Not sure if we have a new thread for this year...if we have please give me the link...if not then I will kick it off
Link to last year's
https://community.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/f/all-creatures/282101/all-about-insects-2023?pifragment-4285=1
Tasty feast!
Hoverfly thingy...well a canny mind away back to last year lol
(Pardon the Scottish Accent)
Excellent shot Ed. I think you get great results without a macro. A macro is great fun, but in some cases you're better off further away with a longer lens like you are doing. With macro when trying to get close enough often the subject flies off .. unless it's dead ... . The combination I used in my last lot of insect pics are the Canon R7 with Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 L series macro lens. I have always been very satisfied with the 100mm macro on my 90D too before I got my R7. As you may have read in the 'Moving to Mirrorless', I have ordered the RF 100mm f/2.8 L series macro at silly money in a one day sale at my local camera shop, but it hasn't arrived yet. I don't know if it will be any better, but I will give it a go.
super detail Ed ... I was going to say the same as BD (except the bit about buying a new lens!) You could always try a TC which I don't think increases minimum focal distance, but does increase focal length... so you'll think you're closer
Your Lotsaspotted Ladybird made me laugh BD Nice set of macro's.
Nice detail on it's head Ed. Another option with macro are extension tubes. Quite cheap and contain no glass to affect image quality and you use them with a lens you already have. I have had a very cheap set for years, not tried them with my R7 though. Just found this article which gives an overview: https://fstoppers.com/macro-photography/extension-tubes-they-may-save-spending-thousands-622198
Thank you Snappy ...
Extension tubes? That's going back (at least) three decades. Modern extension tubes are tied to the overall camera 'system'. They can also provide improved 'magnification' with longer length lenses. What is lost is the ability to focus to things further away.
(Tilt-shift stuff in the referenced linkl is something different (IMO). That's shifting the focal plane.)
I have a set of Kenko extension tubes, don't think they were very expensive (on ebay) and they have the electrical contacts so they connected to the older dslr cameras. Those without need to be manually focussed. I haven't used them much, but I recall they were OK. There are new versions available for RF lenses .. here
Mint Beetle Lava. This is where all those small shiny dark blue beetles are coming from ...
Wasp Spider, never heard of them taken at Titchwell Marsh
Great macro BD