I'm not usually into taking photos of insects but I happened across this one while taking an impromptu walk through a gardening booth at a local farmer's market on Friday. I'm not sure what kind of insect it is though.I was quite pleased with the results given that it was hand-held using auto-focus. I'm liking the 35mm more and more as I gain more experience with it.Both photos are uncropped OOC JPEG with minimal PP in Picasa. C&C always welcome and thanks for taking a look.Regards, Conrad

Nice macro pic. I always wanted this lense but I end up getting 50mm F2.0 + EX-25 for macro. Is that closest focus you can get on the bug.-Sri

sunisriwrote:Is that closest focus you can get on the bug.Sri,Thanks for the comment. I think I could have been closer but I'm not sure, the bug flew away right after taking the photo.I also considered the 50mm when I purchased the 35mm but couldn't pass up on the price that was being offered for the 35mm. In any case the 50mm is on my list for future purchases.Regards, Conrad

CJackJr wrote: the dof in the second image could not be more perfect. is this a lucky shot or is this a good shot? i think it is both.

luckyakashwrote:is this a lucky shot or is this a good shot? i think it is both.I think mostly luck with perhaps a little bit of skill. I used center-point focusing aimed at the bug in the two shots posted. There were 4 or 5 others where the bug was out of focus.Thanks for the comments.Regards, Conrad

Looks like a Hoverfly to me. -- Iain

sweat bee (at least, that is what we call them here in the southern US.)Very nice shots, great job!

Thanks for those, I was thinking about this lens, now I believe I shall get one......

Out of all of my macro lenses, including the 50mm f 2, the little 35mm is my favorite and most used. I look forward to more shots. -- JimB Bug WhispererJoin us in The Weekly Close up every weekend

...often mistaken for a bee. Nice shot.Phil -- http://pirose.zenfolio.com

... also known as a hoverfly, as the previous poster said. Many of them mimic bees, but none of them sting or are harmful. Most of them are predators of other insects, and some species are quite large (hornet-sized); the one you have here is a small species.Their name comes from their amazing agility in the air; they're sort of the hummingbirds of the insect world, along with the dragonflies. The large species make interesting sounds -- you can hear the sound of their wingbeats shift in pitch as they dart back and forth from the Doppler effect.Nice shots!