"Ayash Kanto Mukherjee" wrote:
> > as someone who shoots a lot of macro stuff, I'd seriously
> recommend the
> > Tamron 90/2.8, which is 1:1, and is a fabulous portrait
> lens to boot.
> The minimum focussing distance for this lens is 11.4 inch. Is
> it enough
> to take shots of butterflies, bees and other insects without
> scaring them
> away?
Depends. Depends on what kind of insect they are. Depends on how cold
they are. Depends on what colors you wear. Depends on where the sun is in
relation to you and to them. Depends on how much they need to take a rest.
But most of all, it depends on how good your stalking skills are, which is a
combination of how you move and all the previous factors.
I've done 1:1 shots of dragonflies using a 100mm on extension. Much easier
to use the 200mm though, but even then, you need to stalk them a bit. 1:1
shots of ladybugs are also pretty easy unless they are wandering around
looking for food (they are fast-crawling insects). 7:1's of non-flying
aphids are even easier (pluck the leaf and take 'em into the studio :-)
11.4 inches will be pleanty far enough provided you stay with the easier
insects at first. However, try them all. You'll soon learn which ones
you're good at stalking and which you need to get better before doing. I
think my first 1:1 macro shot was of a housefly -- it was chilly, the sun
was in the right direction and I'd had lots of practice stalking them from
when I used to flick them with my fingers as a kid).
>Mark Casino has always used 200mm f/4 Macro to take shots of
> sensitive insects which has a minimum focussing distance of
> 18 inch. If
> you try to get any closer than that, what really happens with
> the insects,
> I don't know.
They get scared and move. Those that can fly, do so. Those that cannot,
move to the other side of the leaf, or to the far side of the plant, or the
other side of the stalk, etc. Either way, they move and hide or otherwise
ruin the composition :-)
Personally, I've found the hardest insects to get pictures of are jumping
spiders and hoverflies (still haven't managed either). Hoverflies are just
skittish beasts, but last summer I concluded that the working distance of a
200mm should be just workable for them (reasonable percentage of successful
stalkings).
Jumping spiders, on the other hand, are absolutely impossible for me. They
have stunning vision for an insect. They get scared and run away when I get
within about 3 ft (1m) of them and get scared and move way sooner than that.
Hoverflies are downright easy in comparison.
Oh, and dragonflies.. just require some stalking and spending some time
finding their favorite lookout point. The ones with lookouts farthest from
the water seem to be the easiest to shoot too (probably more tired or
something).
hope that helps,
patbob ([EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED])
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