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Me and the 70-300G went for a walk this afternoon, we saw, birds, bugs, dragonflys, eels and more... I really tried my best to get some dragonfly shots, inspired by so many great bug shots posted recently.... here's my attempts.. while I'm disappointed I'm not sure if I can do much better in the situation.

All the shots are cropped except the last one where I was able to get real close.





Please let me know what you think, should I expect better results with practice, or am I using the wrong equipment for the job ?

G'day,
Never having used the 70-300 I'm not familiar with how it goes for close-up stuff like this, but I'd assume it'd be tricky to get something like some of the tremendous bug shots that have been posted recently, as they're done using dedicated macro lenses or close-up filters etc...

I assume you didn't have any close-up filters on? If not, then they might be worth a try... The Nikon ones seem good value judging by some of the pics posted from them.

Craig, I've only managed to get 2 shots of dragonflies so I feel your frustrations. My sigma 70-300 really is a piss poor piece of equipment.

I don;t think you should be dissapointed with #1 though. It could be sharper and larger but I think it's a nice capture nonetheless.

#2 is too OOF for me.

#3 there seems to be too much background distracting it for me I'm afraid.

Craig - your results with this lens are pretty good. The first one is the better of the three. This lens has been used very effectively by others on this forum so don’t be too disheartened as your results are not too bad

For the quality of the lens Craig you shouldn't be too disappointed. I like #1 particularly its OOF background and the nice contrasty colour.
cheers
marco

Hi Craig,

As others said, these are pretty good for 70-300G. I used to have this lens and sold it because I would get some kind of softness in 99 % if my images, especially so at the high extreme of focal length.

Alex

Mate, you really can't expect macro quality performance from the 70-300G. Try as you might you, the last image is as good as it gets with that lens.

It's not your performance as a photographer, it's the lens that is letting you down. Unless you can find some bigger insects to photograph, you will be stuck with images like the last one, which is not bad for that lens anyway.

Here is the best i got with the 70-300G. It was a very large dragonfly so looks better than it really was.
http://www.stevekilburn.com/photos/23925628-M.jpg

Don't forget, sometimes (read: often) it's best to use manual focus with the 70-300 especially in low light.

Alpha - I've got the G, and to be honest, I'm not really impressed with it. I was stupid enough to think that because it was a nikon, it would be better than my trusty old tamron.... I was wrong. But you don't need a dedicated macro to get some decent shots of insects. Some of it is technique, so keep on trying. This is an example of a small cicada taken with the tamron (take too long to find a dragonfly shot)


When you can though, and if you are keen to take insect shots, a dedicated macro lens makes a hell of a difference !!!!

Rel

Craig, I quite like the first one. Great colours.

I went out this morning again after those pesky little buggers. 50 shots and I am not posting any of em

Craig,

out of curiosity, why did you not use your 80-200?

Craig,

out of curiosity, why did you not use your 80-200?

I got home and quicked one lens to go for a bush walk... it was mainly for the exercise, and didn't want to weigh myself done so picked the 70-300G. Plus I had neglected it since getting the 80-200, and needed to justify keeping it in my bag.

Thanks for all the comments.

 BTW

you managed to blur the background on the first one very nicely.

The first one is a very good start.

Second is quite blurred - either OOF or incredible softness (or a combination). 3rd has potential but background and subject position destroy it.

A good start though. Last time I went dragonfly hunting I took a slow macro lens ... and at 100mm too!

Alpha_7,
I thought you put the 70-300G in the bin long while ago after you got the 80-200 AF-D.
That why it didn't show anything on your post or just with http://www.pixspot.com

Birddog114 wrote:Alpha_7,
I thought you put the 70-300G in the bin long while ago after you got the 80-200 AF-D.
That why it didn't show anything on your post or just with http://www.pixspot.com

I contemplating giving it away... but it's still in my pack right now... Pixspot has been working for me, but others have comments that they are having issues seeing the posts... I'm not sure what is up with that.

Your images are cached and, while I have no doubt it was working yesterday based on the posts this thread received, I have a feeling someone at Pixspot has decided to make a new year's change.