a lovely gift

I've always enjoyed macro photography.  I have to admit though I prefer looking at the masterpieces made by truly magnificent macro photographers while accepting that my talents do not stretch that far.

That's not to say I don't have a go though, but just recently my macro "work" has suffered due to the lack of a proper macro lens.  Instead, I was using my Fujifilm 35mm lens with some macro extension tubes to enable a closer focussing experience.

Although OK, this set-up is far from perfect and simply cannot deliver the results a true 1:1 magnification rate lens can deliver.

Then late last year my sister decided to give her Nikon camera and some lenses away to a friend.  However, she asked whether I would like her old Sigma 105mm macro lens, and I jumped at the opportunity before she realised what an awful brother I really am and withdraw the offer!

Now, I could have just adapted the lens to my Fujifilm X-T4 (and the last image below is an example of that marriage), but in true during the meanwhilst fashion I decided that I really needed a Nikon camera so bought a 10-year-old Nikon D90.

So, I now need to get some practice in if I am ever to attain even 10% of the goodness a true macro photographer can produce.

Nikon D90. Sigma 105mm f2.8 macro
4 seconds at f11, ISO 200
tripod, self-timed release

Nikon D90. Sigma 105mm f2.8 macro
1/2 a second at f16, ISO 200
handheld

Fujifilm X-T4, Sigma 105mm f2.8 macro (adapted)
1/4 of a second at f4, ISO 160 (3 images focus stacked)
tripod, self-timed release

I know you'll be relieved and oh so glad to know that this week's post also heralds the return of videos to my YouTube channel.  You can watch the latest epic in which I explain why I bought the Nikon D90 by simply clicking on the link below: