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Stubbsy has posted a lot of excellent wide shots from HVG, so I thought I'd show something a little different....

At the digitalslr Stockton Beach meet on the weekend, Birdy was generous enough to loan me the Tamron 180mm macro lens.. Got a chance to test drive it the very next day at Hunter Valley Gardens. It was The Boss' turn to use the D200 so while she busied herself with the Tokina 12-24, I hunted down something to attack with the Tamron 180.




Not a bad effort for my first outing with a macro lens, if I should be so bold!! I now have a new-found respect for the forum regulars who post macros.. This close-up malarky is bloody hard!! Not only do you have to deal with focusing to within a fraction of a millimetre, you need to hold the thing steady and get close enough - and even with a 180, you are getting frighteningly close to your subject...

Both taken with D70s, Tamron 180mm Macro, SB-800, 1/250 @ f/22

This is very very cool stuff. As mentioned above, it's pretty much discovering a whole new chapter on photographic technique.... Might have to save up for a macro lens now (after I recover from discovering how much the Tamron 180 actually costs!!!)

But of course, that joins the queue after a 28-70, 85/1.4.... etc etc

I snapped these next 2 with the 80-200/2.8.




I was (well I guess I still am) considering getting a cheap small telephoto zoom to take travelling, for the odd occasion where I'll need to take photos of a puffin from a distance - Alaska cruise middle of next year... But I just love the bokeh and subject/background separation you can get with f/2.8. I don't know how I'll manage with a f/5.6 lens..

Interestingly enough, my very first post with pics here was from HVG as well, using my old Olympus 2100UZ --> http://www.dslrusers.net/viewtopic.php? ... highlight=

My favourite is the wren its the clear winner for me, but for your first change to test it out, I'm impressed. What's the price like for the Tammy 180, surely its a bit cheaper then its alternatives ?

Alpha_7 wrote:My favourite is the wren its the clear winner for me, but for your first change to test it out, I'm impressed. What's the price like for the Tammy 180, surely its a bit cheaper then its alternatives ?

Just over $1000, Craig. Good value, but not exactly cheap either

The Blue Wren was taken with the 80-200/2.8. You and I both know about THAT lens' capabilities!!

I would have stood no chance getting that shot with the Tamron 180 Macro. I thought the 70-300G had slow autofocus... That thing was a speed demon compared to this lens!!

Good to see you playing with macros Des.

The wren is great.