Dragonfly - full resolution from borrowed Canon G7

Bruce Williams · Post by **Bruce Williams** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 6:08 am

Hi folks,

Largely on the strength of Ken's excellent results from his G7 I borrowed one from a good friend of mine to try out for myself. It took a little getting used to
but I am very pleased with some of the results from my last trip.

This posting is a full resolution crop, split into 2 images to comply with forum rules. The image is almost as shot with just a little PP in CS2.

I think the dragonfly is a female Ruddy Darter - confirmation or otherwise appreciated.

Canon G7 ISO 100, 1/125s at f7.1

Please ignore date and time EXIF data as not set correctly in camera.

Bruce

MacroLuv · Post by **MacroLuv** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 8:17 am

Great!

That small camera gives really nice results.

What was the distance from the camera?
I'm sure Erland would manage ID.

Bruce Williams · Post by **Bruce Williams** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 3:38 pm

Thanks Nikola.

Well I would guess perhaps 2 to 3 inches - but it could be closer. I just slowly stretched out my camera arm/hand as close as I felt I could get away with, checked to make sure the subject was framed ok, half pressed the shutter until I heard the auto focus confirmation beep and then immediately took the shot.

I only have sight in one eye, so without stereo vision these sort of shots are always a bit hit and miss ....I know I'm too close if it flies off or I squidge it

.

Bruce

Erland R.N. · Post by **Erland R.N.** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 4:23 pm

Really excellent result. Just a bit of practice needed to get good results, learning to get close to subject, but in the past, many photographers have used 60 mm macro lenses on film cameraes and got good results.
Many like me are spoiled with tele-macros theses days.

It's not a Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum), as that species have black legs without the yellowish lines running down along the lenght.

It's a female though, based on the thick first segments of the abdomen. It's a Common Darter (S. striolatum), looks much like S. vulgatum, but the amount of black on the forehead in front of the eyes, differentiate the two species (as well as other things not seen on the photo).

Erland

jaharris1001 · Post by **jaharris1001** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 5:57 pm

very nice Bruce !! I too have been very impressed with some of the reults that Ken has been getting with that G7,,, very nice shot and very nice detail

beetleman · Post by **beetleman** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 8:59 am

Very nice Bruce. 2" must be a little drawback on these cameras. With the 250D lens I use, I get 8 to 10" focus length at the optical 10x zoom. This and Kens` pictures are excellent with the G7.

Bruce Williams · Post by **Bruce Williams** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 11:17 am

Erland - Thanks for your comments and for the identification. Please also read my comment to Doug re subject distance.

Jim - Yes Ken's results are impressive. I am thinking about the G7 or even the new G9 as a convenient in-pocket camera. If I do I'll definitely be tapping Ken up for some advice on set-up etc.

Doug - My earlier guess of 2 to 3 inches shouldn't be relied upon as accurate as with one eye I really don't have good depth judgement.

Unfortunately I don't have the G7 any more but I've done a few "test" on my "arm's length" distance estimation ability and I have to say it
sucks - the camera could have been anywhere from 2 to 6 inches away

.

Ken may have a better idea as he is obviously quite experienced with the G7 and my posted image is a crop at full out-of-camera resolution.

Bruce

MacroLuv · Post by **MacroLuv** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 1:30 pm

Bruce Williams wrote:... I am thinking about the G7 or even the new G9 as a convenient in-pocket camera. If I do I'll definitely be tapping Ken up for some advice on set-up etc...

Bruce

A new Canon G9 is on the horizon?

How it slipped away from my attention?!

DaveW · Post by **DaveW** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 2:13 pm

Either my Dragonfly's are more jittery than yours Bruce, or yours are chilled because I can never get closer than about a couple of feet away before they are off, no matter how slowly I move. Guess I must be taking them in the middle of the day when they are warmed up and not engrossed in a meal, but they never seem to be around my pond in the early mornings when it's cool.

DaveW

MacroLuv · Post by **MacroLuv** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 2:47 pm

Dave, my advice is: do not keep your head higher than dragonfly while sneaking closer. That can make them nervous.

DaveW · Post by **DaveW** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 2:54 pm

You reckon theres something about my face that frightens them then Nikola!

DaveW

MacroLuv · Post by **MacroLuv** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 3:11 pm

I'm speaking from my own experience Dave!