to feel he explains everything in most basic ways... very understandable. He not only explains it, he gives examples in the field. He explains what he's doing while he's shooting.

I like watching and reading about tutorials on MY specific gear. After all, those manuals are complicated sometimes.. convoluted and a mix-match of cross referencing.
I think people want to see tutorials on the gear they already have. Or have just bought.

I would like to join a group that only uses my specific gear. That would be the ultimate "fun" learning experience for me.

Now, who is that guy with the boudoir white hair? ;)