November Sightings

[bugmadmark]

OK - my first post in months, but I figured amongst the snow and ice there was little to see. Whilst friends in Yorkshire were producing stunning scupltures of people out of mounds of deep snow, down here in Cambridgeshire I thought I'd see what I could do with our meagre dusting of snow... So here it is.

Snow Butterfly (Vanessa icelandicus)

Well... Snowmen are so last year!

[NickB]

[Paul Wetton]

Tricky subject V. icelandicus need to get your photos in quickly before they melt into the background with that superb camouflage.

Good depth of field. Did you use photo stacking?

Paul

http://www.ibirdz.co.uk

[Jack Harrison]

I am sure that is V. icelandicus form pasquinade

(and go on, tell me if you DIDN'T have to look it up).

Jack

[Dave McCormick]

the only butterfly that mild weather would kill!

[NickB]

..this one is not bothered by the hot or cold....

Boloria lapis .....

Edit: Not bad DOF - taken using a kit 18-55mm DX Nikkor lens at 35mm.....
Nikon D300 1/125, f7.1 ISO 250 - 0.7ve

[bugmadmark]

Good depth of field. Did you use photo stacking?

Nothing so fancy - just borrowed my sons fuji finepix f40fd - as its a basic compact,the DoF is pretty good. In fact I am jealous that he get's better butterfly pics than I do with a Canon 400D / Sigma 150mm!

Having said that - I have never looked into photo stacking - and have no idea if it is acheivable with moving insects - might be worth ago tho as I struggle to get an entire butterfly sharp from wing tips down to body. Found this article on technique.. http://www.flickr.com/groups/macroviewe ... ss/163367/

Any one any experience of this?

[Jack Harrison]

Paul commented:

In fact I am jealous that he gets better butterfly pics [with his basic compact] than I do with a Canon 400D / Sigma 150mm!

It's not how big it is, it's what you do with it.

Jack

[Paul Wetton]

One reason I've enjoyed going back to video is the DOF is much greater than with stills. Probably due to the fact that less light is required by the video camera.

Now for the hard sell. Take a look at the video footage of my latest butterfly film at http://www.ibirdz.co.uk

Cheers

Paul

[Jack Harrison]

Paul comments: "One reason I've enjoyed going back to video is the DOF is much greater than with stills. Probably due to the fact that less light is required by the video camera."

I doubt that is the whole story. Compact cameras have smaller focal length lenses than do DSLRs for the simple reason that the sensor sizes in compacts are smaller. The smaller the focal length/sensor size, the greater the depth of field for the same parameters of F stop, etc. I have no idea of the sensor size and focal lengths of your video camera but my guess is that they will be even smaller than a compact, hence the slighter greater depth of field compared to a compact and an even more marked increase in depth of field compared with a DSLR.


But as the DSLR aficionados will tell you, the larger sensor has significant advantages in terms of the ultimate resolution that is possible. I liken it to trying to compare a two-seat sports car to a seven-seat people carrier – you can’t. They do different jobs. Video cameras, compact still cameras and DSLRs all do different things. Each has its pros and cons depending on what it is to be used for.

Horses for courses.


Jack

[Paul Wetton]

Absolutely spot on Jack.

The sensor size on my video camera is 1/3 size compared to 35mm. Although there are 3 of them stuck in there. Possibly similar size to some compact still cameras.

Cheers

Paul

http://www.ibirdz.co.uk

[NickB]

But as the DSLR aficionados will tell you, the larger sensor has significant advantages in terms of the ultimate resolution that is possible. I liken it to trying to compare a two-seat sports car to a seven-seat people carrier – you can’t. They do different jobs. Video cameras, compact still cameras and DSLRs all do different things. Each has its pros and cons depending on what it is to be used for.
Horses for courses.
Jack

I cursed my DSLR when I switched from a bridge to DSLR because I had to re-learn what the parameters for DOF and sharpness were - and because all my pictures didn't turn out very well! As Jack says, you can't drive a racing car the same way you would a people-carrier and expect to be fast!
(well, unless you are The Stig!)

N
But I have to say, I AM interested in the new HD DSLRs and the possibility of HD video clips of behaviour to capture the jizz we all talk about!
And moments like Guy's Comma butterfly, quietly sipping honey at the entrance to a beehive - magic moments!
(And something to watch in the dull winter months...)