robloblawJun 29
Recovered Expert

Seen Hummingbird hawk-moths a few times over the years here in south eastern Germany. Yesterday I‘ve managed to snap photos of one at my in-laws garden.

Takeaway: my 20+ year old macro lens w/ it‘s 30y old design is good enough for immobile or slow objects, but too slow for most living creatures. I should probably upgrade. It‘s autofocus is already under-powered for slower insects, but mostly useless for faster moving insects, reptiles etc.
#HummingbirdHawkMoth #Photography #MacroPhotography

Jun 29 at 3:01pmIvory for iOS
Show threadAgathe bleibt daheimJun 29

@RecoveredExpert

Lovely! 😍

Show threadrobloblawJun 29

@RecoveredExpert
You're taking wonderful pics with that set up already. A cheaper upgrade might be a flash. More light means you can have more depth of field. And shutter speed is irrelevant.

Manual focus is fine for flash photography.

Show threadRecovered ExpertJun 29
@robloblaw my primary problem was the insane amount of focus-missed rate due the lenses AF motors being too weak to move optical elements fast enough. Of the images where focus hit well enough the 2nd biggest problem hit: insufficient light. Regular flash won‘t work well at macro distances. Haven‘t done much macro with living subjects before but I‘m thinking get one of the cheap knock-of twin-flashes for that. The few living-creatures macro I do can‘t justify brand name macro flashes.
Show threadRecovered ExpertJun 29

@robloblaw Manual focus for immobile stuff, macro or not, I‘m doing plenty. For shots of living-creatures that move fast? Too slow.

Saying that as someone who lugs (manual focus!) 3 tilt/shift lenses around and using them hand-held almost as often as I use them on a tripod.

Show threadrobloblawJun 29

@RecoveredExpert
You'd be surprised! The 1/8000s of a Xeon bulb flash is fast enough for most anything. Set the aperture for the best balance of sharpness and DOF. Stand still and predict where the subject will go (you know pollinators are heading for flowers). Wait for the subject to move into your pre set up DOF, and take the shot.

Moving your body in relation to the subject is easier than changing the lens focus.

Show threadrobloblawJun 29
@RecoveredExpert
A very different experience than the slow, deliberate architecture work; but very rewarding when it succeeds. Composing the frame and taking test shots while you wait for the subject helps a lot too.
Show threadrobloblawJun 29

@RecoveredExpert
You can get plenty of light with off camera flash. And home made diffusers are very common for hot shoe flash. The brand of flash doesn't matter really, but the godox AD200 with the extension head is amazing. It has enough lumens to put a polarising film over the flash head and a polarising filter on the lens (so you can control reflections on shiny insects).

A pringles can is cheaper though :)
https://www.diyphotography.net/super-easy-macro-lighting-using-a-pringles-can/