I think those numbers are from the focus scale and will give an approximation of the distance between camera and subject in feet and meters, or the magnification factor (EG:1:4). if the lens has no aperture ring it'll be fixed at (probably) f8.

The SMCP-FA 50mm only has one focal length, it's not a zoom lens. Any screw on hood that you can find for a 50mm lens (or wider angle lens) will be fine.

Ooh I don't think so.

I'm not actually sure what it is. I don't think it's a bee, it moves too fast although it looks very much like a bee.

Thanks Amin.

Thanks Clarky.

All of those shots are taken on one plant, a Lantana. It plays host to so much insect life its quite amazing. We've had numerous types of spider, moths, small caterpillars, the mantiss, grasshoppers, and yesterday we had a hummingbird hawk moth sipping nectar from it. Didn't have the camera ready though.

I've never seen a mantiss with antennae like that before either. We have plenty of the green and brown species.

The AF160FC works great with the Sigma 180mm, and that's with a 72mm - 58mm step down ring on the front too. I needed that for the 58mm adapter ring for the AF140C but this new ringflash has an extra adapter, 67mm. I've now got a 72mm - 67mm step down ring but haven't got around to fitting it yet. No vignetting apparent so far.

I like the modelling (shadow) created by this light when one or the other half of the light is set to 1/3rd output. It's not so evident in the mantiss shots but if you look at the spider and bee shots you'll see some shadow to their left. The images don't appear quite so flat as with the AF140C.

Multi-exposure is 2 or more exposures superimposed on the same frame. In film days, you would create a multi-exposure by not winding the film on between frames.

'User' mode is an exposure mode that you can customise for your own special needs and save it. EG: You might want a special setup for sports photography and rather than make all the necessary adjustments each time you go to a sports event, you can have it all saved and recall it using 'User' mode.

Thanks Scot. The first four images are of the same insect. It's a praying mantis but it's much more exotic than the normal ones we see around here.

Most of them look like leaves or bits of twig, this one looks like a wheat ear from the underside.

They just hang around upside down waiting to grab their prey as it passes.

It's AF, as are all SMCP-F and SMCP-FA series lenses. Check the second photo, you'll see the AF screw drive mechanism at the bottom of the lens mount.

K20D + SMCP-FA 100mm Macro or Sigma 180mm EX DG Macro + AF160FC ring flash.

Excellent detail, but I have to ask, why did you feel a need to climb a tree?