[brian-iow]

Geir...Of your two posted macros, I personally find the second one of more interest.Both are of a very high standard.
Graham... I will also follow up your lead with regard to the focus rail if you do not mind.
Marchin...with regard to the thread,I do not personally have any problem with it loading and it is nice to be able to backtrack through the pages to find an earlier post.
Brian

[Charlotte]

Originally Posted by chrisa

Or do we just tell Charlotte to bug off ?

I can take a hint

[Dabhand16]

Originally Posted by brian-iow

Graham... I will also follow up your lead with regard to the focus rail if you do not mind.

Fill your boots Brian. The more that members make enquiries, we might get a discount from them!

[EKIMIKE]

Hi people,

First things first, Marcin your pictures are immense. As a result, i've found myself occasionally looking at macro lenses .

I wouldn't mind some reccomendations and pointing in the right direction. My body is a Nikon D40x so obviously im not the up-market loaded tog (code for im on a budget). The lens that sticks out for me is the Nikon 105mm VR 2.8 - but that's £415 from One-Stop. I'd have to wait for next months (100% disposable income) pay cheque to shell out that kind of money and whats more : do i really need that level of lens?

So thoughts turn to Sigma lenses......

Any help is much appreciated,

MiKE

[Dabhand16]

You could do worse than to start off with a set of magnifying lenses that fit on the filter thread.

Also a set of extension tubes are around £80 for the automatic ones, or £17 for manuals.

You can also get reversing rings to fit your lens back to front, although focus is a b****r, they are cheap.

[Dave]

Originally Posted by EKIMIKE

So thoughts turn to Sigma lenses......

Any help is much appreciated,

MiKE

Pixalo Photographic Equipment Reviews - 105mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro -
Sigma 105mm EX DG Macro f/2.8 - Example / Sample shots / photos
Sigma 105mm Macro recommended at Cheltenham Camera Club

[marcinklysewicz]

EKIMIKE my advice is - go for some good lens. macro photography is not easy so help yourself with some dedicated macro lens. if you decide that it's not for you there is always option that you could sell it. with reversing rings, extension tubes and staff like that you could experiment later after you say to yourself that macro photography is something that you really like. i have friends - they started badly and finished their adventure with macro quite fast. if you buy some macro lens it'll be easier to achieve good results and you'll like it. but it's just my opinion and i was doing macro with my fuji finepix 9500 for one year. and people - including me - will say that it's not the equipment but your passion and skills that make your photo interesting. so... it's really your choice. (i didn't help am i )

Geir Andersen both photos are great - i love that background. no 2 is better, however background is better on no 1.

both photos were taken at about 6am today, and i went there at 5:20am.

1. F8, exposure time 0/30, ISO160, no flash, only natural light


2. F8, exposure time 0/30, ISO160, no flash, only natural light

[Geir Andersen]

I'm really feeling I get more and more from my ef-s 60mm macro now . At first it was hard to get used to, but it just keep getting better!

I was out mowing the lawn a few hours ago and came across this in the grass. Jumped inside for my camera and grabbed a few shots. Very low light and no diffuser for the flash so I had to use ISO1600 and 1/60s to get a decent exposure. Fair bit of noise, but managed to get rid of some of it.

Think I need to get either a better flash or even a dedicated macro ring.

[EKIMIKE]

Originally Posted by marcinklysewicz

(i didn't help am i )

I respect your opinion Marcin, i understand where you're coming from. It obviously takes time and a keen passion to achieve such results as you demonstrate. To be honest i'd be a fool to try and emulate someone such as yourself lol. I'm sure i lack the skill.

Seems i'm going to go for this Sigma 105mm. I remember from browsing around here that it is an apparently versatile lens - good for portraiture as well as macro. I think it'd be a sound investment and not too steep. I can even order it now . I'll jus have to weigh up the oppertunity cost as im looking to start drving this summer..............no doubt i'll buy it anyway. My money my toys .

Thanks Dave for the links and Graham for the suggestions,

MiKE

[EKIMIKE]

Right, am i right in saying that because it lacks HSM it will not AF on my D40x?

If so is this really going to be a problem? Macro doesn't strike me as a high speed business

.................I'm quite happy Manual focussing, allows a bit more freedom.............

[brian-iow]

Geir...You have managed a very acceptable photo in poor conditions.

Mike...I cannot advise you on lens,i can only relate my personal experience.I have only a small Fuji camera, when I saw the start of this thread and Marchins photos I wanted to try macro.
I have spent just a few pounds on two screw on close up lenses and a Raynox D250 clip on lens.
I am never going to acheive super pics, but I am getting immense pleasure from getting the best from my modest setup.So perhaps if screw on lenses are an option perhaps you should give them a try.

[brian-iow]

Just a couple more photos
Wild Grass

This picture below i took at the largest magnification I can manage
Geranium Stamens