alfarabi

<p>In addition to what Peter has said above and all the suggestions for extension tubes, go out early, when the dragonflies are still lethargic. Work on your stalking technique. It should be doable.</p>

<p>I remember someone telling me that he regretted selling his D200 for the D300. He complained that the exposure seemed to shift with each successive shot on his D300. He eventually sold his D300 and got another D200 :)</p>

<p>A very hairy fly. Taken with D80 with 85mm and extension tubes. Fill flash used. Photo is uncropped.</p><div></div>

<p>You may also want to consider getting older non-macro primes of the same focal lengths as mentioned by the others and you, and using them with extension tubes. John Shaw in his book hardly talks about macro lenses. It is usually a prime lens and extension tubes for him it seems. I have been doing the same with good results. Cheaper too I believe.</p>

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<p>One reason why I got interested in macro photography is because I don't need to kill a creature just to enjoy looking at it. Good macro photography can be done without killing our subjects or harming them by putting them in containers or subjecting them to some form of refrigeration.<br>

The 60mm is fine but it depends on your subject. You will probably be shooting some very lethargic bugs or flowers.With proper stalking technique and patience, you may even be able to come real close to insects that normally be pretty skittish.<br>

Seriously consider investing in a good tripod and ball head as you may wnat to maximise the DOF which would imply a lower shutter speed.</p><div></div>

<p>Sorry about that<br /> Here is the photo<br /> Nikon D80 with 85mm Nikkor and extension tubes and SB600 for fill flash</p><div></div>

<p><img src="../photo/9285079" alt="" /> Locust Peek-a-Boo<br /> Nikon D80 with 85mm Nikkor and extension tubes and SB600 for fill flash</p>

<p>Thanks, Richard. It seems to be ok but perhaps just barely as it works with some other camera or when I use some other extension tube. It only has this problem only when I use a particular extension tube on the D40x but the same extension tube works well on my D80. When I use another extension tube on the D40x, it works fine. So I am still not sure if it is the D40x or that one particular extension tube which is the problem, or both :) Thanks all for the responses.</p>

<p>I have checked and it seems fine. But the Uniplus extension tube still won't click on the D40x although the Teleplus extension tube clicks fine. The Uniplus extnesion tube clicks nicely with the D80 :(</p>

<p>Richard, consider getting some extension tubes to go with your zoom lens. They will reduce your minimum focusing distance and get better magnification. Close-up diopters are fine but you tend to lose some image quality I guess compared to extension tubes. Extension tubes mean losing some f-stops though. You can also use some old prime lenses with extension tubes. That would be cheaper I believe.</p>

<p>Just to add, in general, it is good to get a longer lens for macro but it also means that your magnification ratio will be not so great. Also not all bugs or other flying things need to be shot at a longer range. The dragonfly photo was taken with an 85mm with extension tubes which means that the subject was very close to the lens. It is interesting that John Shaw in his well-known book hardly talks about macro lenses. It is usually a prime lens and extension tube combination for him it seems.</p>

<p>The Tamron 90mm is a fine lens. I love it very much. I don't know about the Sigma you mentioned.<br>

However lately I have taken to using prime Nikkors, non-macro 200mm AIS and 85mm AIS, for macro photography with extension tubes. They give great results too.</p><div></div>

<p>Hi all<br>

I am facing a problem with my D40x. When I attached my Uniplus Tube 25 on it, it does not give a click sound to indicate that it is in place. When I fixed a lens on the extension tube that is already in the camera's mount, the display on the D40x says the "lens is not attached". However when I do the same on my D80 with the same extension tube, I have no such problem. There is a nice click and the lens works with the tube.<br>

However, when I use my Triplus extension tube on my D40x with a lens, there is a nice click sound and the lens is detected.<br>

Can anyone suggest a reason for this anomaly?</p>

<p>She is using a D70. Could it be that the small viewfinder on the D70 is causing part of the off-focus problem?</p>

<p>Actually, when you do macro, it is BEST that you forget about AF. So your lens don't have to be AF.</p>

<p>I know it is about lenses but don't forget the tripod.</p>

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I agree with Tim. You should turn this into a PR victory. Go out of the way to do what Tim has suggested and I am confident instead of being seen as a bully, you will be seen as someone nice to work with. BUT make sure you protect yourself with some of the suggestions already given above for future work.

Maybe you would like to read this article:

 

http://www.naturephotosociety.org.sg/ASP/Article.asp?DBAPublishDate=1/10/2005

 

Hope it helps.

Day Moths<div></div>

I would agree with Richard about the steady tripod. A good, steady tripod is very important for macro work.

I am inclined to agree with Vivek. Get the Vivitar 100 mm macro. It is cheap and good enough for a beginner. Below is a pic of shot I had taken with this particular lens.<div></div>

Hope it is not too late!<div></div>

High perch<div></div>