THE SPIDER THREAD

I understand - but I was just pointing out that equipment should not be your obstacle to joining in Most of my macro work is done with a compact Canon S120 and achromats - like the two photos below. Sure, the results aren't as good as others, but it does at least let me get close to the results I'd like to achieve. My apologies if you thought I was being condescending, I didn't mean that at all. Peace.

Found this little guy running up a tree trying to hide in the very rough bark.

It was a bit of a tricky shot as I ended up on tip toes and had several fails where the flash was blocked by the deep "valley" contours of the bark. If only they knew we only want a photo, we're not after them for lunch.

Photo from nardes's gallery.
Image hosted by forum (936404)

These are superb shots guys.

I'm behind you,,

Macroramphosis wrote in post #18727977
You don't need a specialised lens as such if you just want to play about macro to start with. One of the lens in your kitbag will most likely give you very good results with either an achromat attached to the front of it, or reversed with an adaptor (and perhaps extension tubes as well).

Good achromats are made by Raynox (commonly the 150 and the 250), Marumi (I use the 200), Canon and even Nikon. They will typically cost you somewhere between $50 and $100 or so, and they can be used stacked as well.

Adaptor rings for reversing your lens can be found at any good photo shop on on eBay. You just have to make sure you get the correct one compatible with your camera mount and the filter-ring diameter on your lens to will it will attach. Extension tubs will also need to be compatible. Some extraordinary results can be had by using all three suggestions above in tandem. A brief overview of the subject and some techniques can be found at http://extreme-macro.co.uk/. I hope this helps and you find it interesting!

I am sure others here will have much more than I to say if you need more suggestions.

I looked up "achromat" at B&H Photo and the Canon one is $399.
https://www.bhphotovid​eo.com …_achromat_2_9_6​4_art.html
Am I looking at the wrong thing? It seems to be for soft focus rather than for macro photography. Thanks for your patience! I have just never heard of an achromat!

ozziepuppy wrote in post #18731951
I looked up "achromat" at B&H Photo and the Canon one is $399.
https://www.bhphotovid​eo.com …_achromat_2_9_6​4_art.html
Am I looking at the wrong thing? It seems to be for soft focus rather than for macro photography. Thanks for your patience! I have just never heard of an achromat!

Canon do make some achromats, I think they're called the 250D and the 500D, and they are indeed supposed to be very good. However the Raynox and Marumi are of similar quality and typically cost between $60 and $80 or so. If you do want quality do not be tempted by the eBay 'close-up lens' that typically sell for much less - they may be fine for playing about with, but apparently they just do not produce great photographs.

Macroramphosis wrote in post #18732616
Canon do make some achromats, I think they're called the 250D and the 500D, and they are indeed supposed to be very good. However the Raynox and Marumi are of similar quality and typically cost between $60 and $80 or so. If you do want quality do not be tempted by the eBay 'close-up lens' that typically sell for much less - they may be fine for playing about with, but apparently they just do not produce great photographs.

I guess I just wasn’t familiar with that terminology—I actually already have the 500D! I have tried the 500D on my 100mm macro lens (not IS) & it didn’t seem to make a difference, so I haven’t used it. Perhaps I don’t understand how to get the best performance from it.

I posted these in a separate thread, but thought they might as well go here as well...

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2ceA​GhM

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2c9B​gP7

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/29sH​YTd

ozziepuppy wrote in post #18732623
I guess I just wasn’t familiar with that terminology—I actually already have the 500D! I have tried the 500D on my 100mm macro lens (not IS) & it didn’t seem to make a difference, so I haven’t used it. Perhaps I don’t understand how to get the best performance from it.

Calling a lens an achromat only means it has been corrected for chromatic abberation (CA), it doesn't necessarily mean it is a close up lens.

Cheap close up lenses are made of a single glass element and are therefore not corrected for CA, consequently they a resonably sharp image in the centre but CA will blur the details towards the edges. Better close up lenses have 2 or more elements to correct the abberations and produce pretty much the same sharpness right across the frame. Every lens that you own whether it is a prime or a zoom will be an achromat if it has more than one element because it has been designed to minimise CA.

S.R.M. wrote in post #18732669
I posted these in a separate thread, but thought they might as well go here as well...

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2ceA​GhM Female Green Jumping Spider by Stephen Mudge, on Flickr

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2c9B​gP7 Male Green Jumping Spider by Stephen Mudge, on Flickr

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/29sH​YTd Frangipani ambush by Stephen Mudge, on Flickr

Super lighting and details mate. I love that second one rocking the mohawk.

St Andrew's cross spider, Argiope keyserlingi, at Nunjurr (Wangi Falls), Litchfield National Park, Northern Territory of Australia.

mat vanella wrote in post #18732714
Super lighting and details mate. I love that second one rocking the mohawk.

Thanks very much Mat!

Pippan wrote in post #18732725
St Andrew's cross spider, Argiope keyserlingi, at Nunjurr (Wangi Falls), Litchfield National Park, Northern Territory of Australia.

Hosted photo: posted by Pippan in
./showthread.php?p=187​32725&i=i239736250
forum: Macro

Nicely captured Pippan!

S.R.M. wrote in post #18732732
Nicely captured Pippan!

Thank you Stephen.

S.R.M. wrote in post #18732669
I posted these in a separate thread, but thought they might as well go here as well...

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2ceA​GhM Female Green Jumping Spider by Stephen Mudge, on Flickr

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2c9B​gP7 Male Green Jumping Spider by Stephen Mudge, on Flickr

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/29sH​YTd Frangipani ambush by Stephen Mudge, on Flickr

Brilliant! The second one made me smile a great deal!!