First proper shot with MP-E

I received my new (to me) mp-e65 on Friday and my focussing rail finally arrived from China yesterday afternoon. Strapped on the Yongnuo YN24 flashes, diffusers, downloaded Zerene and set to work. This is literally my first set of stacked shots using all the new equipment. I can see a few errors but overall I was quite pleased.

Some of the dust on the eyes etc spoils it a bit unfortunately but not sure there was too much I could have done about that.

Any critique, advice etc would be very gratefully received.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2hs4​6jS

Wonderful start. I hope you enjoy your journey in the great world of macro photography.

very nice, I don't have one but I've considered getting one many times

jcothron wrote in post #18940715
very nice, I don't have one but I've considered getting one many times

Same here as well. Great shot from the OP too!

wonderful stack especially for first go with your MPE-65

Brian v.

Cracking start!
Great detail and light

Thanks everyone.

I played with the same fly again yesterday just to practice the stacking. The fly was starting to dry out so didn't make a fantastic image and the rather brutal mounting method I used is rather obvious here (the fly was already dead when I impaled him!!) but I was fairly pleased with the way the stack worked. It was just a practice shot really to get lighting and stacking worked out.

Need to do some research re getting rid of the slight halo etc.

For scale the syringe needle I used to hold the fly is exactly 8mm long. The mp-e was set to approximately 2x magnification.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2hsb​kEX

big_g wrote in post #18940706
I received my new (to me) mp-e65 on Friday and my focussing rail finally arrived from China yesterday afternoon. Strapped on the Yongnuo YN24 flashes, diffusers, downloaded Zerene and set to work. This is literally my first set of stacked shots using all the new equipment. I can see a few errors but overall I was quite pleased.

Some of the dust on the eyes etc spoils it a bit unfortunately but not sure there was too much I could have done about that.

Any critique, advice etc would be very gratefully received.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2hs4​6jS 2019-10-08-16.50.37 ZS PMax.jpg by Big_g2, on Flickr

Great effort. The MP-65 isn't an easy lens to use. I think you did very well.