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Re: Katrina
Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2014 6:23 pm
by MikeOxon
Remember that you always have the option to focus manually! I think it is better to do that with macro photography, as you can be sure that you focus on the right bit! It's often a good idea to pre-focus the lens at the magnification you want and then rock yourself back and forwards until the subject is in focus, rather than changing the lens setting. I use a monopod to keep things steady, while still allowing me some freedom of movement.
The Sony/ex-Minolta lens is excellent - see
http://www.kenrockwell.com/minolta/maxxum/100mm-f28.htm for a review - and I certainly wouldn't change it on image quality grounds!
mike
Re: Katrina
Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2014 6:54 pm
by Butterflysaurus rex
Mike is spot on of course the Minolta is a excellent Macro lens - as your lovely photos illustrate. I use manual focus a lot but I also find that I have to use my camera 'one handed' reasonably often making it impossible to focus manually. Many of the places and situations some of us find ourselves in trying to get a perfect butterfly shot can only be made possible by holding onto something with one hand and taking a photo with the other
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
On occasion I also need to hold an obstacle out of the way with one hand and take the shot with the other.
A lot depends on your style of photography, some butterflies rarely sit still for long and auto focus can be a lot faster - making the difference between getting the shot or not. Ideally we would be able to use manual focus all of the time. If you really need auto focus for the reasons I've mentioned then it's worth checking out the Sigma. If you're able to use manual focus most of the time then there's definitely no reason to change anything.
FWIW on auto or not, your photos look very good to me.
B'saurus
Re: Katrina
Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2014 2:48 pm
by Katrina
Today I went to Malling Down early and mainly stayed in the lane. I saw 2 Holly Blues (my first of the year), 2 Orange Tips, 2 Brimstones, 2 Small Tortoiseshells, 1 Peacock, 1 Speckled Wood and my first damselfly of the year. I then went to Pulborough Brooks and saw a Bank Vole.
Re: Katrina
Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2014 9:06 pm
by Wurzel
I love the female Orange-tip shot a very different perspective
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Re: Katrina
Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2014 11:04 pm
by David M
Aaah!! Holly Blue.
You're making me jealous.
Re: Katrina
Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2014 8:41 pm
by Katrina
Today following other reports of sightings I went to Mill Hill and saw at least 2 Grizzled Skippers and at least one Dingy Skipper and 2 Peacocks.
Re: Katrina
Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2014 8:48 pm
by Katrina
David M wrote:Aaah!! Holly Blue.
You're making me jealous.
If it makes you feel better the Holly Blues weren't being helpful at all. They kept flying where I couldn't reach them and I pretty much had to stand in brambles to get the photo!
Re: Katrina
Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2014 9:01 pm
by Wurzel
Loving the Skipper shots - especially the last one
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
It's all kicking off now!
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Re: Katrina
Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2014 9:20 pm
by Katrina
Thank you! It is definitely kicking off now and harder to choose where to go looking for butterflies.
Re: Katrina
Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2014 12:56 pm
by Lee Hurrell
Love the last Grizzled shot - fantastic.
Best wishes,
Lee
Re: Katrina
Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2014 6:11 pm
by Katrina
Today I saw my first Green Hairstreaks of the year up on the Downs.
Re: Katrina
Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2014 7:02 pm
by William
Wurzel wrote:Loving the Skipper shots - especially the last one
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
It's all kicking off now!
Seconded
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
- and that Green Hairstreak is stunning
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Re: Katrina
Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2014 7:40 pm
by Katrina
Thank you! Just a shame the antennae weren't pointing up. When are you going to put us of our misery waiting for news re the pupa William? A boy or a girl OT?
Re: Katrina
Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2014 8:16 pm
by Katrina
Another photo of the Green Hairstreak
Re: Katrina
Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2014 8:23 pm
by Susie
Beautiful green hairstreak
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Re: Katrina
Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2014 10:09 pm
by Wurzel
Lovely Greenstreak shots Katrina
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
I need to get me some of those
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Re: Katrina
Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2014 9:19 pm
by Katrina
Today me and my sister, who is visiting for a couple of days, went to Mill Hill early. We saw several Grizzled and Dingy Skippers one Green Hairstreak and one Small Tortoiseshell. We left just as butterfly activity was increasing as we thought we would try our luck looking for the Dukes at Heyshott. It was not to be, the weather was mainly cloudy with the occasional sunny spell but a cool breeze. We saw 2 butterflies flying which we lost before they landed. We think one was probably a Dingy Skipper and one possibly a Grizzled. We did, however, enjoy the gorgeous flowers there at the moment including large numbers of cowslips and some orchids.
Re: Katrina
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 9:54 pm
by Katrina
This morning we went to Rewell Wood. We didn't see any PBFs, but did see one Speckled Wood, one rather ghostly looking moth and a Green Tiger Beetle. We then went to Arundel WWT where the highlight was seeing 3 Water Voles.
Re: Katrina
Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2014 8:47 am
by Lee Hurrell
Lovely. Not sure I've ever seen a water vole.
I read only this week that they have decreased by over 90% in the last 30 years or so...mostly due to the American mink and habitat loss.
Best wishes,
Lee
Re: Katrina
Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2014 8:55 pm
by Katrina
Arundel WWT is well worth a visit if you want to see water voles. I think they released them onto the reserve some years ago and have fences to protect the birds and voles. I see one approx 50% of the times I go. They can be seen anywhere but the boat ride and reed bed walks are the best bets.