What a great Moth and great images too! Fantastic detail, shows off the Moth's features very well.

Regards
David

I have this lens, by and large it is very accurate at focusing on both my K-3 and K-5iis, but has required some fine AF adjustment on both. Also, in common with many other lenses (and camera bodies) it's a bit more hit and miss in low light, something I've noticed most when doing gig photography where light levels can be very poor. Consider when adjusting the fine AF you can never get it 100% right because this is a zoom lens and the focus inaccuracies may (will) differ at different focal lengths. My suggestion would be to adjust the AF at a middling focal length, or at the one you are likely to use most often. The technique I use is as follows:

- Place on a tripod and shoot a subject with good contrast at a medium distance, with the subject angled at approx 45 degrees to the lens. A white ruler, or a white page with black writing is a decent subject

- Set to F2.8 aperture and focus using AF and the viewfinder (not Live View), take 3 images and for each image make sure the lens is de-focused and then re-focused using AF prior to pressing the shutter

- Review all three images (easiest to do on a PC monitor) to see if you have a consistent front or back focusing problem. You may find some variation, if necessary repeat until you see a definite pattern emerging

- Once you've established whether you have a front or back focusing issue, adjust using the AF Fine adjustment in the camera menu, ensuring you only it apply the adjustment for this single lens

- Once adjusted, repeat the steps above and re-adjust if necessary until you hit a 'happy medium'

Once you've done this you will be at the closest point possible to reliable focusing, but please bear in mind that you may still experience some issues especially using the lens at its widest apertures. 135mm and F2.8 makes for a wafer-thin depth of field, so errors are not unusual.

Please don't give up on the DA*50-135, it is one superb lump of glass.

Cheers
David

Great shots, I like them all and they are all the better for being monochrome, except the last of course.

Regards
David

Lovely pictures, the last one in particular is a stunner.

Regards
David

Great set, the first one is superb, but they are all very good.

Regards
David

It's good to see the different techniques evident in this thread, I use both flash and non flash for macro shots, but for Bees in flight I prefer the 'good light / no flash' route. I tend to use flash for static macro subjects, particularly things like Damselflies in the evening, when they are a bit less flighty, but there is insufficient natural light. Good results though from all the techniques used here.

Regards
David

Wonderful shots Bill, it reminds me of a visit myself and my wife paid there a couple of years ago, in the Autumn of 2016. It was very busy when we went too and being with the wife I had very limited time for photography. I struggled to get shots with no people in them.

My favourite from this set is the first one, because it is different and makes the most not only of the sculptural shapes, but also of the dour grey contrasting with the bright green. It's reminiscent of a close-up of scales on a reptile.

Regards
David

A lovely set David, thanks for posting such enjoyable images.

Regards
David

Extremely good shots Derek, especially the Hoverfly!

Regards
David

An interesting thread indeed! I know everyone's not into macro and insect photos, but this sparks my interest at least.

I had to smile at Nigel's post, I can confirm 100% Nigel there is 'no flash' in my images and your struggles with 'the two Davids' is hilarious!

Thanks to the OP for this topic and for generating some debate / advice. This area of photography is very difficult to perfect and a lot of credit is due to everyone who's managed to capture one of these well.

Regards
David