The 50/1.7 (any version) makes a reasonable to very good macro lens when reversed with a suitable adapter.

Good first attempt to get you hooked. Now you need more light (flash) so you can stop down a bit to increase the depth of field.

Thanks Dan. It certainly looks very similar and from it's abdomen, I'd say it was a female.

Well researched, thanks again.

Meet Spike. I've shown a pic of this guy before. These were taken with my twin flash rig. I did try to get a more interesting pose but my spider was camera shy. Every time I got into position, the darned thing moved.

Both pics:- K20D, FA100mm Macro, full set of tubes.




I've included this pic as it might help somebody to ID it. Somebody here thought it might be a species of crab spider. Total body length, excluding legs, is about 1.5cm. He sits on and under flowers and waits for his dinner to arrive by air, then pounces.




K20D, Sigma EX DG 180mm Macro, natural light.

I think that noise comes from the dust removal mechanism rather than the shake reduction mechanics. Whichever, you are not the first to be alarmed by it. It's perfectly normal.

Sandisk Extreme III SDHC cards are my preference. Get one which includes the 'micromate' reader. Older SD card readers can't deal with SDHC. For your camera, I'd stick with smaller (2Gb max) SD cards because they are cheaper.

Try ebay seller loobylin.

The problem is Paul, you didn't. Take a look at your first post and point out where the reference to ebay is. I can't find it.

Perhaps the EXIF display is dependant on you PC's setting.

No, I've never really used any other brand. I've had a play with a Canon 30D + 17-70mm IS lens, but not enough to make any real comparison.

Iceblinker,

As Gwyn says, that is a forum, mainly meant for discussion.

My personal opinion is that a first posting offering to sell expensive camera equipment without much introduction is reason enough to be suspicious, even if that suspicion turns out to be unfounded.

There is absolutely no reference to the fact that these items are on ebay in the original posting. There should have been, and if there were, this thread would have attracted less criticism.

Another observation is that the OP hasn't returned.