well braced monopod/handheld grasshopper shot: the masked avenger

[JBW]

[James G]

Nice capture. I was intrigued by the 'spine'? just behind the head.

[Shadowman]

Nice capture.

[DanK]

Great capture.

[marlunn]

Nice shot sir, now to get the little begger to turn around for you for a mug shot

[JBW]

Nice capture. I was intrigued by the 'spine'? just behind the head.

that would be lemon grass and he is sitting on oregano. Even if I had wanted to removing the lemon grass was not an option.

[JBW]

Nice capture.

one of the advantages of this grasshopper is that unless seriously disturbed they stay still.

[JBW]

Nice shot sir, now to get the little begger to turn around for you for a mug shot

actually he did but in the process he hid behind the lemon grass.

[JBW]

Great capture.

I was well braced, the wind let up and the grasshopper cooperated.

[Dave Humphries]

Good capture Brian,

If I'm not mistaken, this one seems to be missing half (or more) of his/her 'jumping apparatus'

I think the "spine" referred to by James is the bright 'hair' sticking up, rather than the lemon grass.
It looks like a radio aerial (antenna) to me

Cheers, Dave

[Manfred M]

Based on recent images of a spider missing some legs and now this grasshopper amputee, I'd have to say that Brian is developing a taste for photographing disabled bugs.

[John 2]

Good capture Brian. Little you could do about the lemon grass.

[JBW]

Good capture Brian,

If I'm not mistaken, this one seems to be missing half (or more) of his/her 'jumping apparatus'

I think the "spine" referred to by James is the bright 'hair' sticking up, rather than the lemon grass.
It looks like a radio aerial (antenna) to me

Cheers, Dave

With the tensions mounting in the South China Sea one can suppose I actually photographed either a U.S. or Chinese radio controlled grasshopper spy

[JBW]

Based on recent images of a spider missing some legs and now this grasshopper amputee, I'd have to say that Brian is developing a taste for photographing disabled bugs.

Well birds of a feather and all that. I move slower they move slower it all works rather nicely.: But now that I have your attention I have been thinking about what you wrote.

Any idea what would be the minimal macro lens that would allow me to capture the cross hatched texture of an insects eye?

[JBW]

Good capture Brian. Little you could do about the lemon grass.

I'll hopefully be posting one more from that shoot.

[Manfred M]

Any idea what would be the minimal macro lens that would allow me to capture the cross hatched texture of an insects eye?

I'm afraid I don't have an answer for you. I am not a macro shooter. I've done enough to realize it is not an area of photography that interests me. You will note that I don't post a lot of bird shots or sports shots.

[Saorsa]

Based on recent images of a spider missing some legs and now this grasshopper amputee, I'd have to say that Brian is developing a taste for photographing disabled bugs.

That's one way to get the damn things to stay still for a while.

[DanK]

Any idea what would be the minimal macro lens that would allow me to capture the cross hatched texture of an insects eye?

Brian,

the vast majority of true macro lenses offer exactly the same maximum magnification, which is 1:1: the image on the sensor is life size at minimum focusing distance. They differ primarily in focal length. Focal length changes minimum working distance and background blur, but it has no effect on maximum magnification. There are a few exceptions, but not many.

If you want greater magnification than 1:1, the most common option is to add extension tubes to a 1:1 macro lens. The longer the extension, the greater the magnification. However, any extension will make the minimum focusing distance shorter, and it will make it harder to obtain focus. the longer the extension, the more severe the problems. So I generally suggest to people that they forget about extension tubes until they are really comfortable with a macro lens and then slowly work up from a very short extension--say, 10 or 12 mm--to longer ones.

I have used as much as 68mm of extension, but I usually use (if any) between 10 and 36mm. My standard bug hunting rig is a 100mm lens (very similar to what you are thinking of buying) and a 36mm extension. I will post a few examples that I think have only modest cropping, to give you an idea of what 36 mm of extension gets you with a 100 mm lens. (It would get you slightly more magnification with the 90mm you are thinking of buying.)

Dan

[JBW]

Dan if I understand you then even a monster like the Tamron Telephoto SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di LD IF Macro Autofocus Lens for Sony Alpha & Minolta Maxxum Series is going to need extension tubes. It would allow me (force me) to shoot further away but not improve my magnification.

If i also understand you correctly extension tubes are the next level up and I should stick with the basic macro lens until I get good with it?

[JBW]

Brian,

the vast majority of true macro lenses offer exactly the same maximum magnification, which is 1:1: the image on the sensor is life size at minimum focusing distance. They differ primarily in focal length. Focal length changes minimum working distance and background blur, but it has no effect on maximum magnification. There are a few exceptions, but not many.

If you want greater magnification than 1:1, the most common option is to add extension tubes to a 1:1 macro lens. The longer the extension, the greater the magnification. However, any extension will make the minimum focusing distance shorter, and it will make it harder to obtain focus. the longer the extension, the more severe the problems. So I generally suggest to people that they forget about extension tubes until they are really comfortable with a macro lens and then slowly work up from a very short extension--say, 10 or 12 mm--to longer ones.

I have used as much as 68mm of extension, but I usually use (if any) between 10 and 36mm. My standard bug hunting rig is a 100mm lens (very similar to what you are thinking of buying) and a 36mm extension. I will post a few examples that I think have only modest cropping, to give you an idea of what 36 mm of extension gets you with a 100 mm lens. (It would get you slightly more magnification with the 90mm you are thinking of buying.)

Dan

Hi again, I just realized that this fly shot on a purple flower looks a lot lot my fly shot on a purple tree orchid. One question: Do you know the name of the fly? One statement: I'm going to have a lot of fun and frustration getting good with the new lens when it gets here.