Playing around with the new lens:)

gflat65 · #1 10/17/2007, 07:06 PM

These are not great shots (day two getting to play with the new lens), but here goes.

Garden spider (Argiope aurantia) and web

gflat65 · #2 10/17/2007, 07:06 PM

I was able to get a few decent actinic shots with a tripod

.

Mystery coral-encrusts, but not idea what it is

Actinic Duncan

Chips Acro actinic

garf purple bonsai actinic

ORA Blue tip acro actinic

Here are some from my first try. Same coral as above.

SM Monti (reminds me of Papa Smurf)

This was my favorite ric shot because of the mixed color in some of the bubbles

.

crumbletop · #3 10/17/2007, 07:12 PM

Nice, Gary!

My dad is quite good at the macro stuff. He mostly shoots spiders and other insects. He was here last week and shot a bunch of photos in the back yard. Here is one of them.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/spiderman/1546559046/

I tried to get some pointers from him about how to shoot pics of my tank

gflat65 · #4 10/17/2007, 07:45 PM

There is definitely going to be a learning curve... I think a ring light would help, too. For tank shots, there is plenty of light behind the object, but with out of tank shots, ambient usually isn't enough. The garden spider is in one of our front windows, so I was looking into the light. Lots to learn.

waynesworld · #5 10/18/2007, 06:09 AM

I think we could have a few people do a presentation on photography and how to get good shots with different lenses. It kills me I have a good camera but don't know how to use it very well to get tank pics.

crumbletop · #6 10/18/2007, 10:33 AM

Great idea, Wayne. Maybe that could be a topic for the December meeting.

fallinapart · #7 10/18/2007, 10:39 AM

2nd that one, just be sure to include the best way to shoot close-up's WITHOUT a macro lens for those of us with a halfway decent digital with only macro setting's (no macro lens) to play with.

Norman

gflat65 · #8 10/18/2007, 12:22 PM

Any photographers in the club? Where's reewik when you need him??? I hope to be able to make it to John's, but that's gonna be a hike (~5.5 hours...).

ct_vol · #9 10/19/2007, 02:02 PM

Nice shots Gary...

So do you like the lens??? I'm still getting used to mine, but I haven't used it near as much as I would have liked to these past couple weeks... You've inspired me to take some more shots...

gflat65 · #10 10/19/2007, 05:08 PM

I'm liking it. It is still a PITA, but I'm sure I'll get better. I thought that maybe an $80 tripod was a decent one, but nein... It can't hold the weight (close to 2 pounds, I think). I've also found that I can put the lens right on the glass to get most shots, but the tripod lead foot hits the stand before I can get that close. I've tried turning it around, but have some sort of stability problem, or can't hold it steady with the pan lever (since it can't hold the weight). I don't have good lighting in the living room, either, so that makes it a little more difficult. You can forget handhelds in low light. I'm thinking of more things to take pictures of these days

. I'm really liking the 5:1 on the MPE-65

. Something for the future. She let me get the 70-200mm f/4 L IS and now the Sigma 150mm, but I'm not going to push my luck

. Photography costs more than reefing, me thinks...

geewizzitsme · #11 10/19/2007, 08:15 PM

Where'd you get the duncan?

Fanof49ASU · #12 10/19/2007, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by gflat65
Photography costs more than reefing, me thinks...

Not in the long run.
If you take care of it, that lens will last forever and not cost another dime.

gflat65 · #13 10/20/2007, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Fanof49ASU
Not in the long run.
If you take care of it, that lens will last forever and not cost another dime.

Yeah, but I always want something different and each can be near the cost of a large tank set up (some dramatically more

). Then there is the possible desire to upgrade bodies at some point in the future. I guess it'll plateau out at some point, but each purchase is a dowzy.

I got the Duncan from a local who had a shipment come in from Aussieland. I've got a nice colony of them. They seem to change form from wild to tank. Where I had an elkhorn like antler initially, the tips are becoming more spherical with polyp growth, rather than more vertical and branching. These were apparently the more colorful of the batch that came in then. I've had them for about 6 months.

waynesworld · #14 10/20/2007, 04:19 PM

Maintence cost is cheeper now on Digital cameras though

ct_vol · #15 10/20/2007, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by gflat65
I thought that maybe an $80 tripod was a decent one, but nein... It can't hold the weight (close to 2 pounds, I think).

Just an FYI they make tripod mount rings for Macro and heavy lenses, so that the tripod is supporting the lens and not the camera... I know they make one for the 100mm Canon, I'm sure they make a universal one that would cover your Sigma, but it might be worth looking into...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Tripod-Mount-Rin...QQcmdZViewItem

gflat65 · #16 10/21/2007, 01:26 PM

The Sigma came with the tripod ring (and a really nice semi rigid lens case

). I had bought a Canon tripod ring for the L lens, too. It would be nice if there could be some sort of universalization of the tripod rings. Oh well. I just need to get some more bases to make swapping out easier (so I don't have to screw the base on and off of the tripod rings).

SnoopTroop · #17 10/21/2007, 04:15 PM

Wow nice job.......Dang those are some nice pics you got there! how far into the tank can you zoom in and get full detail?
Josh

gflat65 · #18 10/21/2007, 09:47 PM

I haven't tested the extents yet... The SM Monti (next top last shot) is about 11" from the glass. I'm using an extension tube (25mm) to let me get closer to the glass, too. Ilusted after this lens for so long, but have only played with it twice since I got it. Had to break for an RB treatment... Week one done.

Kalied20 · #19 10/22/2007, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by waynesworld
I think we could have a few people do a presentation on photography and how to get good shots with different lenses. It kills me I have a good camera but don't know how to use it very well to get tank pics.

My uncle is by no means a photography expert, but it is his hobby. I could ask him if he wanted to come to one of our meetings? Or if he knows someone in his club that would like too.

fallinapart · #20 10/22/2007, 03:53 PM

Really sounds like a good idea to me!

Norman

waynesworld · #21 10/22/2007, 07:48 PM

Me to it would be a BYOC I think it would be great.

crumbletop · #22 10/22/2007, 07:55 PM

Okay -- does anyone know a photography expert that is up near clarksville? I'll PM the NTRC pres and see if there is a photography club up there.