If I do get bitten I use After Bite which is 35% Ammonia. Smells awful but works like a charm. It's an alkali so no use against alkali stings like a bee sting (I think). The alkali neutralises the acid content in most stings/bites.

I might have that the wrong way round but you get my meaning I hope.

A couple of years ago I got stung for the very first, and only, time in my (almost) 60 years by a wasp. After bite stopped all the associated itching.

That's an easy one to answer. All of the Pentax Digital SLR's are able to use your lenses. Any Pentax lens ever made, including screw mount lenses (with an adpater) can be used on their DSLR bodies.

The oldest is the *istD which can be bought for around £200. Look on ebay for a *istD, *istDS, or any of the newer models.

The early models have 6Mp sensors and give very good results. The K10D and others has a 10Mp sensor and the K20D has a 14.6Mp sensor.

Thanks for your comments. I'm going to try it with tubes next. I'll post results.

Jungle Formula (contains DEET) works for me. Dunno who it's made by, Fyffes probably .

I thought the Tamron 90mm Macro lens produced 1:1 macro by itself. Where does the 1:1 tube come into it?

Just about any lens that is made specifically for macro work will be a very good lens. Auto focus is not necessary as the DOF available means manual focus is generally the norm.

So, if you can get a 'proper' macro lens, manual or auto focus, for a reasonable price, go for it. My recommendation would be certainly no less than 90mm focal length. The longer the focal length, the more distance you can keep between you and your subject, which means you won't frighten the little devils away (that assumes you are after live subjects).

And that's the kit including the new WR 18-55mm lens and including IVA (VAT).

Pay my return air fare and I'll bring some back .

I've never had anything other than a fair deal and excellent service from SRS.

If any members here are causing Chris and his staff grief, I'd be very surprised, but if they are members here, they ought to be ashamed of themselves.

Giving Tree: It's not a dumb question at all.

To answer your query, you have to get as close as your lens and your subject (if it's live) will allow, or is safe. Knowing the limitations of your lens is easily learned, knowing what your subject will allow comes with practice.

The shots taken with the DA*50-135mm are as close as I could get due to the lens' minimum focus distance. Those with the FA100mm below are as close as my subject would allow, although it was very obliging. It even waited around for me to go back to the car to change lenses.

The shots above were taken with the lens at 135mm and very close to its minimum focussing distance. These were an experiment to see what the lens & camera could do. All taken hand held and no flash.

It was quite windy at the time so I'm quite pleased with the results.

I took some more of the Lacewing with the FA 100mm Macro which gets in a lot closer.

This shot taken with the FA100mm . . .




Produced this crop . . .

I've just totted up the new replacement cost of my lens collection . . . and it's frightening. Suddenly, insurance seems that it might be worth it because I certainly couldn't afford to replace them.

Thanks Jonathan, I hope I've ID'd the butterfly correctly, even though it has the tip of one streamer missing. Around these parts, these aren't scarce at all.