Hello all, I was tinkering earlier on waiting for the rugby to come on and I found a threaded ring in the cupboard which gave me the idea of trying out some macro pictures by reversing one lens on the end of another. These are my results:

First a couple of roses:







and a small spider that was nice enough to not move around too much!




Grateful for any C&C, but especially (having had a bit of a play) any tips from people that have used this set-up themselves. This was my first go and I was using the FA 50mm f1.4 lens reversed onto the DA18-55mm kit lens for the first two (roses) and then replaced the 18-55 with the DA 50-200mm for the spider (which appears to have some fluff on it's face). Grateful to know if there are any lenses particularly good for this set-up. I already twigged that a tripod is essential, depth of focus is very shallow, manual focus seems to be the order of the day,and a flash helps...

Regards

Mat W

I bought a K10D a couple of years ago as I was keen to get back into SLR photography (having done some at school many years ago, with a Practika BMS) and went into camera world in London and tried out every camera for my budget - Pentax, Nikon, Canon, Olympus... I chose the K10D purely on the basis that it felt right, had a good spec for the price. I especially liked the weather resistance and the fact that the shake reduction was built into the body rather than the lenses, and the fact that this meant I could get hold of older lenses pretty cheaply and still have the advantage of SR. The K10D felt like it was built like a tank and was generally satisfying to hold. So that sealed it. Now I have K7 and have passed the K10D on in my family (thereby making 2 pentax users ) and have even managed to get some pictures into the PPG, and even done a wedding (very stressful - not going to do it again!!!).

Would I recommend Pentax? - absolutely yes to anybody who asked my opinion although I think I would suggest that they go into a shop and try out whatever they can and decide what they think is best for them.

I have noticed the price of lenses going up recently. But having said that I don't think I have actually bought a brand new lens since early 2008, almost all of mine have come from ebay or similar as used or ex-display, and I can't complain about the specific prices I have paid when compared with other systems... that said it still worries me when I tot up the value of everything in my camera bag I don't think I'll be buying much more in the near future though as I think I now have all I need... (hmmm...)

Regards

Mat

Thanks Davex, that's useful stuff. I have the Sigma 70-300mm and, hearing so many good things about the Pentax lens, have been half-thinking of 'upgrading'... I'll have to save up some more pennies...

Cheers

Mat W

I agree - I think it's a wonderful shot, and I think a good conversion to B&W. Mind you I'm a bit of a sucker for big old machines, especially if they make noise and steam

Regards

Mat

I have to agree with Tim - they're great! I like the last one with the deep blue sky, clouds and variegated shadows on the ground. Great stuff.

Mat W

Fantastic pun!! proper-gander!!

Thanks for the comments. Good advice. Next time out I shall definitely work on DOF. You're right about the demented eyes as well... They're altogether quite strange birds.

Regards

Mat

Gosh Amin that's great - looks like a man materialising out of the ether!

Very cool!

Regards

Mat

P.S. I took this small fellow earlier on in the year, and I wasn't sure what sort of duckling/gosling it was, but I'm thinking now it could have been a young one of these Egyptian Geese. Either way it's a good excuse to post something cute




Regards

Mat

Thanks Peter. Very happy for you to be critical, I agree with the points you make, and also that these subjects are difficult (even when they are standing still!!!). I'll keep trying and posting and hope to get better along the way...

These were taken at Pen Ponds which is in the middle of Richmond Park, where I often go early on a sunday morning when it is still quite quiet. It's a fantastic place. I'm guessing these Egyptian Geese have been introduced here, or else exist as a little pocket because I've never seen them anywhere else. They certainly stand out.

Regards

Mat W

Was out this morning and there were a couple of Egyptian Geese doing their thing. Quite unusual looking birds (to my mind). Anyway, here are some shots... hope you like them. Any C&C gratefully received as ever.

Morning Preen:




Synchronicity:




Dabbling:




Spotted something... could it be a chap with half a loaf of stale bread...?




It is!! Now this is what happens when someone turns up with food in the morning (or my attempt to capture it anyway):




And this must be the proverbial bread-line. Love the expressions from the Coots...




All were taken with the K-7 and DA*300mm. I was trying to keep the shutter speed up, on ISO400 and using the lens at f4, which obviously gives a pretty shallow depth of field, quite apparent here and there...

Regards

Mat W