A close-up shot with super-telelens.

[rosko]

It was no possible to approach this elusive and very shy butterfly with normal macro lens.

So, as my 500mm AIP was around, I mated it with a 20mm close-up ring. Tripod mandatory, of course.

Scarce swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius).

Df + Nikkor 500mm AIP + Kenko 20mm close-up ring.

# f/5;

# 1/640 sec;

# 100 iso.

[John G]

Hi Rosko
.            I,ve just had a glance at the image on the phone, I,ll have a look on PC when at home.
Close focus work with a 500mm AIP is one of my favourite curiosities.
I,m    glad you had a go at it as well.

[Frank Fremerey]

I do it with my 300PF all the time. Very nice. I guess it will lead me to better "bee in flight" shots

Nice you found a rare species!

[rosko]

Hi Rosko
.            I,ve just had a glance at the image on the phone, I,ll have a look on PC when at home.
Close focus work with a 500mm AIP is one of my favourite curiosities.
I,m    glad you had a go at it as well.

Thanks John.

Yes, any lens can be close-up or macro lens if you pull the optical system from the body with help of a close-up ring, or a bellows.

Cheers, Francis.

[rosko]

I do it with my 300PF all the time. Very nice. I guess it will lead me to better "bee in flight" shots
Nice you found a rare species!

Hey, Frank !

Thank for commenting !

I am not sure a 500mm would be suitable for a bee as this creature it's too tiny. Your 300mm would do the job, I think.

I will try, as I want to ''freeze'' a bee in flight, and will let you know if I succeed.

Cheers, Francis.

[Mongo]

Rosko, Mongo has taken almost identical shots some years ago at that time using a D200 and Nikon 200-400 VR1. It worked very well.

When it is too difficult to get close enough with a smaller or macro lens for these subjects, then, the long lens is, at least, one way of overcoming that difficulty. One of the only ways to get these subjects and similarly small subjects in flight, is to pre-focus on an area they must fly past to get to the flower and then exercise a ridiculous degree of super human patience.

[Frank Fremerey]

Yes, Mongo, patience is required for all animal shots. You are destined to know as a distinguished bird shooter.

A fast trigger finger and experiments in AF can help at times. Prefocussing is the more secure option.

AF can lead to long series without one sharp shot. Yet after seeing what 5th gen AF is able to do I have to use
Superhuman patience to explore the gazillion AF options and their interaction with lenses.

I guess it must be possible to track bees in flight with the D500.

[Fons Baerken]

Wonderful!

[John G]

Hi Rosko
             Had a look at the image on the laptop today. Very nice. Hope you have more of this method in mind.
             Have a look at my long tailed tits on Nature Flora Fauna. Taken with 500mm AIP at shortest focal length with a TC 16A attached.
             This species will not stop in one place for more than a second at this time of the day. 

[rosko]

Rosko, Mongo has taken almost identical shots some years ago at that time using a D200 and Nikon 200-400 VR1. It worked very well.

When it is too difficult to get close enough with a smaller or macro lens for these subjects, then, the long lens is, at least, one way of overcoming that difficulty. One of the only ways to get these subjects and similarly small subjects in flight, is to pre-focus on an area they must fly past to get to the flower and then exercise a ridiculous degree of super human patience.

Yes Mongo, this is my way to do with insects in fly, except hoverflies (Syrphidaes) , though, as there are unpredictable.

Cheers, Francis.

[rosko]

Wonderful!

Ta, Fons !

[rosko]

This species will not stop in one place for more than a second at this time of the day. 

Same thing happened withe these butterflies. Very hectic during the day (sunny day) and then they disappear.

Can you give me the link of your tit post, please,  I didn't find it.

Many thanks, Francis.

[John G]

Hi Rosko
             Apologies, It is in Critique, Long Tailed Tits at Lackford Lakes.

[rosko]

Hi Rosko
             Apologies, It is in Critique, Long Tailed Tits at Lackford Lakes.

Got it !

I put a comment in the suitable thread.

Francis.

[Tom Hook]

That is a very pretty butterfly nicely photographed. It appears to be a Swallowtail which we have here in the States but in different colors. Never seen one like this.

I too shoot butterflies (and moths) with telephotos. They impatiently go from one place to the next never sitting still for long, especially the smaller ones, so the photographer often must sit and wait for those brief moments of stillness. I think of the line of a poem from my childhood (I think): "Butterfly, flutter by".