Chalcid wasp thumbing a lift

[JRsbugs]

Aha Bruce, sounds like a good plan to take pics of a ruler! But then you would need to be able to put the ruler image in the same frame as the subject, and that I can't do with my basic editing programme. I recently tried to download another free picture editing programme which did all sorts of interesting things but it didn't work, Windows Live doesn't want it to I think as one programme usually replaces another. I do like the programme I have as it's very good for changing lighting, in particular reducing highlights (over exposure).

As you use different size tubes I guess it's more difficult to keep track, with the 2x teleconverter it's the same whatever and yes you are right, it would be good to know the point of focus. Mine is 210mm equivalent to 315mm standard sensor size whatever distance I shoot from! I couldn't shoot at the closest distance every time with moving subjects although with a slow walking one I do, or anything over 2mm it doesn't give enough depth so I have to go back a little. It's all fun though!

I can usually mentally judge the size, at first I had a problem believing things were so small as looking through the viewfinder they look huge so I wasn't trusting my judgement. Now I have adjusted to huge versus tiny, lol. The trouble is I take pics of so many insects in a day, often a few different wasps, and it's not always easy to remember all of them! I try to put a size after finishing editing so I don't forget, but even that gets left often when there's a lot of pics to do. In the end I don't suppose size matters all that much as long as we have a near enough idea.

Not long ago I had a tiny gnat land on a piece of cauliflower on my dinner plate, I estimated it to be around 2mm but still couldn't believe it so I got a metal tape measure, sure enough I couldn't make it more or less but the lines of division may have been too thick to judge well! It just sat, or stood there so I had to put the piece of cauliflower outside in the end with it sat on it, it seemed to be laying eggs in it! I did think of keeping it as a pet but that wasn't practical. What a beautiful creature it was too! Another one I should upload..

[Lord V]

Re subject size - fairly easy with an MPE-65 lens - the magnifications are amazingly accurate on the barrrel then it's just a matter of ratioing bug size to pic width * sensor width / magnification.
I take quite a few chalcid wasp shots and sizes vary from around 1mm to 4mm body length.
Just to be extra handy my new camera body together with the MPE-65 actually tells me the mag used in DPP raw converter (under lens aberration correction tab) see http://www.flickr.com/photos/lordv/3...7594293307036/

Brian v.

[JRsbugs]

Originally Posted by Lord V

Re subject size - fairly easy with an MPE-65 lens - the magnifications are amazingly accurate on the barrrel then it's just a matter of ratioing bug size to pic width * sensor width / magnification.
I take quite a few chalcid wasp shots and sizes vary from around 1mm to 4mm body length.
Just to be extra handy my new camera body together with the MPE-65 actually tells me the mag used in DPP raw converter (under lens aberration correction tab) see MPE-65 DPP magnification slider calibration on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Brian v.

Handy tool to have Brian! I don't take in RAW, although I would like to I would need the programme to edit, had a free trial with Nikon but there was no instructions and most of the features I couldn't work out! It's an expensive programme to buy. Actually, I just googled and found a download (which apparently is free?) and enables working with NEF images. If it works, might try RAW again but I don't think I have the time with all the pics I take.

Nikon Imaging | Global Site | NEF Codec Download

The MPE-65 would be a great lens to try too, not hand held friendly though but would be very interesting for the odd occasion. The price, plus the fact I would also need a Canon camera, needs a very deep pocket unfortunately.

[JRsbugs]

I've uploaded a few of the pics I took of the 2mm gnat. I could barely see the orange colour with my eye, nature has some amazing creatures and this is one of them. Who would have thought a gnat could be so beautiful and regal.