[Alex Paul]

Hi Don: Well I had a short go at it this evening. I got a couple of focused shots and you are absolutely right about the tubes.... Too dark for focus. At least for these eyes... I think in brighter light this is going to be a sweet set up to play with .... I am getting an error code and shut down trying to use my Tc.... I'll have to investigate it....Err 001. The other immediate impression I have is that the DOF is so shallow unless turned down to f16 (for me anyway) which seems to be the sweet spot... Couldn't see through the lens for focus except under a bright light.... You are absolutely right about the need for a focusing rail.... This is a handful to hand hold steady.. After playing with it for a short period tonight I have a massive appreciation for your ability with it.. I won't post what I took tonight but I will take it out in daylight tomorrow for a real go at it.... I am thinking about rigging a focusing light for less than bright conditions in hopes that I will be able to see through it for focus at f16. A lot of my tiny stuff is taken at night. So the only real light is from the porch light. The other thing I need to do is to throw together a flash bracket. This evening I just shot it on the shoe... It worked fairly well but certainly could be better.....I checked out a lens magnification table and see that the 28 offers approx 2x direct on camera.... The couple of shots with tubes that I did manage had a beautiful frame fill with a midge and so you have me fired up to get used to this configuration.....I really like the fact that it is compact, light and sure does offer a better working distance than the stacked set up.. I have high hopes for being able to hand hold it effectively when I can actually see well enough to know I have hit focus..... I will keep at it....It won't beat me ... Your shots have me solidly inspired to give it a full effort.....Thanks Don...Now what I like better about the big moose of a thing I have been using... With the reversed lens needing to be wide open it doesn't restrict the light as much even with the additional glass of the main lens so focusing is much easier... I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it.... Of course this certainly allows for the easier focusing in marginal light...For instance when I am shooting the Piss Ants on the black hand rail with the porch light on, I can see the detail of the ants clearly.... With the rev28 I have to guess because I just can't quite see the detail cleanly unless the lens is wide open and of course at f2.8 the DOF is as deep as the thickness of a piece of paper. I managed to nail focus on a couple of shots but I got an Antennae or an eye in focus and the rest blurred out.... With the stacked set up shooting the main lens at f22 you get a reasonable depth of field and so it really is easier to address the bug and get more of it in focus.... Now this is all in marginal light not good light..... I was, and still am amazed at the depth attained in your shots today.....I can see that stopped down the 28 does a beautiful job.... Well I promise to post some shots taken tomorrow when I really get a chance to use it in the way that it shines and I see I have a learning curve ahead.... Thanks for motivating me to get using the set up and hopefully I can get enough out of it to consider leaving the big gun at home......Take care.....Alex