Sigma vs. Minolta?

Critiques [Translate]

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• XOTAELE (8)
• [2007-12-08 6:35]

Magníficos detalles y estupenda nitidez.
Muy buena nota amigo.
Un cordial saludo, JL.

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• Luis52 (15809)
• [2007-12-08 6:35]

Hi Alexei.- Nice and sharp Macro. I think the two lenses work very fine. The photogtapher is one of the best I know here. TFS.
Luis52.

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• mariki (9477)
• [2007-12-08 6:39]

Hello Alexei,

Wonderful close-up! Very nice lighting and colours. Sharpness is excellent. Detail on the wings is great.
Thanks for sharing,
Mariki

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• nglen (36145)
• [2007-12-08 6:41]

Hi Alexei. I have use the sigma on my minolta and fine i got good results. you know now i have the canon but not to sure iftho sell the minolta or just keep it.

Your picture has fine detail and natural colours. a good POV/DOF. excellent work all round.
well done TFS.
Nick..

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• pankajbajpai (16627)
• [2007-12-08 6:43]

hello alexei,
what a lovely macro shot, the sharpness is just great, excellent details,
well done,
tfs & regards
pankaj

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• cicindela (9226)
• [2007-12-08 6:51]

Hi Alexei!
Another great example how to take a great picture! This macor photo is really fantastic, not only because of very good portrait :) I like details, sharpness and colours (summer colors as you know ;>).
Perfect control of light and DOF too!
Best withes,
Radomir

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• jcoowanitwong (13754)
• [2007-12-08 6:57]

Hi Alexei,
This is fantastic macro picture. Sharp focus and zoom in very close. I can see the scale on the wing clearly. Feeling great to see such a fine image.
JC

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• pablominto (14563)
• [2007-12-08 7:09]

Hello Alexei,
What a nice close-up of this fine creature!
The details in the butterfly are totally amazing and wil be hard to top for anyone...
Tight dynamic framing, very attractive natural colours!
Greetings,
Pablo -

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• jonathan_hart (1260)
• [2007-12-08 7:18]

great close up and a perfect quality,
it can't be better :D
regards
jo

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• Argus (50626)
• [2007-12-08 7:48]

Hello Alexei,
For a real macro with close sharpness and detail this is hardly surpassable. You have made an excellent close capture of the painted Lady's head and front part using natural daylight and your choice to focus in so that the the far antenna is in focus is correct, which causes the eye to be slightly OOF, but that does not detract from the extraordinary quality of this image. This is a real Macro!
Well done and thanks,
Enjoy your weekend,
Ivan

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• JoseMiguel (5658)
• [2007-12-08 8:09]

Privet Alexei,
It's so useful your notes about lens comparison and it uses.
It comnes to my mind that said before that resources are not the most important thing in good photography.
It's amazing the results that can be got when in hands of the right person. An skillful and talented one, as in your case.
Sharpness and details are remarkable here.
My compliments and thanks for share it.
Best regards,
JM

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• PeterZ (49139)
• [2007-12-08 8:46]

Hello Alexei,
Wonderful macro shot. Amazing details and great colours. Very good composition and BG. Great quality!
Regards,
Peter

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• gracious (13068)
• [2007-12-08 10:05]

Hello my friend Alexei,
Thank you so much for the true and useful information regarding macro lenses as I getting more and more interested in macro, will see a lot of comparition in your posting before decide to equipt myseif for the right camera and lenses to do the boiling hobby of mine, will need a lot of guide from you in time to come!
as for this one, to me is the best size posting to enjoy totally the big close up of the butterfly in super sharpness, vivid colour and awesome details in it!
I loved and enjoyed it very much
thanks so much
best regards
Tony

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• jignasi (27917)
• [2007-12-08 10:15]

Estas sacando un buen partido a ese Sigma Alexei. Yo aún no lo he utilizado en modo macro ya que siempre utilizo para macro el 105mm f2,8.
Buen acercamiento y mucha fidelidad en el color.
Desde luego un buen trabajo.
Un cordial saludo: J. Ignasi Tejedor

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• smurali (3596)
• [2007-12-08 10:19]

Alexei, Fantastic closeup. - Murali

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• izler (44)
• [2007-12-08 10:56]

selam my friend
wonderful macro photo of this beautiful butterfly
composition, point of view, lighting, colours, sharpness and details are great
we understand the minolta & sigma combination is presenting successful results via your wonderful photos
thanks for sharing
regards
izler

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• sily (1934)
• [2007-12-08 16:53]

HI Alex!
Oh my gosh, did you use a mycroscope?
This is so close Alex, I just can't pay attention on technical detail while I admire the finest details!

