First day out with the new MP-E

Well, I got the MP-E after waiting what seems like year!!

So I head out to the local butterfly house, strapped on the flash (felt a bit embarrassed - its a specialist looking beast and I got even stranger looks that I get with the 50-500!!).

Given I like to jump in at the deep end I figure I'll go hand held, plus lugging a tripod round is a pain.

These are the results, and I'm pleased to say that I only binned about five images so the keeper rate is higher than I expected.... but I did have to blow a couple of ants off the lens

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/magsnorton/6867​368254/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/magsnorton/6867​373828/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/magsnorton/7013​487245/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/magsnorton/7013​493463/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/magsnorton/7013​496541/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/magsnorton/7013​497871/

wow nice job, #5 is my favorite. I have been debating on getting this lens because i am about maxed out right now on my 100mm. im trying to save for the 70-200mkii but may get this instead.

Excellent first shots..i want to shoot those ants, were they running round the butterfly house? Where was it?

Great work on getting those mandibles in focus. I tried my hand at insects for the first time yesterday, but fly wasn't nearly as accommodating as your ants seem to have been.

Thanks guys - I stepped up from the 100 too, I found that no matter what I did, bellows, tubes whatever I didn't get quite what I wanted, so I got the MP-E as well as it starts off where the 100 stops, making it a great accessory. I would strongly advise the MT-24EX too, but be aware that if you have the L version of the 100mm if you want to use it you'll need a macrolite 67 adapter, which is a little annoying.

I have to say five was my favourite as well - that particular ant was nice an helpful, the others much less so! Then it becomes a matter of timing.

The place was near a place called North Anston which is luckily close enough to where I live to make it worth getting a pass - that and my daughter seems to want to go ever two weeks it seems - anyway here's the link. Theres loads more stuff there too, meerkats, birds of prey, etc etc.

like the ant shots; lighting on the butterfly is too harsh, what diffusion are you using? You wont be using a tripod much with that lens, flash is generally preferred as you have to get rather close to the subject even at x1, maybe early morning dew shots etc but certainly not active ants!

The headshot of hte ant is pretty darn cool.... lol... yuck bugs!

Great results!

Great work. Enjoy the new lens.

Good start with the new lens !
Brian v.

racketman wrote in post #14149975
like the ant shots; lighting on the butterfly is too harsh, what diffusion are you using? You wont be using a tripod much with that lens, flash is generally preferred as you have to get rather close to the subject even at x1, maybe early morning dew shots etc but certainly not active ants!

Thanks - its a home made diffuser, but not only am I new to the lens but to flash in general so I could be blowing it easily.

I've just got it set to TTL - should I be looking to manual settings, or indeed having the camera reduce the strength of the flash?