Yep. You're up against perhaps the physical constraints of what
gear can do - the macro lens versus a "regular" lens with the
extension rings. I know my Tamron 60mm macro cannot focus that
fast; using manual focus requires many turns of the focus ring
because, I think, of how the focus mechanism of the lens is
designed.?
This thread makes me think about how much experience the "good"
photographers must have to get the shots they get. I recently saw
an image of an owl, wings fully furled, coming in for a landing on
a stump. Magnificent. Yet I wonder how the dickens?that
photographer got that shot? Right place, right time? Staked out
that location for days/weeks/months watching that owl hunt? Did
they set up the stump hoping (!?!) that the owl would take the
hint? Is is fake? Is that a captive owl??
So many possibilities we can't know. Same with the insect
photographers.?
That's no help to you however. Sorry.
On 6/7/23 18:22, Jon wrote:
Works if I can sway with the breeze at the same
rate as the flowers and bees.
One trick to try is set focus to manual,
select an approximate distance that provides the composition
you desire, ¡°spot weld¡± the camera to your body, and then
very slightly lean your whole body forward and backward
(maybe an inch or so) to adjust focus on the critter desired
Walt
On Jun 7, 2023, at 5:16 PM, Jon <
kd5sfa@...>
wrote:
?I¡¯ve been playing around with macro a bit
and have been on a bee binge lately.
There is a trumpet vine growing wild along
my neighbors fence line that I don¡¯t have a problem with
since it is an attractant for bees and hummingbirds.
The weeks I am oncall for work I am stuck
at home and use it as part of my backyard safari
project.?
I do have a Tamron 28-300mm ¡®macro¡¯ lens
that is fine for static subjects with my D300s but does
not cut it when it comes to autofocus on fast moving
bees. It is just too slow.
I¡¯ve been playing with my Nikon 28-300mm
AF-S VR lens which has a pretty quick AF motor and using
extension rings for a closer working distance. It can be
frustrating at times when it decides to hunt. With that
said when it works it does a pretty?good job. Today I
tried using manual focus on some bees. I had one that
was being cooperative when I had the 28mm extension ring
on it. The challenge I had was the focus ring is small
and not the smoothest.
I¡¯ve been looking for a 300mm macro lens
or at least closet to 200mm that has a fast AF and a
decently smooth wider focus ring.?
Any thoughts or experience on such a beast
if it exists?
It would be nice to go from bees to
hummingbirds which I can¡¯t do with the extension rings
as you lose a lot of your focus range.
Trying to capture bees in flight is my
goal especially if they are laden with a ton of pollen.
I believe Nikon made a 300mm macro f/4
lens. If the ones I was looking at on the used market
were that, they were still pricey.
I do need to upload some of what I have
been doing on flicker and re-organize that.
Thanks for your input.
Jon
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¡°Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.¡±
