I do sometimes take the 300mm F4 off the camera...

[DickyOZ]

To see the smaller end of town. The Crotons are home to many spiders.
The St. Andrews Cross lady spider is full grown.

Underside.

A Noisy Miner watched me taking photos and politely waited until I moved on before eating the spider. The price you pay for being showy I suppose. The male survived.




Crotons don't have much of a flower but they have their share of insects.

Long-legged fly.

Sawfly.




Mind you the 300mm doesn't do too bad at macros. (Hand held + 1.4X to give 420mm).
Amata moth.


Dicky.

[NorthernFocus]

Nice set. The spiders are awesome. Nicely done.

[bje07]

nice neighbors Richard

[ajohnw]

Nice shot's Richard. I have the 60mm macro too but use something else for macro as I have to get so close to them they often scoot off.

One thing I am curious about. How do you find the 300mm F4 in use as with the converter that just gives 2 focal lengths ? I was hoping they would do something light weight along the lines of the Panasonic 100 to 400mm but much better especially at the long end. I reckon it could start at more like 200 which would help.

John
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[Shadowman]

Nice series.

[JBW]

We have crotons but perhaps because ours are in the shade they don't attract many critters. Very nicely shot. What lens?

[ajohnw]

Olympus 60mm macro on an E-M1. You might be able to find an exif viewer plugin for your browser Brian. If the exif data has been left in the photo that will state camera, lens and settings.

John
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[madcrow]

A great series of shots. I feel I could reach out and touch them.

[DickyOZ]

Nice shot's Richard. I have the 60mm macro too but use something else for macro as I have to get so close to them they often scoot off.

One thing I am curious about. How do you find the 300mm F4 in use as with the converter that just gives 2 focal lengths ? I was hoping they would do something light weight along the lines of the Panasonic 100 to 400mm but much better especially at the long end. I reckon it could start at more like 200 which would help.

John
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Thanks John,

I really like the 60mm macro, one of the best value for money lenses I have bought. But you do have to get close and that isn't always possible. I see Olympus have announced a new 30mm F3.5 macro lens - what a pity, if it had been a 300mm F3.5 macro lens....

I was in two minds whether to get the OLY 300mm F4 or the Panasonic/Leica 100-400mm. I do like the versatility of the zoom, but the 300mm is so sharp, even with the MC-14 1.4X converter. I have the 40-150mm F2.8 which also takes the MC-14 to give 56-210mm F4. The change in field of view between 210 and 300mm isn't that great so I opted for the prime. Plus I noticed most of my 75-300mm zoom shots were at 300mm so that also helped make the decision. But when juggling glass I do miss my 24-1000mm bridge camera.
Dicky.