I was passed this tiny beetle to ID. Several were found in a medical factory clean room causing problem. It turned out to be a Red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum . Took this photo using a ping-pong ball defuser. Not too sure of the results. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v191/MELES/insects/cora...

Been testing out my new setup today. Nikon D200 Nikon plan 10/0.3 160/C17 on bellows, extended 160mm from sensor. Mirror up and 1 second rear flash using 2 strobes. Shadowgraph positioner 39 images @ 0.5 thou Helicon Focus M=A, R-24, S=7 Todays test results, both slightly cropped. A bean weevil (sor...

Excellent Photos Morgan. Your Drosera capensis are a lot redder than the ones I have. Be careful, they will become a weed in your greenhouse if you let them :wink: Do a search for sundews in the forums and you will come up with some of sundews in my collection :wink: Thanks The Capensis in your pho...

Hi Morgan, I'm assuming that you are using the PB-6 focusing rail for the increments in the stack? What are the 'rubber feet' that you mentioned standing on? You will need 'finer' movements than the PB-6 alone can provide, though the PB-6 is a very important part of the equation. How's that microme...

You're using that lens at what should be close to its optimum settings, so I'm thinking that loss of sharpness is likely due to vibration. What kind of illumination are you using? What shutter speed? Any mirror lockup? Any other ideas about why not as sharp as you would like? --Rik Vibration may ha...

Seedlings of sundew Drosera capensis are starting to grow well in my greenhouse. This one has caught a fruitlfy. Photo not quite as sharp as I hoped but working on it. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v191/MELES/sundewffcrmm.jpg Nikon D200 EL Nikkor 50mm 2.8 @ 5.6 reversed on bellows 12 images stac...

Thanks for all the valuable information regarding this lens but I have a question I hope you dont mind me asking. Question......... Is the thread on this lens a standard RMS (as in: 20.32 mm in diameter with a pitch of 0.706, conforming to the RMS standard) or another size? I too have been on the se...

A quick update on the bellows..............

I just got a set of Nikon PB-6 bellows through the post (sadly minus the bottom positioning block! but this is now on it's way) and I am very impressed with the engineering of this unit.
It puts my tatty old Russian set to shame.
Thanks for all your help.

Info on the above photo.....

Nikon D200, Mirror up and rear flash @1 second
EL Nikkor 50mm 2.8 @ 5.6 reversed onto bellows
22 images using milling table and stacked with Helicon Focus
Slight crop

Next time I will glue a support onto the rear of egg so as not to be seen.

Thanks all.

Please excuse the crude way of mounting this egg (superglue to hand!....egg that wont stand up!....job done!....badly LOL) This egg reminds me of an Egyptian urn. I was surprised to see the metalic blue hue on the top section. Sungaya inexpectata http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v191/MELES/sungayai...

Thanks for the info all. I got my sticky fingers on the positioner today and it seems to be a very smooth running bit of kit. It has a roller bearing movement and, with what appears to be, no backlash at all. Once set up it should be ideal for my use. Watch this space. http://img.photobucket.com/alb...

I put out a few 'feelers' in the right places for equipment that may be of use for stacking etc and this e-mail came today..... Hi Kev, Lou here. This is your lucky day! Ivor has just brought home a fantastic piece of gear for you and we're chuffed to bits,- taken from a machine that was going to be...

Certainly not a native of the UK :lol: Peru is the country of origin but have been in 'culture' now for many years. I purchased a trio of them at a bug event last weekend. They are eating bramble like it's going out of fashion and hopefuly will produce some eggs soon. I still cant help laughing when...

I just can't stop laughing at these

Horsehead cricket Pseudoproscopia latirostris

Thanks all

The bellows I use work well but have considerable amount of slack in the joints that is difficult to contol at high magnifications.

As the Nikon PB-6 appears to be well made I will try and obtain a set via e-bay.

Many thanks.