Here's another taken from a more head-on aspect which shows one of its pedipalps extended forward more than in the other images. I think this shows it to be a male, so we've called him Boris.

I think that amounts to a rather substantial quantity of bovine excrement.

Here .

I think it may be a wolf spider (Lycosa tarantula). Including its legs outsretched as pictured it is about 4 inches or 100mm long.

First three images taken with K20D + AF160FC ring flash + Sigma 180mm 1:3.5 EX DG Macro lens and the rest taken with SMCP-FA 100mm 1:2.8 Macro.

For me, #3 has the most interest. You may not even have seen it yourself but there appears to be a track leading away from the boat and to the right of the image which adds a bit of interest.

#1 and #2, a thumbs down from me.

I agree totally. I ship ebay items worldwide, with a few exceptions. It's no more difficult for the vendor to post to Spain as it is UK. There isn't even any need to fill in a customs declaration for inter-EU trade.

Jack, if you want that lens I can give you my UK address but I'm not going back to UK 'til late September.

When you return, take a number of shots at different focus points then stack them later. You can get it all in focus.

The image shown above seems very dark to me. I'd prefer to see exposure or brightness turned up a bit.

The main benefit for me in using the longer focal length macro lenses is the increased minimum focus distance whilst maintaining a 1:1 magnification ratio.

I use it mostly for insects, spiders, and other creatures that might take flight, sting, or bite if I got closer.

I'm not sure you will get a similar increase in minimum focus distance by adding a T/C to a 100mm lens.

The Sigma 180mm 1:3.5 EX DG Macro lens is a very fine lens but is now out of production. If you can find a new one in stock, grab it.

A searched a very long time for a Pentax-A 200mm macro lens, and gave up. They don't appear for sale very often and when they do, they cost, as George says, around £2000. I compromised on the Sigma 180mm in the end.

The only issue I have with the Sigma lens is that the focus 'throw' is very small which makes it more difficult to focus manually.

Bluray and/or DVD's is perhaps an expensive choice of backup medium given the frequency that it should be done.

Since the topic is essentially about backup, I agree that multiple HDD copies and good old fashioned tape is my choice.

Strewth, you can (almost) buy a K20D body for that price.

I use a Heliopan 105mm CP filter in a Lee holder.

I wasn't sure if thoughton new the difference Jack. I realised you did.