Springtails in Richmond Park

best time of year for collembola

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2cuE​1sc

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2b7M​7mN

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2cuD​wtX

racketman wrote in post #18780887
best time of year for collembola

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2cuE​1sc 2L2A3150 Soringtail carrying dew drop by tobyjug5, on Flickr

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2b7M​7mN 2L2A3143 Springtail by tobyjug5, on Flickr

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2cuD​wtX 2L2A3130 Orchesella cincta by tobyjug5, on Flickr

Wonderful set Toby.

Wonderful series
Brian v.

Very nice

You are right about winter being the best time. There was an article in BENHS about springtail abundance looking at Richmond Park and they said that there was a marked increase in numbers in winter.
Why were you using your canon and not Olympus EM-1 MKII? I am asking because I am wondering about changing because of post focus stacking.
This person looks very good
https://www.flickr.com​/photos/achimowl/

Some of his photos are with the Lumix GX80 which is not that expensive (I haven't got to the stage of costing this yet).

https://www.flickr.com …3667612825/in/d​ateposted/

Excellent work, I’ll have to rig my Olympus 60mm to get the required magnification. I don’t think the in camera stacking feature I use a lot for larger invertebrates works with tubes but the focus bracketing for larger stacks using Zerene software evidently works.

Have you got a link to the BENHS article?

Sadly BENHS don't put their journals online - saying that it is not that expensive you should consider joining. I think an exhibit of your photos at the Annual Exhibition in November in London would be great.

Have you considered using raynox to get your Olympus to work at higher magnifications
http://extreme-macro.co.uk/raynox-adapter-techniques/

I think the MSN would give you a 4:1 ratio (please check before buying)

The x4 Raynox doesn't give much working distance, I do actually have one. The other thing is he uses a Panasonic which has the post focus feature which works with extension tubes unlike the focus bracketing feature of my Olympus. The Raynox will work but tricky for lighting.

The gold standard for collembola photography for me are Eddy the Bugman using an MP-E65 and 1.4x TC on a 5D2. Sadly he seems to have left the forum since 2015.

https://www.flickr.com …16221912426/in/​datetaken/

and of course John Hallmen, also using a 5D2 but with microscope lenses

https://www.flickr.com …44/in/faves-40608033@N00/

Dslrs still out resolve micro 4/3 even with Achim's very nice shots which get a bit watercoloury when viewed full size.

racketman wrote in post #18789523
The x4 Raynox doesn't give much working distance, I do actually have one. The other thing is he uses a Panasonic which has the post focus feature which works with extension tubes unlike the focus bracketing feature of my Olympus. The Raynox will work but tricky for lighting.

The gold standard for collembola photography for me are Eddy the Bugman using an MP-E65 and 1.4x TC on a 5D2. Sadly he seems to have left the forum since 2015.

https://www.flickr.com …16221912426/in/​datetaken/

and of course John Hallmen, also using a 5D2 but with microscope lenses

https://www.flickr.com …44/in/faves-40608033@N00/

Dslrs still out resolve micro 4/3 even with Achim's very nice shots which get a bit watercoloury when viewed full size.

What size monitor were you using to see them? I can't see that or with Neil Philip's work
https://www.flickr.com​/photos/ukwildlife/

That shot of John's was amazing - really good.

I really like Marie's work (not an example I can follow as she uses a studio which would not be much use in the Amazon)
https://www.flickr.com​/photos/78925926@N08

I

27" monitor. I see it with my own comparison of the EM1 and 5D but still I find myself using the EM1 more as it is very good and most of my subjects are much larger than collembola and then the difference is less noticeable.
Typical shots from my EM1 using the built in 8 shot stack feature:

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/26eH​UWx

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2ayY​Vhc

Wonderful work as usual. Are you saying the Olympus has an "in camera" focus stacking ability? That would be a very nice feature indeed.

yes you press the shutter and it takes 8 shots at different focal increments (adjustable) then produces a stacked image in camera.
In addition it has focus bracketing up to 999 images but you have to stack these yourself with Zerene or other software. Both are great features that Canon should look to include in their bodies.

racketman wrote in post #18790171
27" monitor.

That is a big monitor. I will have to try to find one to see if I can see it.
BTW those shots are great - I didn't look at flickr much during August so had not seen them before.
how exactly does the in camera stack work and what other models have it? Does it take time? I would hate to have to weight between shots.

Have you ever thought of taking some photos with static subjects to compare your different kit?
If you have the time, you could get people to vote on photos without camera info to see if there is a difference with the same kit (same subject, same photographer would be a good test)

One question how still does a creature have to be to get 8 shots?
IIRC this was walking slowly - would that have been no good?

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2dW5​NaV

racketman wrote in post #18790194
yes you press the shutter and it takes 8 shots at different focal increments (adjustable) then produces a stacked image in camera.
In addition it has focus bracketing up to 999 images but you have to stack these yourself with Zerene or other software. Both are great features that Canon should look to include in their bodies.

So right about Canon having to include this.

There are a lot of things Canon needs to "look into".