Locust

A couple of cropped JPGs ... zoom in and the detail is amazing. Both taken using a DA*16-50 the first at 16mm and the second at 34mm. The second had a shutter speed of 1/6 second hand held which suggests either I have a very steady hand, SR works well or both! The PEFs and BMPs are even better for fine detail.

[IMG]http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/Polchraine/PentaxForum/Locust_crop1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/Polchraine/PentaxForum/Locust_crop2.jpg[/IMG]

Just realised that the images have been resized for display here - but they are still at the original size on Photobucket.

Surprisingly the first picture, taken at the shorter focal length, is less sharp than the second which was taken at 34mm. I would have expected the result to be the other way round. There's no doubt that the DA*16-50mm lens and the shake reduction system work very well but you've also got a steady hand to get the pictures this sharp. However for this type of photography you do need to use a tripod to get top quality results which is why I never attempt pictures like this.
david

In both cases there was a need to be "quick" - for the first I was balanced on one foot, holding on with my left hand and camera in the right so could not zoom in and wanted to get the largest image possible and I may have been a little closer than the minimum focussing distance.

Tripods are fine if you have time to get set up - but for these, in 2 seconds he was gone.