Sugar Ant

[dpastern]

Not sure if other countries have these, but they're quite large, around a 1cm or so. Species is Camponotus nigriceps. Not the best of shots, couldn't get decent shots as it was deeply embedded in a bush with branches etc and it was breezy and the light was crud as it was dusk. Still, happy to have found it, haven't seen these in my local area before.

Dave

[LordV]

Neat capture Dave- don't think we have those in the UK
Brian V.

[dpastern]

Thanks Brian - I wasn't sure on the name, my mother always called them Sugar Ants, so I googled it and found them! They're quite placid, despite rather large jaws, I used to pick them up and let them run around on my fingers when I was younger.

Dave

[Omri Alon]

Nice capture :D

[dpastern]

Thanks Omri :)

Dave

[reewik]

Dave , that with the 1D or the D60?... How do you feel about having both the camera bodies?

[dpastern]

Eric - 1D. I don't even use my D60 anymore, haven't since I got the 1D. I'm saving up for a 1D mark IIn ;)

Dave

[reewik]

LOL... That is what I am also doing...Thanks

[dpastern]

LOL... That is what I am also doing...Thanks

The D60 just doesn't compete. I'm doing a TAFE photography course at the moment (digital photography basics) and I'm sure my teacher thinks I'm a smart a$$ and showoff cos of my choice of camera. I don't really care what he thinks, the 1D is my choice of camera, it's an extension of my eye and desire to capture images and it feels right, and provides beautiful images. That's all that matters.

Dave

[reewik]

I am right there with you... I have considered more MP but Hav to save my pennies. I love the 1 series so much, love the way it fits perfect in my hands .. love the controls it has... I would like to take a course like that sometime...

[dpastern]

Check your local colleges for night time short courses :) I'm saving up for two items:

400mm f2.8 IS
1D Mark IIn

Still struggling with the order ;)

Later on will come a MPE-65 for macro work and a few other lenses.

Dave

[reewik]

So why the choice of Sigma for your macro lens? You sure have lots of canon gear?

[dpastern]

So why the choice of Sigma for your macro lens? You sure have lots of canon gear?

Because I liked the image quality of the Sigma 150mm macro, and others here are using it and reported excellent build quality and finish (as well as optical quality). As far as I'm concerned, it has more working distance than the Canon 100mm/Sigma 105mm (at the expense of weight and size though [of the lens]), and has optical quality that very closely matches the Canon 180mm f3.5L - at a third of the price. It's a bargain. I'm looking at a few other Sigma lense as well - the 24-70mm f2.8 and the 15mm f2.8 fisheye, both of which have excellent reports of optical quality. The fisheye would stay with my kit, the 24-70 would eventually be upgraded to a Canon variant in the future when funds allow. Other lenses to be added to my kit at some time are a 300mm f2.8 IS, TSE-45mm and 85mm f1.8, 50mm f1.4 and possibly the 135mm f4L.

Dave

[reewik]

I think you have proven its quality ... Look at the shots you are getting... How is the AF?

[dpastern]

I think you have proven its quality ... Look at the shots you are getting... How is the AF?

I hardly use it lol. Macro is manual focus as far as I'm concerned, so I rarely use AF (so far - I will be pushing it with motor sports, wildlife and bird photography in the future as I branch out more). I've noticed that with 45 point AF it tends to get confused, especially on busy scenes. I usually have it set to centre point single AF point focus with a registered point for composition preferences. I also make use of the focus expansion (9 points) custom function, which works a treat i've found.

AF is usually super fast and generally super accurate. I'm sure the AF on the 1D doesn't perform as good in low light situations as my 1n.

Dave