I agree with everything said above, extension tubes are I think the easiest way to get really close, but a focal length of 50mm with extension tubes doesn't leave you with much working distance - someting a little longer makes things a bit easier. Also consider the fact that when you have the tubes in place there is no way you can focus to anything like infinity (more like a couple of metres) so you're a bit stuck if you suddenly spot something a bit farther away you wouldn't have this problem with a dedicated macro lens.

p.s I'm very happy with my (manual) extension set, but then again i'm using a dl2 which doesn't seem to have the stop down metering problems of the k10d

Theres no such thing as a silly question

I think the default on the ist dslrs is that the picture is given a filename based on how many pictures the camera has taken (up to a certain number, which I think is 10,000 after which the filenames become a little unwieldy). eg on my dl2 'IMGP5502' was the 5502nd frame I took. After 10,000 it'll go back to IMGP0001.

Do you mean the number shown on the camera lcd is different to the number on your computer screen : how strange... what program do you use to view the images on the computer? In the camera menu try resetting the file number ( as long as you don't think this'll confuse you pc filing system)

I'm fairly sure it will support them (look at http://www.digital.pentax.co.jp/ja/info/20060907e1.html it says support for sdhc) although you may need to update the firmware in the camera to be able to use a big card. That link will give you access to the newer firmware if you need it - to check what you have, power on the camera whilst holding the menu button.

Hope thats of use...

Daniel's one is incredible

Not nearly as impressive as some of the other attempts above, but this is my offering. Quite a fun challenge to set it all up - the coin was blutacked to the wall with the camera on a small wheely table that I could move back and forth to focus. couldn't have used a tripod as the whole thing was about 18 inches long



Ist DL2, 65mm worth of extension tubes, 300mm lens, + 135mm + reversed 50mm (+ all held together with sellotape and a bit of luck)

It makes one realise what a really flexible set up an slr system is

liam - your sensor looks pretty grubby
Mongoose the clear winner at the moment...

Thats good to know - although I wish I had a K10D to try it on...

thanks for the ideas everyone - For the most part i think its trial and error, just to see what you get.
I like the viking pictures, can the k10d's inbuilt flash do 'rear curtain sync'? if thats what its called - to make the flames go behind the viking? my dl2 certainly can't, but for any camera I think it would only be a matter of a firmware change... (or buying an af360 )

I was just experimenting with photographing flames - I thought some nice effects might be achievable, but all the photos seemed dull and not very interesting, and the flames came out strange colours - even when changing the white balance. Whats the best way to take a photo of flames that has impact?

wow... Thats an amazing magnification!

love it

Does any clever person know if its possible to get windows to display a thumbnail of a PEF file in windows explorer? it may not even be possible but it would be nice, as I'm using adobe camera raw and find that I need to open up each file individually to see what it is am I doing something silly? (apart from the obvious answer of using acr instead of silkypix )