I won one from a magazine last year, and was very tempted to keep it and ditch my Manfrotto 055ProB, but I guessed I'd get more selling the brand new Giottos than I would a scruffy Manfrotto. It was a lovely tripod, very smooth action, taller than the 055, nice head too. I had the MT-9371 tripod (link is similar, but less sturdy one) and the MH7302-720 Fluid Ball Head.

I would recommend them both.

But then I like my 055ProB too. Good compromise on weight, features and cost. Would rather have the new style XproB though.

Dan

I didn't say it was a ladybird, just infered it might be.

There's actually a surprising number of hairy beetles about, but you don't normally notice them. My favourite is Agapanthea villosoviridescens.




Dan

Here's a book to look out for:

Ślipiński A. 2007. Australian Ladybird Beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) Their biology and classification. Australian Biological Resources Study. col. illus. 288 pp.

This book, by Australia’s ladybird beetle specialist, Dr Adam Ślipiński, illustrates Australia’s diverse and fascinating ladybird beetle fauna — the commoner spotted species and the many others that are striped, glossy, and even very hairy.

( http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/publications/other/coccinelids.h... )

Dan

In case you misunderstood me, I meant how is it with the camera on its side (portrait format)? Can you still get the flashes either side opf the lens, rather than above and below?

Dan

Sorry, said I wouldn't but I did.

BUT, that hoverfly shot is one of the best I've seen from you, and the lighting is perfect. So it doesn't matter if it looks a bit daft, it does the job very nicely.

How is it for doing portrait format shots?

Dan

(Thinking you might look like a massive bug looming over the poor subjects )

K10D, Sigma 105mm, f/5.6, 1/60s, ISO100, tripod.

Dan

I agree with Chirpy, the first one's in better focus, but the background's a bit distracting. The second one works better for me as a composition, but the focus should, for me, be on the head.

Dan

My DA*300mm arrived today , so the Tamron 300mm f/2.8, 1.7x AF Convertor and other bits will be appearing on ebay soon.

Dan

Sorry John, should have pointed out the Tamron is the 300mm f/2.8, very much a 'top quality professional optic' (of its day). I look at the shots I get from it and from a sharpness point of view, I don't really see that it could be improved upon, it's certainly sharper (I think), than any of my other lenses, when I get it in focus!

Purple fringing around specular highlights is an issue, and this wasn't something I could test when I was at SRS as it was a dull day, and there is a certain amount of longitudinal CA which I didn't notice with the DA*.

There are plenty of reasons to upgrade, but cost is a good reason not to. I just want to make sure I'll be getting value for money.

Dan

Sometimes I'm so daft. Remembered today that at work we have an account with Intro2020 (the Pentax distributors), and with my staff discount I could get the DA* 300mm for about £800, so I'm much more tempted again. (P.S. It's advertised in the latest P.U. mag at £849 from Digital Camera Exchange )

Anyway, having spent an hour or so shooting ducks at the local park with my Tamron 300mm, I managed about 30% of the shots in focus. Those out of focus were the fast moving, splashing about shots mostly, as well as trying to get them flying past. I'm wondering how the AF lens would cope with these, and whether the over all hit rate would increase.

And although results posted by others look very good, I still have that nagging doubt as to whether it would be sharper than the Tamron. Thing is, we all have our different ways of shooting, and processing a picture, so direct comparisons are near impossible. The only way I can see that I'll convince myself is to have a play with one in a proper scenario (not in a shop doorway in Watford ), process them for myself and compare.

So..., is there anyone with the lens who'd be willing to meet up and let me have a proper go of it? Not sure when or where, but I could probably work round most days, can do weekdays as well as weekends (although I work many weekend days).

I realise there are other benefits to the DA lens, but it's still an investment I have to be able to justify, and I'd prefer to ensure I'd be getting my money's worth, especially as the home situation has just changed and money's going to be a bit tight from now on.

Here are a couple of examples from my Tamron, full frame, then a crop shown at 100%.













Thanks,
Dan