Edwin Barkdoll

Pink lady slipper

It turns out there is a simple solution for mac users. Select the files you want to rename in Finder. Depending upon how current your OS is there will be the familiar "gear" symbol or 3 dots in a circle. Clicking either will bring up a menu which includes a Rename option that allows one to add an incremental number, a date, or other text. This works across folders/directories which is handy. If you screw up, CMD-z undoes the name changes.

Seems an easy fix to extend the character limit – it's even more limited than the old DOS filename limit of 8+3 characters > 40 years ago. Thanks for the comments.

While reviewing some files from the other day, I noticed that the numbering had restarted at NZ7_0001 after hitting NZ7_9999. Is there no automatic way around this potential file name duplication, e.g., by incrementing the letters Z7a --> Z7b? Ditto question for the Z8. I have d7 set to ON in both cases. Thanks

@LensofNature Another option that is relatively inexpensive but does have a bit of a learning curve is to get extension tubes for your 50mm and 85mm. Exte tubes go between the lens and the body. FOr example a 50mm tube used with the 50mm lens would give you 1:1 magnification. I'm not familiar with the canon line and accessories but Ideally, you'd get a "smart", electronically coupled tube – aperture control, etc. Similarly, 85mm of extension on the 85mm will also give you 1:1 mag. Extension tubes are not expensive but don't be tempted to get crappy ones.

I agree with @paddler4's remarks about choosing how "macro" you want to go and what you want to do with the resulting images. Do you intend to post images online? Print them and if so, how large? With a mirrorless or DSLR with interchangeable lenses, one can go from the truly tiny to not-really-macro and spend a lot of time and money. A camera I often use in the field is the Olympus TG-6 – basically a specialized point-and-shoot camera. Even the TG-4 or TG-5, which are no longer manufactured but can be bought on the used market for a song, can take good macro photos and can be excellent learning tools. I like the TG series for its excellent macro capabilities, waterproofing, rugged build, and the fact that I can carry it in a coat pocket if needed. Don't get me wrong – I will use a DSLR or mirrorless with a tripod, macro lens, etc., if appropriate. But don't sell the TG-6 short. Attached are photos of a tiny snowflake and a Dobsonfly larva (underwater) taken with the TG-6.

Frost on my car's hood (bonnet) the other morning

Bumblebee feet

I particularly like how you can see the transparent nictitating membrane half covering the eye. Presumably for protection. It'd be interesting to see if the membrane usually covers the eye when catching prey.

@david_simon Cool hoatzin shot. They’re bizarre yet fascinating birds.

Bioluminescent bitter oyster mushrooms (Panellus stipticus) preparing for Halloween. ISO 25600, 209s, f/18, 105mm

"Teeth" – cranial suture of horse foal.

Yes, African lion, female I think but only subtle differences between male and females, so I'm not confident. The skull has uncertain provenance. It was part of a bone collection from the '50s or earlier given to a friend just before the original collector died. The collection included human and other primate bones, and bones of birds, seals, fishes, canids, felids and other animals. I helped her ID most of the collection, and researched its legality, so she gave me the lion skull. I happened to have the aspen leaf in the room at the time and it seemed to complement as well as contrast the skull. Your right the lighting was suboptimal. Thanks for your comments!

I just received a Nikkor 105 Z mount. I haven't used it much yet – hurricane Lee blowing through today – but far so good. One thing I am a little disappointed and puzzled by is Nikon's removing the physical switch that selects VR ON/OFF/SPORT modes, requiring one to go into the camera's menu to change the VR mode. My habit is to turn off VR when doing a focus stack so that there are no small movements between images. Perhaps this is unnecessary – I've read conflicting articles about VR on a tripod, but not much about focus stacking. Anyway, I prefer the simplicity of a switch on the lens rather than in a menu. I don't think the L-fn button can be programmed to switch modes, but I would be happy to be proven wrong. Has anyone who uses this lens found a work-around?

Playing around with dead things. The light was all wrong in the color version so converted to BW. Skeletonized big tooth aspen leaf on big cat skull. 8-15mm Nikkor on Z7 Thanks for any comments!

@tcyin Wow!

... or their homologies - gray seal flippers.

Seal tibia and fibula with surfer torn from his board.

Fern sporangia. 10x microscope objective on Nikon Z7

Brown marmorated stink bug eggs in a row. ~5x magnification

Best wishes for a speedy recovery, Sanford. Stiff upper lip and all that! 😉