[Bassnut (Fred)]

Originally Posted by mangrovedutch

Sweet captures for a non Macro dedicated lens, good work. Be careful, next you'll own a Canon 100mm Macro F2.8, then the MPE-65 up to 5x macro), then you'll want the MT-24ex for better lighting. At F2.8 and fast shutter, DOF is tiny, experiment a little- take it out to F11-14, slow the shutter speed down and drop the ISO. Take it out at night and use on camera flash and a torch to highlight what you are trying to capture (makes it a lot easier to focus). Ohh I forgot, a good 2x Teleconverter is a handy addition, but a full set of tubes will serve you better. I am a big fan of macro photography (particularly snakes and lizards)- your imagination is your only limiting factor. Have a look at POTN, they have a great bunch of guys on there willing to help and also access to some awesome tutorials. Enjoy, as I am sure you will.

Regards, Dutch

Yes, a flash would be nice (ring?). It was cloudy, so I left it on auto but I get yr point, I should have stoped it down and used a tripod. It occured to me later to take a focus stack too, with a tripod. Pity the 5D doesnt have bracketed focus (does any DSLR?). Thomas Shahan takes macro HDR, which sounds (and looks) interesting, but would need a lot of subs for a focus stack, and I suppose H wouldnt approve .

Some handy hints there Dutch, thanks.

Originally Posted by dugnsuz

Very sharp arachnids Fred!
Not too sure how the 24-70 will go for astro work - I recently sold mine as it didn't do it for me - I had bought it for its daytime reputation and hoped that would be replicated under the stars...didn't work out.
That said, time lapse work is a different beastie so the same rules might not apply.
I miss that big hunk of glass for daytime stuff though - it really is a monster of a lens.
Doug

Thanks Doug. I didnt want to hear that re astro, astro will be part of the timelapse, but not the full on long exposure-stacked routine. Its the 70-200 f2.8 that is big and heavy ( I didnt mind the 24-70 weight), although it will be mostly on a mount/tripod. Neither have IS.

Originally Posted by Octane

Fred,

Welcome aboard.

Good start on your first light images.

And, humbled that my images inspired you to get the kit. : )

Now, all you need to do is go and chase great light. : )

H

Thanks H, yes thats the key, its the light that counts . I havent seen any IR timelapse on the net anywhere yet, might give that a go 1st, givent it really showcases cloud structure. IR cloud video should look spectacular.