Still dithering over the DA* 50-135mm ?

I took the lens for a spin yesterday . . .

The first is a Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius) Wingspan 80mm. It has longer tail streamers than the Swallowtail (Papilio machaon)










This is a Thread Lacewing (Nemoptera bipennis) Body length 12mm.







And from this . . .




I got this crop.

Lovely shots, well done. I have the lens and find it excellent as a general purpose walkaround lens (if a tad heavy). I particularly like the Thread Lacewing photos - wish we had that one over here

Thanks Jonathan, I hope I've ID'd the butterfly correctly, even though it has the tip of one streamer missing. Around these parts, these aren't scarce at all.

Outstanding!

I'm interested to know: for this type of subject do you purposely shoot wider, then crop? Kudos for getting the entire wings and tails in the frame, which is why I asked. (that may seem a dumb question but it's sometimes a struggle for me)

Nice shots, I really like the Lacewing.

shim

Superb shots!.......but then again it is a superb lens!.....I just obtained mine last week ,,but I can't put it down!...."Prime quality" in a zoom!.........................

Giving Tree: It's not a dumb question at all.

To answer your query, you have to get as close as your lens and your subject (if it's live) will allow, or is safe. Knowing the limitations of your lens is easily learned, knowing what your subject will allow comes with practice.

The shots taken with the DA*50-135mm are as close as I could get due to the lens' minimum focus distance. Those with the FA100mm below are as close as my subject would allow, although it was very obliging. It even waited around for me to go back to the car to change lenses.

The shots above were taken with the lens at 135mm and very close to its minimum focussing distance. These were an experiment to see what the lens & camera could do. All taken hand held and no flash.

It was quite windy at the time so I'm quite pleased with the results.

I took some more of the Lacewing with the FA 100mm Macro which gets in a lot closer.

This shot taken with the FA100mm . . .




Produced this crop . . .

It certainly is a great lens, i'm very happy to have one!

Great shots by the way!!!!!!!

Excellent photos, went to order one this afternoon to find the (2nd)retailer of choice put theirs up today as well. I know he had at least 3 yesterday so either he sold out or decided to try and make some extra profit


Personally I always start wider with crop in mind and then slowly work my way closer shot by shot until the subject gives up and decided to go elsewhere.

Thanks for your comments. I'm going to try it with tubes next. I'll post results.

A superb set Peter well done

Fantastic butterfly shots, Peter!!

Thanks Lance, your sig shows you have the DA*50-125mm version. I prefer the longer one .

I am such an idiot. It sure pays to proof read.

All good photos Peter.