Best lens for Dragonflies ?

[Leo S]

I'm trying to decide which lens to get specifically for frame filling shots of Dragonflies. I've been using a 300/4.5 EDIF with PN11 up till now but have never gotten very satisfactory shots using this setup with 35mm film. I bought a D70 less than 1 year ago, but have not had a chance to try it together with the 300/4.5 on Dragonflies this year(I suspect the results won't be much better), and I have a 1DSM2 on order at the moment, so I have the option of either Canon or Nikon lenses.

I have been considering the Canon 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM, but was wondering what other people are finding works well? What would you consider to be the ideal lens for this subject?

Here's a pic I took using the 300/4.5 + PN11... the best I could muster after going through a couple of rolls of film on this Dragonfly I found on my visit to the Canary Islands last year!

[geokuf]

300mm lens is a very good option.It provides good working distance. You may have to use some extension tubes in order to get close to the subject. 180mm Macro lens is also good choise but get you little too close. I use Sigma 70-300mm APO Macro and I am very happy with it.
Good place to learn is www.treknature.com and look for dragonflies.
You may even find few of my own.

Good luck.

[Adey Baker]

I don't think there is one ideal lens. I use the extremes - a 50mm and a 400mm and both have their uses.

Most dragonflies can be approached closely at some time or other, so a short focal length comes in useful at such times, but even when one is 'posing' there may be some physical obstruction stopping you from getting close in.

There's no problems with the 180mm Canon, BTW. I've seen some first class shots taken with this lens.

[Chris Oates]

Another vote for the Sigma 70-300, I have the Super II APO.
The macro mode is very handy for getting in close - my 170-500 has me standing off about 16 feet :)

[tufty]

I use the Tamron 90mm Macro on my D70 and find it a fantastic lens, extremely sharp.
The Sigma 105mm Macro is also highly regarded, but I have no expereience of this lens.

[Leo S]

Thanks for all your input. I realize in some situations they can be approached quite easily, but what I really need is a lens that can consistently get good shots with less cooperative individuals... I'll probably get the Canon 100mm Macro for the less skittish subjects. That and the 180 should cover the majority of situations... what do you think?

Which 400 do you use Adey ? On tubes I presume?

[Adey Baker]

Which 400 do you use Adey ? On tubes I presume?

The now-discontinued Sigma Apo/Macro, Leo. It has a 1:3 repro ratio at 1.6 metres which is excellent with the 1.6 crop factor on my 20D. Needs treating with respect as a 400 would do in any situation but you're usually dealing with bright light with this kind of subject so shutter-speeds are normally fast enough.

Not sure how often you'd need both 100 and 180 but they're both high quality optics anyway and there's no point in putting anything other than the best onto a 1Ds2!

[AndyC]

I used to use a Tamron 90mm macro. This gave half life size at about two feet. All I could do was to prefocus on a landing point - usually a branch or simalar over the dragonfly range and then wait. Sooner or later it would settle. Took time, but it worked!

[Dave Adshead]

I have and use the Canon 180mm lens, its a superb lens. But the auto focus at close distance is usless, it's forever hunting. I rely on auto focus, eyes aren't that good, but if you're OK manually, then you'll be alright.
The attached thumb nail is a photo of green fly on mi lupins.
Dave

[Adey Baker]

I have and use the Canon 180mm lens, its a superb lens. But the auto focus at close distance is usless, it's forever hunting. I rely on auto focus, eyes aren't that good, but if you're OK manually, then you'll be alright.

Dave

I don't think this is a problem confined to that particular lens - with my 400mm I usually use the one-shot mode and focus on something that the lens can lock on to and then hold the shutter half down and re-compose.

With the 50mm lens I almost always use manual focus in the macro area. You just have to take time to double check, perhaps by rocking the camera back and forth or 'homing in' with the focus ring, focussing each side of 'correct' focus to see when it's at its sharpest.

When you read tips from the pros they usually say stick with manual focus - if it's good enough for them...

[Surreybirder]

FWIW there's quite an interesting article on photoing dragonflies at
http://www.odenews.org/PhotoArticle.htm

Ken

[madmike]

One good cheap option is a close up filter. You can get +1,2,3 or 4 dioptors and they are about £20 ish from any good camera shop.
I have a +2 and it will fill the frame with a small object. Actually a +1 may be enough. Everything such as focus works OK with the filter on.
Of course the Depth of field is quite small, so you need to allow for this and could also consider using flash if the light is low.

Good luck.

madmike

[pxl8]

I'll add another vote for the Sigma 70-300 DG Macro. Superb quality lens for the price and 1:2 macro as well. Combined with a set of tubes this is about the only lens I use for dragons and other bugs.

Attached were taken with it on my 300D this year.

[Leo S]

Hey everyone,

Thanks again for all your input. It has helped me a great deal!

As Adey says, there's no point putting anything other than the best on the 1Ds2 as it's so demanding, so as much as I'd like the convenience of a zoom lens, I'll be sticking to only those Canon/Nikon primes which have a good reputation for being sharp and fairly distortion free.

I have considered the Sigma and Tamron's also, but although the best ones seem as sharp as the best that C/N can offer(Thanks Tuffy and pxL8 for posting those samples!), there is something about the way they render out of focus elements which does not appeal to me as much as what I have seen from C/N... maybe thats just me! Having said that, an old Sigma 70-200 zoom which my dad gave me years ago was used to get my best Dragonfly photos so far(see attached photo)... but I don't know how well it will perform on a DSLR yet. I'll get round to testing it eventually!

I just won a 2nd hand Canon 100 Micro for £250... now I just need the 180 !

Dave - Great photo! I know how hard it is to photograph Aphids as I have tried quite a few times, with less than satisfactory results(so far!) Thanks for posting that!

Surreybirder - Thanks for the link... Just the kind of info I'm looking for!

madmike - Thanks. I just bought a couple of Nikon diopters to have a play with. :)

Leo