[Lowell Goudge]

looks like hand held at 1/125 and wide open.

Aside from any focusing errors, it is just too slow a shutter speed for macro.

also tripod helps because hand holding introduces errors even shake reduction cannot account for, specifically moving torwards and away from the subject.

[vizjerei]

I never could get macro shots in focus when hand holding this lens. It was me, not the lens. That said, I still did not want a macro that I had to put on a tripod every time I took a picture. I sold it...

Actually you can get macro shot with hand held, you just need to make sure the subject is well lighted, or use higher ISO to give you faster shutter speed. It is not unusual to use higher ISO for macro shoots.