It has been a dismal day. It’s snowed non stop but has not produced anything worth shouting about.
After an early walk down by the river we headed into town to investigate the toffee business. The dogs met a mastiff who poor thing has bone cancer. No sign that it was troubling her as she chased my two for a good ten minutes barking to keep them on the move.
Toffee sorted and posted we headed back for a late breakfast.
I then set about modifying the harness I got for Bertha. It is not perfect yet so I will have another go tomorrow. I’m on the right track though. The lens weighs about ten pounds which isn’t much but it is too much on a single strap for an elderly snapper. I got a harness from Think Tank….called The Belly Dancer, it doesn’t do much dancing but does rest quite comfortably on my belly. It also has lots of room for little bags to put things in. Could be useful if the wee bags are cheap.
When I used to go macroing it always amazed me how much stuff I lug about. Lights, reflectors, tripod and any amount of junk. I also have to take a giant corkscrew thinghy. I now have two. They screw into the ground. I tether the dogs to one and if necessary I place the tripod over the other and lash it down… makes for a bomb proof mount. Cheap too they are a fiver or less in pet shops.
I have a 100mm Macro lens. Unless we get really cold weather it will stay in the van till summer. I also have the creme de la creme of macro lenses wandering my way. A Canon MP-E 65mm. It has no focus adjustment but popped on my macro plate it will adjust. 1x to 5x. I can see it providing endless expletives and entertainment. Possibly a good image or three. The only certainty is that it will not suffer a fool. I have a ring light but will most likely need ring flash. Anyone know if flash damages insects eyes?
Not a bad day I’m slowly sussing the Canon system. Very slowly I’ve had it a month.
Tomorrow we are going to investigate the Sulphur Well and maybe the Ferrous Well the waters of which gave rise to the towns Victorian prosperity.
Have fun.
Hey Adrian, sounds like you are having fun as well.
ReplyDeleteHorst I had a four stop NG filter on as well. Just to allow enough aperture to blur the background speed I would have to look up but over quarter of a second and most likely nearer a full second. With a pleasing background these snow trails could be pleasant.
DeleteIt's all about learning the systems.
I've been reading up on the MP-E 65mm.
ReplyDeleteI want one!
It sounds the dogs wotsits. Can't wait to see the results you get.
Keith, I'm heading your way the back end of April. It is not a lens for the faint of heart but can produce magic in the right hands.
DeleteHave a borrow of this one and the macro plate which I had for the big Sigma lens....it is a touch rough but you will need it to focus. The ring on this lens just does magnification. I suspect that it's focus distance will be only a half inch to maybe two inches and DOF will be a fraction of a millimetre at f16. A brilliant challenge.
PS Due to your delicate health I'll hump Bertha. Not that I suspect there will be much difference in weight.
I love the fact that Canon still make daft lenses.
I thought I knew a bit about cameras but you have recently started using too many big words.
ReplyDeleteSorry Katherine....Which ones are you finding trouble with , my dear. I just use them....I'll try and elucidate...spell it out...using more smorllerer wurds.
DeleteJust as well you don't understand really.
Weird lenses and cameras that few can use, me included, are a fortune.
Adrian it sounds like you had fun excercising the old grey matter today, and that new macro lens looks like it will be challenging experience! I'm looking forward to seeing some super macros!!...[;o)
ReplyDeleteTrevor, wait till April. You too can swear at it. I'll be down about the twentieth unless I score in Derbyshire then I will be down on the twentieth plus three minutes.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy macro. The hit rate is low but once a year I got a good one.
I only get prime lenses now, though when I switched to Canon I did get a 17mm-40mm zoom. No IS...it is okay but not as good as a prime. I am swapping it for a 50mm prime.
Ohhh 50mm prime lenses. uber fast and tack sharp. Nice trail shot Adrian
ReplyDeleteCheers Shaun. I like sharp. Another couple of months and the 5D II will be singing to my hymn sheet.
DeleteYou got a 100mm. I love this lens! It makes my world to be more exciting. Then need not go that far, it's something to shoot all the time in the macro world.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the future of photography.
From Hilda
Hilda, yes I have. I used to have a 150mm Sigma and enjoyed it immensely.
DeleteYou certainly have fun with all this stuff. It's great because even a point and shooter like myself gets something out of your discussion.
ReplyDeletethe white trailers look a little lonely in the snow.
They are just there being stored.
DeleteI love photography....enlivens a walk and challenges my little brain.
You are starting to make esoteric sound like simple. Heaven alone knows what word I would have to invent for you now.
ReplyDeleteGraham, most folk I know seem to find that 'Daft Bugger' does the job.
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