Nice first shots [Y] I'm pretty sure you're going to enjoy the lens. It takes some time getting used to the shallow depth of field, but you'll learn to deal with it. And with handheld macro it takes quite some practise to get the best, so shoot a lot. Burst if you can. In the tiniest forward/backward movement you can mess up your focus. So taking multiple shots might help.


Also try this lens with other purposes like portraits. It might surprise you how good it is with that.


Quote Originally Posted by neuroanatomist
That's the reason IS is not such a big help at macro distances (and because of the close focus, the effectiveness of the H-IS system is reduced to about 2 stops at 1:1). Many people who shoot macro without a tripod and/or of subjects that move (bugs, frogs, garden flowers in a breeze) use a flash to maintain some DoF while keeping shutter speeds in the handholding range.

Well the steady viewfinder itself is a very welcome feature I think. And also the combination of ISand a flash is great.


Anyway, have fun and enjoy! []


Jan