On a cloudy morning of 22 November 2024, I spotted a flower beetle of the genius Mordella. I am unable to identify the specific species of this beetle. The iNaturalist Seek mobile app was only able identify the genius.
This is the first time I have seen this beetle. It disappeared the next day.
The photograph was taken with the Nikon Z 105mm macro lens with a Roynox DCR-250 and a flash diffused by a newly acquired Cynustech diffuser.
Nikon Z8, NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S, Rayox DCR-250, Nikon SB-910, Cynustech Diffuser @ 1/200s f/22 ISO400
These portraits of the ladybirds were taken in my backyard on 14 November 2024. The parsleys are in full bloom. This attracted the Ladybirds. I took this opportunity to capture some macro photographs of these beneficial insects.
They are fairly easy subjects because they are slow-moving and don’t seemed particularly disturbed by the presence of cameras and lenses.
On this particular day, I was using the Nikon F-mount macro lens with a 2 times teleconverter attached. This gives me a reproduction ratio of 2:1 – 2 times life size. In contrast, the new Z-mount macro lens does not take a teleconverter. It is restricted to a 1:1 reproduction ratio unless a diopter such as a Raynox DCR-250 lens is attached. In many ways, the older lens is more flexible than the new lens. I sometimes do wonder why Nikon make design decisions such as this. Perhaps the decision was to prioritise image quality (for which the Z-mount lens is excellent) over flexibility.
It’s been a while since I have done any Macro Photography. I have not been able to go to the park to do wildlife photography because of weather and other commitments. With some time in the afternoon, I decided to assemble my macro photography gear and look for subjects in the garden.
It has been too long between macro shoots, I have not been quick enough to photograph the bees. So, instead, I looked for easier subject and that was the humble housefly.
Housefly
The difference between this shoot and my previous shoot is the use of the AF Micro-Nikkor 200mm f/4D IF-ED adapted to the Nikon Z8 via a FTZ II. The light source was supplied by 3 SB-R200 as part of the Nikon R1C1 set and a Crafty Bell diffuser.
While I did end up with some reasonable photographs but I felt that I am out of practice with macro. I should try to get back into it and attempt to reestablish my skills.
I also found some Carpet Beetles in some Parsley Flowers. However, they are extremely small (1-3mm). This makes it impossible to photograph with a 1:1 macro lens. I tried to attach a 2X Kenko F-mount teleconverter to the lens but the Z8 is not able to control the aperture which makes the setup useless. I checked the lens and teleconverter with the D850 and that combination worked. I guessed I have just experienced a limitation of mirrorless adaptation.
Nikon Z8, AF Micro-Nikkor 200mm f/4D IF-ED, FTZ II, Nikon SU-800 + 3 x Nikon SB-R200 (R1C1), Wimberley F-2 Macro Bracket, Crafty Bells bonnet diffuser @ 1/200s f/22 ISO200
An oldie but a goodie. This is a macro photograph of a Honey Bee in our backyard taken on 10 December 2022. I should do more macro photography as I enjoy the details it can reproduce of tiny creatures that the naked eye could not see.
This is an older photograph of a Housefly from 15 October 2022. It was taken in our backyard. I really like this photograph because of the details that the naked eye could not possible see.
Soon after planting our Kangaroo Paw in our backyard, we discovered this Common Bandwing on 8 May 2023. It stayed for a couple of days and disappeared. It looked like it took a bite of the Kangaroo Paw but didn’t like it very much.
