www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

My Panasonic Lumix FZ38 needs a new home. There is absolutely nothing wrong with it but as many of you will know, due to my physical limitations, I struggle with a fixed screen. So I have just bought an FZ150 for the simple reason it has a free angle (articulated) screen. I’m happy with the new camera but am pragmatic enough to realise that I won’t get better photos but will achieve the same end with more ease.

The two-year old FZ38 is fine and you will have seen the results that it is capable of. The kit that I am selling comprises:

.....Camera
.....Five batteries (but it was waste of money having more than two – they last perfectly well) plus two chargers
.....Close up lens +1 dioptre – simple screw in that enables focus down to 50 cms.
.....Graduated filter for darkening skies in landscape photography
.....Circular polarising filter

£100 the lot but I would have to charge for postage. No idea what that might be – fiver perhaps? Or collect free (I live near King’s Lynn)

Jack

First insect photos with the FZ150 (no butterflies seen since I got the new camera).

This Bluebottle (? is it a Blue or a Green?) was taken at F/8, fill in flash, +2 achromatic close-up lens (which conveniently I already had) at ISO200.

It has not been cropped, merely re-sized to 1/3 of the original.


I had used auto focus and it MIGHT have focussed on the background rather than the fly - not sure. More experiments needed with the very easy-to-use manual focus. Also F/8 probably isn't optimum as diffraction effects can occur at such an aperture with a small sensor. I need to experiment with wider apertures. I hope to try it out on real butterflies over the next few days. Green Hairstreak should be out at for example Holme Dunes NNR near Hunstanton in Norfolk.

In normal use, the FZ150 wouldn't need a close-up lens as the zoom range/close focus is very good. But I wanted to push it to the limit with my test. Incidentally, the camera takes a simple 52 mm screw-in filter with no need for fancy adaptors, etc

Jack

That is extremely good. Can't wait for your butterfly pictures.

Hugh

Well, I tried three or four times to go outdoors today for a local search for Orange Tip/Speckled Wood/maybe Holly Blue. But every time I was about to step outside, it tipped it down. It really has been an incredibly wet spell here recently. However, this is all very much in accord with the predicted effects of climate change - more of everything. More hot weather, more short-sharp cold, more droughts, more wet spells. Whatever happens to the climate, British weather will never become boring.

Jack

In Cambridge, only 22.7mm of rain so far this month; average temp has been only 6.7C with max of 15C only....
http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/research/dtg/we ... gi?2012-04
Cold and damp...

23rd April
At last some butterflies here in N.W. Norfolk. A local walk produced a single Peacock, Tortoiseshell, three Orange Tips, one G.V.White and then on return home, a splendid female Holly Blue in the garden. All eluded the camera

Jack

Just outside my house in North Wootton near King's Lynn on my way TO (I stress TO, not coming back from) The Red Cat pub, there was the wonderful sight of a RED KITE floating low over the road. I watched it for some ten minutes. Apparently, a pair of Kites have been hanging around North Wootton for a fortnight, so with luck they will breed. That's at least making up for the dearth of butterflies.

So that makes Buzzards, Kites, Harriers all within the bounds of North Wootton. The area used to have Montagu's Harrier but sadly not for several years now.

Jack

Well, you have ended-up in Birder's Dream Land.......

And Barn and Tawny Owls. Dawn chorus is currently dominated by Song Thrush followed a little later in the morning by Blackcap. Jay regular at the moment on the feeders and last winter, Marsh and Coal Tit (as well of course as Blue and Great).

Yes, a good spot with Holly Blue and last year, Purple Hairstreak. Could be worse.

Jack

NickB wrote:Well, you have ended-up in Birder's Dream Land.......

Come and sit in my back garden for an hour or two - the bloody things are almost as common as crows!!

Yep - not content with all our water, you've got our Red Kites as well

Little interest so far in my Lumix FZ38:

viewtopic.php?f=29&t=4056&start=320#p58526

I guess I keep it as a back up camera. Image quality is just as good as my new Lumix FZ150 but the FZ38 lacks a flip-out screen, something that I find extremely useful.

Send Private Message if interested in the FZ38 with accessories.

Jack

The old Pansonic Lumix FZ38 now has a happy new home.

The new Lumix FZ150 finally got some butterflies in its lens on Monday at Holme NNR. I have to say that the image quality is no better, no worse than the old camera. But the 150 has the flexibility that I need.

Here is a simple re-size.
Details: No supplementary lens used, max telephoto, shooting distance 100 cms


Here is a tight crop from that photo.


Not stunning resolution but I am still finding the best settings

This on the notice board at Holme about some sea creature amused. What a wonderful user-name that would be for someone.


Jack

Whilst you are getting used to a new piece of kit, are you sure you don't want a medium-format camera, Jack?
This No.1A Pocket Kodak should be right up your street...

I actually had one of those, or similar camera, in my youth. It suffered an unfortunate fate in 1952 (I think that was the year. That would make me aged 13) when I put it on the ground and stepped back in my excitement in seeing my first ever Green Hairstreaks. Cameras with bellows don't come out unscathed after being stood on. I was in tears. Dad took pity on my and bought be a lovely Zeiss Nettar when we got back from our holiday in Somerset.

A butterfly friend (we also share the interest in gliding) Mike Rubin, is staying with me for a few days. The weather today was predictably dreadful so we went to the Butterfly Farm at Long Sutton.

The Glasswings are lovely (pic taken with flash)


The Owls (and the Morphos) rarely open their wings when settled. This Owl pic taken from extremely close distance. No flash. It's a crop to about 1800 x 1800 px then resize.


Jack

Nice ones, Jack!

Mike (my guest) has just been showing me his butterfly pics and been helping with the i/d of some of these foreigners.

http://piccies.flybywire.org.uk/Butterf ... ecies.html

Jack

A few years since I visited that butterfly place at Long Sutton - back in the days when my in laws lived at Wisbech. Had some good days there.
Is it true it is about to close in the near future?

Hugh

Is it true it is about to close in the near future?

Sadly yes, at the en d of the summer. They require a "Zoo Licence" and will need to erect a secure fence which will cost some £200,000 which they simply can't afford. Great shame.

Blame the bureaucrats and the PC Brigade.

Jack

Stella, Mike and I had a meal in the local. Here is me relaxing afterwards. Suave!



Jack