about 5.7 cms.

I knew you'd ask that. Wait a bit.

The more you practise the less you throw away. But it is still a lot. It's impossible to know if you have obtained focus or kept still enough, so you tend to take several just in case. Sometimes several isn't enough.

Excellent! Didn't think it would work so well with those lenses instead of the butchered zoom.

And, just to show how you can get the hang of it, I just shot these this afternoon in the garden. They are no great shakes, but all the same.

What number were we up to? Er, 17?

17.



18.



19.



20.



21.

Thanks, Pete.

Like I said to smeggy, I only take photos of the ones that stay still. Some days everything seems to pose for you, some days they all bugger off. It would seem impossible to creep up on something with a bloody great camera and flash setup, but some insects just don't seem to care. Incidentally, some insects actually cringe when the flash goes off, but still stay in place for the next shot!

This setup is good for small insects, so you have to spot them first, unless they are like the butterflies. I prefer the insects to be on a hedge or plant, as you get fed up getting on the floor just for them to fly off. So, I move slowly until I see one. I have the flash on SL, so it never switches itself off. I don't wear bright clothing. I find green best! Get yourself in a decent position, then slowly move the camera(at the ready) toward the insect and hope it stays still until you can get it in focus. The dof is minute, so I always try to take a few shots.

There are also times and temperatures when insects are not as lively.

But, basically, like most things, it takes lots of practice. It seems impossible to start with, but it just becomes natural.

That's it. It fits on the hotshoe mount and allows you to tilt the flash forward. I have it so the diffuser I bought and fitted to the flash actually rests on the Nikkor, so the light is on the subject. It's obviously not like a ring flash, but then you'd be too close for a ring flash fitted on the lens. I'm sure other ways of lighting could be better, but this works pretty well.

The unit is 22 quid at Amazon....well, it was if the last 2 haven't been snapped up. The flash unit cost me 26 quid on ebay.

Yep, Charlotte, exactly the same.

Forgot about the Hamma adjustable bracket. Very important. Also, it was almost the most expensive bit of the kit. it would have been the most expensive if I hadn't have got it at half price from Amazon. I'll see if I can find the number......... It's Hama 006899 Adjustable Shoe Mount Universal. Only 2 left in stock at Amazon!!

Just done some tests re above:

Got vignetting a bit before you, Charlotte, around 68mm, but only the tiniest whisper. That's probably because I wasn't that clean when removing the plastic on the front of the zoom. I'm quite prepared to say that I could probably see the same results as you if I cleaned it up. That last bit may be rubbish!

However, it doesn't make a great deal of difference to the shot. I'd say that you get ever so slightly more in the frame at lower focal lengths, but not much. The subject is seems slightly further back, by a tad.

I haven't done and DFA100 testing today, and I'm not sure if I'll get a chance.