The Raynox devices are exactly that, a close-up lens which clips on to the front of your preferred lens.

The DCR150 & DCR250 gives a magnification of 4.8 & 8 dioptre respectively.

These are high quality lenses and come with a clip on mount to suit 52mm-67mm filter threads. The lens itself has a 49mm thread.

I was about 30cm away I guess and yes, it was watching me but it seemed comfortable at the distance I was at.

A 35mm or 50mm macro lens is sufficient for flowers. Something a bit longer might be needed for live subjects to leave a bit of distance between your lens and subject to avoid scaring it away.

I'd suggest 90mm to be the minimum focal length for live subjects.

Apart from Pentax which I believe is outside your budget, Tamron and Sigma make good Macro lenses. I have a Sigma 180mm macro lens and it produces superb results.

This is an image of the adult wasp during the nest's construction. This wasp can be recognised by the absence of hair on its abdomen.




Gear used: K20D, Sigma 180mm Macro EX DG, hand held.
Software Used: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2.7

I have considered other brands, but I've only ever used a Pentax SLR/DSLR. My 'stick it in the pocket, just in case' camera is a Fujifilm F810 with a dodgy power switch.

Note to self: I must get round to fixing it soon.

This is the nest of a single Paper Wasp (Polistes gallicus). I'm not certain how the nest would develop but I'm guessing that as the larvae hatch and become winged adults, they assist in the nests development.

Most of the nests of this type that I have seen are not much larger than this but I have seen them up to about the size of a small plate with many adults visiting with nest material (wood pulp) and food.

I have a healthy respect for these creatures and I don't mess with them when the adult wasps are about. Safe enough when there is only one adult, just work out the shot, wait for the adult to depart, then in true SAS style, get in, get the job done, and get out.

Thanks for all your comments.

I should have added in the gear list a 20mm Kenko extension tube, but I can't edit it now.

No worries Dave. I'm sure I'll find another one somewhere. Thanks for the PM anyway, even though I never got to read it.

That clears up the mystery then. It's a shame you couldn't have waited for me to reply.

I got an email to say I had a new message but when I got there, the cupboard was bare. Did you send one to me, then delete it? Just to clear up a mystery, that's all.

I did ask you to send me a PM if/when the bag was available again because I would definitely have bought it.