Two Flies (First D2X posting)

[NikonUser]

Hi there,

Well I've had my D2X for a week now and haven't posted a shot yet. Terrible. Work, weather and life got in the way of me playing with my new toy.

Anyway. I won't harp on about what I think of this camera... That would take too long. Needless to say I'm absolutely AMAZED

Here are two macros I took in the back yard between rain showers... Hope you like them. Comments and critiques more than welcome

D2X, Sigma 180, SB-800, Softbox
ISO320, 1/100. F10
Both cropped from full frame down to 6MP.

[Zeeke]

Jealous... awesome captures there Paul.. love the sharpness.. posting these images is just evil tho.. make me wish i was getting a d2x instead of a d200

Tim

[Alpha_7]

Awesome Paul, Awesome Enjoy the new Toy! Seems it's just lapping up the macro work!

[Glen]

Paul, very impressive

[NikonUser]

Thanks Tim,

EDIT... Thanks also Alpha_7 and Glen... Too quick for my reply

Once you get your D200 I'm sure you won't be jealous anymore. I've read heaps about the D200 being very similar to the quality of the D2X in terms of output

... Have you considered Birdy's D2X offer? only around $1700 difference between an AUD200 and a HKD2X (still a fair amount of money I know... but hey, it's a D2X!.. lol). Or are you locked into your D200 purchase?

Paul

[shutterbug]

Beautiful

[avkomp]

congrats on the new toy paul.

I am sure you will enjoy that heaps.

Steve

[Zeeke]

ive paid too much off to get out of my d200... and plus.. im struggling to pay for it as it is... i cant afford to cancel and get my money back to get a d2x from birdy.. as much as i want to..

Tim

[mitedo]

Great stuff Paul sharp as a lemon

[NikonUser]

You could always sell your D200 at double what you paid for it to some desperate soul who can't get hold of one

Can anyone suggest to me how I would go about ID'ing this fly? I'm guessing it's some kind of fruit fly but Google isn't very helpful.

Paul

[wendellt]

colour rendition spanky!

[sirhc55]

Paul - a tribute to your professionalism with the D2X but also for the Sigma - a great piece of GLASS takes great pics

[Oneputt]

Love the first shot but they are both terrific. What lighting?

[NikonUser]

professionalism? me? Pffft, you've obviously never seen (or heard) me out taking photos But you're right, the Sigma 180 is an awesome lens.

Lighting was with the SB-800 set at +1EV with the lumiquest softbox attached. The SB-800 was on the Wimberly Macro Flash Bracket and positioned quite high above the lens and angled downwards (see pic... sorry about crappy quality)



Paul

[Geoff]

Paul - beautiful work, you make the D2X sing! These would look awesome enlarged

[marcotrov]

Smooth as silkk Paul. The first is the pick of the 2. Gorgeous colour incredibly sharp and great OOF background. You are working magic with that D2X. Here I was hoping that you and I could share tales with our D200's You had to go 1 better I'm pleased for you.
Paul I have been trying to find a softbox for the SB 800 and 600 for a while may I ask where you got yours from, how much and if you could buy a softbox again would you get the same one?
cheers
marco

[byrt_001]

hi

as much as i hate flies, this ones are just beatiful

there is so much detail.

christian

[NikonUser]

Smooth as silkk Paul. The first is the pick of the 2. Gorgeous colour incredibly sharp and great OOF background. You are working magic with that D2X. Here I was hoping that you and I could share tales with our D200's You had to go 1 better I'm pleased for you.
Paul I have been trying to find a softbox for the SB 800 and 600 for a while may I ask where you got yours from, how much and if you could buy a softbox again would you get the same one?
cheers
marco

Sorry about that The lure of the D2X was too great for me to resist. Couple that with the lack of D200's and reported problems and I just had to get one.

I got the softbox from B&H:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/control ... ype=search

I'm pretty sure I got it for the same price as it's listed now ($US30).

It's definately better than the diffuser that comes with the SB-800/600. Much softer shadows... I would buy one again. I've never tried anything else though and am considering one of those LightSphere thingys as well... but haven't looked into it much.

Paul

[greencardigan]

Superb shots Paul!! Looking forward to some more D2X goodness.

Were these taken handheld or with a tripod?

[NikonUser]

Superb shots Paul!! Looking forward to some more D2X goodness.

Were these taken handheld or with a tripod?

Tripod... at high magnifications I can't seem to stop myself moving very slightly forward and backward. Looks kinda weird in the viewfinder actually.

Paul

[blacknstormy]

Paul - absolutely outstanding - the vibrisae/setae and hairs are razor sharp !!!!!!! And at f10 !!!!!! - we definitely use different methods, but your results always kick ass !!!!
Rel

[NikonUser]

Paul - absolutely outstanding - the vibrisae/setae and hairs are razor sharp !!!!!!! And at f10 !!!!!! - we definitely use different methods, but your results always kick ass !!!!
Rel

I just replied in your wander post that we use similar methods (apart from f-number)

If I knew what vibrisae/setae was I'd probably agree that they are sharp. I envy your knowledge of insects I really do!

Thanks everyone for the kind words

Paul

[LostDingo]

Great shots Paul Enjoy your new toy, read your manual cover to cover (all 300 or so pages ) and master it's abilities

[Slider]

Awesome. (Unbearable lust continues)

[Matt. K]

Stunning images! Exhibition quality images. That's not photography...it's art!

[suzanneg]

Just amazing photos. They are ugly little beasties when your this up close and personal.

[skippy]

Those things are eye-popping! Impressive depth of field for the scale.

Gotta start doing this...

[Suri]

Those are simply awesome bug pictures.
Is now seriously counting the bucks to the wonders beholden the D2X.
Wonderful images.