Better Than I Thought - _TNY_0560 (3.0x)
This shot is taken using the Canon MP-E65mm lens at 3:1 magnification on a Canon 5D mkII camera. Now this is a really quite old camera, it was launched in 2008(!), but it still takes great photos, especially for macro stuff where fast auto focus isn’t a thing. Something that isn’t as great with it however is the rear display which is small, not 3:2 in aspect ratio, and a bit low-res.
The display was the reason I just couldn’t seem to nail the focus on this super-fuzzy caterpillar which is a vapourer (Orgya antiqa), also known as the rusty tussock moth. Look closely at the thin hairs on, well, everything here. Notice how they are actually not just straight hairs but actually more feathered? Well, this feathering didn’t show up on the rear display, but instead just looked blurry, no matter how many attempts I made.
It was not until I got back inside (this shot was taken in my mother-in-law’s garden) and loaded it up on the monitor that I realised focus was were it was supposed to be and I had actually captured more detail than I thought.
I have earlier shots of this very same caterpillar, but in the previous, smaller stage here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/49179964983/ and here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/49244062347/
Also, speaking of old - the MP-E65mm lens was unveiled back in 1999 so it is more than twenty years old by now - and still the king of the hill in image quality for closer than 1:1 macro.
Better Than I Thought - _TNY_0560 (3.0x)
This shot is taken using the Canon MP-E65mm lens at 3:1 magnification on a Canon 5D mkII camera. Now this is a really quite old camera, it was launched in 2008(!), but it still takes great photos, especially for macro stuff where fast auto focus isn’t a thing. Something that isn’t as great with it however is the rear display which is small, not 3:2 in aspect ratio, and a bit low-res.
The display was the reason I just couldn’t seem to nail the focus on this super-fuzzy caterpillar which is a vapourer (Orgya antiqa), also known as the rusty tussock moth. Look closely at the thin hairs on, well, everything here. Notice how they are actually not just straight hairs but actually more feathered? Well, this feathering didn’t show up on the rear display, but instead just looked blurry, no matter how many attempts I made.
It was not until I got back inside (this shot was taken in my mother-in-law’s garden) and loaded it up on the monitor that I realised focus was were it was supposed to be and I had actually captured more detail than I thought.
I have earlier shots of this very same caterpillar, but in the previous, smaller stage here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/49179964983/ and here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/49244062347/
Also, speaking of old - the MP-E65mm lens was unveiled back in 1999 so it is more than twenty years old by now - and still the king of the hill in image quality for closer than 1:1 macro.