That sounds very interesting, Colin.

This is the sort of thing I would hope to improve on with a macro lens :




The focussing range of the 55-300 will not allow me to go any closer and cropping reduces the quality of the image. I want something much sharper, and bigger !

Thank you all for the helpful input.
From everything I've read, something around 100mm would be ideal. I also appreciate that I will probably need time to learn how to use it to its best advantage !

I happen to have a K adaptor that I needed for a Tamron 70-210 lens (which I really must get on and sell).
The Sigma 105 certainly seems to get rave reviews.

I do envy people that manage to pick up secondhand bargains - I don't know how easy it is to find anything here in France. I have to confess to never having used ebay (to nervous).
Charlotte - thank you, I will probably be along to pick your brains.

Edit : I don't suppose anyone here has one they want to sell ? I'll be coming to Devon via Portsmouth in September for 10 days ...

I feel I've gone as far as I can with the 55-300 and will never get the result I want for anything smaller than, say, a swallowtail.
I've had a good look on internet now and I will just have to bite the bullet re cost - but might be lucky ad find a secondhand one.

One question, though : Will Sigma, Tamron and Vivitar fit the Kx ? Or will I need an adaptor ?

Thanks John - I did read a posting here where someone praised his beloved 100mm !
I will probably stick with AF as sometimes you need to be very quick !

There are lots of topics here about macro lenses, but I haven't found one that answers my question.
Plus of course cost is a factor !

I would like to treat myself to a macro lens, at the moment chiefly for insects and butterflies. I'm still very much a learner so I don't want anything that's too advanced or too expensive.

Up to now I've managed some reasonable close-ups with my 55-300 but of course I will never get the detail and sharpness afforded by a macro lens.

Any suggestions/help would be appreciated.

Many thanks for all the helpful replies. I've just got in from work so will have a closer look when I've eaten !
From a quick look at the replies, it looks as if I've been fretting for nothing.
By the way, it's not an old Mac - well, it's 18 months old

My Kx is set to 12M Jpeg recorded pixels and *** Jpeg quality yet for some reason, when I transfer my photos to my Mac laptop, they come up at 72dpi which makes them useless for printing.

I don't believe this comes from the computer as photos copied onto here from my husband's little Nikon are always at 300dpi, as does an old Olympus digital. His photos are Jpeg too.

I'm tearing my hair out, yet I'm sure there must be a simple solution ! I've looked in the handbook but maybe I've missed something ?

It's encouraging to see just what the Kx is capable of, probably aided by the superb lens.
(I love my Kx !)
Hard to say which is my favourite - they all give something different !

I have just returned from the UK and was a little dismayed at the problem the closing time seemed to have caused. I copied it from the previous competition and hadn't taken into account the time change at the end of March.

Apologies for the oversight - I'm afraid I was rather preoccupied.

A big thank you to Chris for taking over the judging from me in my moment of need. It's not an enviable task, particularly if you haven't chosen the subject !

The subject of "simplicity" came to me after seeing various shots in the Gallery which I liked because of their simplicity.

Anyway, thank you all for your entries and congratulations to the chosen ones