Thanks for posting the whole sequence after your 'whetter'! Just a fabulous catch (pun intended :blush

I really like this technique . Clever and effective.

I've improved - but as a novice who only got more 'serious' about photography (and kitted up) in January, it would be a poor do if I hadn't developed a bit, particularly on the technical side. For me the challenge is more about learning to 'see' what will make good images.

But for those of you more experienced/talented, I think this is a more nuanced question . For some, improvement will be about technical skills, for others simply applying what they have a bit more or to new situations/perpectives. And for others it's probably not really about 'improvement', but about finding something that inspires them. Always feels like your improving when you're enthused!

Again, appreciate all the thoughts on this. After looking at the options and trawling old, similar threads here and on the 'other' forum (some of you must get sick of answering the same old questions :roll I've ended up ordered a Raynox 150 - relatively cheap (£34), compact, and I can have a play on my current lenses (DAs 40 and 70 and the 50-200). Consensus seems to be the 150 (although lower mag) is a better starting point than the 250, particularly as I'll be using on plants.

Absolutely fascinating - and thanks for posting the whetter. Terrific

One of the reasons I bought into pentax was WR - and not having to worry too much about using the camera in the rain. Just back from a week on the Isle of Arran with spectacular weather (good and bad ), and I certainly got value from the WR. I make no great claims for these snaps - but without the WR I'd have had nothing from this day.

All taken in conditions of gentle to not-so-gentle rain with the WR50-200 kit lens.


Storm over Lamlash (1/250, f11, ISO320, 68mm)

[IMG]http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk206/Northgrain/Arran%202011/StormoverLamlash.jpg[/IMG]



Holy Island (1/400, f/10, ISO200, 160mm)

[IMG]http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk206/Northgrain/Arran%202011/HolyIsland.jpg[/IMG]


Oystercatchers (1/320, f10, ISO200, 88mm)

[IMG]http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk206/Northgrain/Arran%202011/Oystercatchers.jpg[/IMG]



Currently wading through all the other photos I took last week using Lightroom. Hopefully I might even dig out a few keepers...

Thanks for the comments all. Having had a bit of a search I think the Raynox looks really interesting.

Any advice on whether a macro newbie should go for the 150 or 250? And would an adaptor/stepping ring be needed to stick it on the DA40 (with its 49mm filter thread)??

Doh! Thanks for posting John - I've had the same problem... now solved.

I'm off to the far far north of Scotland later this month to look at peat bogs (don't ask :lol, and will need the kit to take macro / close up pictures of bog plants.

I don't have a macro lens in my arsenal at the moment and could go down this route. The DA35 Ltd is calling... and I'm sure you can all suggest other possibly better options. But Dame Prudence (the spoilsport) suggests maybe more modest outlay until I've had a proper play with macro-type photography. Although you never know, I think it's unlikely I'll get into photographing bugs - but plants definitely.

Would close up filters be a solution? I've read about these but obviously have no direct experience. I'm thinking a Kood 49mm set (can get for £23 + postage) might be just the job on my DA40.

Any views? Alternatives?? I throw myself on the wisdom of the forum...

+1