Flash has its place and its uses but I'm not certain about this place and use. There is ample natural light as shown by that magnificent chrysanthemum. The roses, while nicely exposed are stark and clinical by comparison. If it ain't gonna move you've got all day for the exposure, which can be modified with reflectors if needed.

The swan on the black background is beautiful.

I never cease to be amazed at the quality of the images this 1940-50 lens produces. It came off a folding bellows camera originally and I have modified it into an M42 mount. It can be used as designed (105mm) with a full set of extension tubes (55mm) or, by adding a further set, it makes a superb macro lens.



You can use it on bellows too and get even more extension



1
This tiny Hairy Cress flower is about 1mm across



2
The sempervivum and moss sporecases were in a little pot. With the lens at 100mm or so the picture had to be taken from about 5ft away. This is a crop from a much larger image. The detail is remarkable.



3
Into the light, there is no flare and the stark contrast produced next to no fringing.



4
These last two are also heavily cropped but they hold their detail really well.


5



First two are archive images from a K5. The spring flowers are with a K1 and extension tubes, as described, all around f8

First one is excellent. What's going to happen when the meter needs to be read?

After a whole month with what I thought was an easy topic there are but 4 entries ! Come on folks. You are all locked down, you all have something in the house that will roll ................ ?

Several 500s in M42 on Ebay tonight including a couple of nice Russian mirror jobs

The second one is very nice and I would have loved to be let loose with that frost!

Some nice close work there.

That second one is beautiful.

It is a running crab spider. Ambush specialist that goes from zero to munch in 1 second.