It's been awhile since I've posted over here. (The weekly thread has become a bit of an addiction )

Recently, I picked up the Sigma 180 macro and have left the Vivitar on the shelf, while contemplating whether or not part with it....

My decision has been made as to when I will.... NEVER!!!

This thing SINGS on the K20D!!! I'd forgotten how much I love hand-held, manual, focus-trap shooting. I still am very impressed with the Sigma, but it seems to be best-suited for a tripod.

Here's a few familiar faces I found out in the yard today.

Insect shots hand-held with 540 flash
No flash for the last one
(All are clickable for larger image)

Hover Flies... making.... ummmmhhhh.... Hover Flies
1/400s f/13.0 at 100.0mm iso500


Tachinid Fly
1/320s f/8.0 at 100.0mm iso400


Picture Wing Fly
1/400s f/8.0 at 100.0mm iso250


Newly emerged Chinese Praying Mantis on Tropical Milkweed
1/250s f/11.0 at 100.0mm iso400


Indian Pink bloom buds
1/500s f/3.5 at 100.0mm iso800

[maxwell1295]

I really like that last one...

It does sing on the K20... Love the perspective on the last shot. And the bugs look great...

I have seen these things selling for way too much lately, but I dont think I will ever sell mine...

[Sergei]

if you can't have a good holiday - Fly United! .... or was that Continental anyone remember that add?




Superb macro examples, you make it look easy!

[xs400]

Those are nice!! I really like the last one. Well done.

[sawtooth235]

Bud,

What is focus-trap?

Ray

[Syb]

Nice work!

Focus trap is using a MF-lens on a Pentax AF-camera in the AF-S setting. The camera fires when the subject (or something else near the subject point in the finder) is in focus.

[Bud]

Thanks for the comments, everyone!

Gus - It is a little crazy, the pricing on these now, but, like you, I can't see me parting with this lens any time soon.... it's too much fun!

[dws1117]

Bud, those are all amazing. You have some neat fly species there.

[Buddha Jones]

I hate flies with a passion, a PASSION I tell you, but damn them shots are fricken awesome.

[Bud]

Bud, those are all amazing. You have some neat fly species there.

Thanks.... it's amazing how many different insects I find out there now that I'm actually looking for them

I hate flies with a passion, a PASSION I tell you, but damn them shots are fricken awesome.

Thanks!

I'm not a big fly fan either (unless there's a macro lens in my hand), although Hover Flies are pretty cool. The adults' main source of nourishment is nectar, so they're also pollinators, and the main diet of their larvae is aphids.

[daacon]

Bud outstanding series !

[Bud]

Thanks, Dave!

[jsherman999]

No tripod. Wow. Really, really nice Bud.

[Bramela]

Great series Bud. I have to agree, that lens is amazing. I purchased one recently and am just getting to grips with how good this lens is. I find focus-trap is the way to go. Have just got into that as well(eyes not what they used to be) and it works amazingly well.
Well done!