Red Admiral - I think

I think that there is a slight focusing problem with this lovely Red Admiral. With butterflies (and other insects for that matter), it is essential to get the head and body in focus. Unless the butterfly lies with its wings completely or almost flat, you will always have problems with the wings being out of focus - in this event, try to change the angle of the shot to ensure that the body and at least one wing is sharp - the other wing will be blurred. Suggest using Spot Focus rather than Matrix to ensure what you want is in focus and then re-frame the shot. Ideally use a tripod to enable you to increase the fno to, say, f16 to get the best depth of field. This will reduce the shutter speed but the tripod will hold the camera steady.

John

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Pentax K7, Pentax DFA 100 macro, Sigma 17-70 macro, Tamron 70-200 Di LD zoom macro, Vivitar 28 f2.8 CF, Tamron 500 mirror lens, Pentax 360FGZ flash, Panasonic FZ28

Thanks for the advice which will be heeded next time I see such a magnificent creature. This was a grab shot and therefore not planned at all, but that's no excuse.

"This will reduce the shutter speed but the tripod will hold the camera steady." Don't you mean increase the shutter speed?

Howard

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Cymru Am Byth

The smaller the aperture the slower the shutter speed, but greater Depth of field and more of the shot in focus!....a nice effort my friend,as John say's unless they are absoloutley flat they are nigh on impossible to get all in focus!...............Ken

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K20D...ist DS ,DA18/55,DA16/45.DA* 50/135,"A"1.7 50MM..."A" 70/210..M 50mm f2...Tamron 90mm macro,28/300 Tamron,200/500 Tamron 6.9....A Pentax DA*300... Sigma10/20,FA31mm 1.8 Ltd*********,FA 77mm Ltd!