Originally posted by Scorpio71GR Bob I did use the AF 540 FGZII flash. I just mounted the flash right to the camera hotshoe. I put the flash in High Speed Sync mode. I ran the K-1 in TAv mode primarily, sometimes in AV mode. I locked the ISO to 100-400 so pretty much every shot is ISO 400. I found 1/400s shutter speed worked pretty well and the flash could still cover the image. Most of the shots are around f6.3 to f8. Some are stopped down to fll. I use the flash compensation setting on the flash to adjust the power accordingly. Final adjustments are using exposure compensation on the camera. A lot of it is just trial and error. I been shooting in this place for a long time so I am familiar with the lighting conditions which are terrible. I gave up on not using a flash a few years ago. If you click on the photos it should take yout to my Flickr account where you can see the Exif data.
Thanks for the write-up. Do you use any kind of diffuser? I have tried loads of different methods for insect macro flash with varying results.
I have found that trying to do it handheld without flash is almost impossible unless you have really good natural lighting (my garden is shadowed by mature trees, so not often bright enough).
Flash does save the day but I have found it is too easy to get ugly bright reflections from shiny surfaces, I have tried a range of diffuser tactics but usually rely on trial and error in all honesty!
John