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• Adanac (21378)
• [2007-12-08 19:16]

Hello Alexei,
Splendid closeup showing amazing details, the wings even have a texture along with a beautiful pattern. The colors are bright and alive, thanks for sharing Alexei.
Rick

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• manyee (23770)
• [2007-12-08 23:31]

Wow, Alexei... I am speechless!
This is really incredible.
Excellent on all levels.
A masterpiece of a macro.
Congratulations on this beauty.
TFS. : )

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• batu (16383)
• [2007-12-09 0:52]

Hello Alexei,
you point out the butterfly details in an admirable way. Yesterday, I commented a butterfly picture of Marccello (marcellr) and intended to introduce a new quality criterion for butterfly pictures, such as 'scaliness' or whatsoever. In this respect, your picture deserves a high rating. But besides that you picture is perfect also with respect to light, colour reproduction and composition.
Best wishes, Peter

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• joey (24909)
• [2007-12-09 0:59]

Impressive super macro of this butterfly.
The amount of detail is astonishing!
From the minute scales on its wing to the tiny hairs on its body! :)
The colours as usual are as vibrent as ever and add real interest to the shot.
Good POV and composition.
Great work Alexei.
Well done,
Joe

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• clnaef (6814)
• [2007-12-09 1:36]

Bonjour,
Magnifique détail et quel oeil !
Bonne journée.
clnaef

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• Maite (5199)
• [2007-12-09 2:05]

WOW!! Alexei, what a marvel!!
How stunning and splendid this macro! I love the framing and the sharp crisp details with wonderful colors.
Magnificent job!
Greetings
Maite

P:)

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• uleko (10940)
• [2007-12-09 2:19]

Hello Alexei,
Wonderful macro of Vanessa in beautiful light. Magnificent magnification of details and lovely colours! Very well framed too.
TFS and best wishes, Ulla

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• vanderschelden (30441)
• [2007-12-09 4:05]

Hello Alexei,
Good macro. It is mentioned a lot of times above why.
So want to underscore something else: the effective square in your compo.
TFS
Annick

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• ramthakur (56953)
• [2007-12-09 4:06]

Goodness gracious, I never realized Sigma 70-300 was so full of potential, Alexei! You are a genius of a nature photogarpher to produce such a stunning macro with that lens.
Your note opens my eyes to the fact that even the best possible equipment is just junk for an inept user like me.
The image is the zenith of perfection.
Thanks for sharing it and also for providing us an insight into the qualities of this lens.
Regards.
Ram

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• Mana (18598)
• [2007-12-09 4:29]

Hi Alexei,
Just marking this wonderful shot from you and will be back later with a proper critique.
Regards.
Sumon

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• EOSF1 (23955)
• [2007-12-09 5:57]

Hello Alexei, that's an amazing macro, you surely had a fantastic light to be able to get 1/250 exposure at f/18.0 ! Great DOF, very sharp and nice tight crop ! Thanks !

Mario

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• rousettus (19818)
• [2007-12-09 7:02]

Hi Alexei,
I start firstly your interesting notes. It is nice to read. I will not discuss about cameras. But you use both of them very well. Our hands are important as much as camera quaility.
On the other hand, you present a great detailed butterfly macro. Even scales on wing visible. Its order Lepidoptera means already these scales (lepido= scale).
Great POV, focus, BG and composition. Thanks a lot for sharing.
Best wishes
Ahmet

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• mrcrow (3008)
• [2007-12-09 9:12]
• [+]

hi alexei
with f 18 and the quality of your lenses you get admirable results
do you use manual focus because i think the eye her would have been made sharper...
dof may be so shallow though that a sacrifice had to be made to get such perfect detail on the body
i can see the rear legs sharper than the eye
is there any way to compute dof from your lens and fittings to be aware of just how much latitude you have..
a true macro lens photographs at lifesize..any smaller is not macro and larger is micro
macro is 1:1 that is why a macro prime lens will come with a 1:1 tube if it cannot satisfy this requirement without it...so as to make the lens..'macro'
close ups are another thing and i dont mean to critique that quite perfect technique..
my macro lenses were f32
god bless
geof

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• Silvio2006 (102073)
• [2007-12-09 9:29]

Hi Alexei, splendid detail for your lovely war, great sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

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• nainnain (6259)
• [2007-12-09 12:28]

aie aie, quelle merveilleuse macro,des détails magnifiques et somptueuses couleurs, bravo, excellent
edith

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• lousat (65489)
• [2007-12-09 12:59]

!!!!!!!! incredible macro's work !!!!!!! the pic talk alone,2 points !!! have a nice week,Luciano

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• eqshannon (31141)
• [2007-12-09 14:00]
• [+]

This is a good lens which I use, the 70-300 Sigma. Many of my best shots some with it in macro mode..during summer of course. I would freeze my fingers trying this in winter...
...Very very sharp with not so bad depth of field considering how close in you are. Colours are quite true I am sure as they do not look at all manipulated PP...Excellent shot.

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• marhowie (486)
• [2007-12-09 14:37]
• [+]

Hello Alexei,
I've read your statements and you've made some great comparisons..You've "smoothed the rigidity of the above given wording" well and made your case. In the final analysis though, I say the winner is the true macro lens. It's the only way I know to fill the frame, thus maintaining enough quality for a good print. I do not know how well you accomplish this (fill the frame)with the 70-300mm Sigma in macro mode, so I cannot fairly judge..How much has this post been cropped, as you've shown it here BTW?
Undoubtedly, the versatility of the Sigma 70-300mm in the field cannot be beat. I use several Sigma lense's, and they serve me well..
I'm sorry to read of the negativity you experienced on the Russian only photo site..
You are home here :)
Very well done.
Howard

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• mlines (3116)
• [2007-12-09 14:38]

Hi Alexei. It has been good to see your macros develop so well. I like this a lot. It is like a text book from the zoology shelf. Beautiful clarity and colours throughout. TFS. Murray.

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• demeve (6165)
• [2007-12-09 20:17]

Hello Alex,
I don't have much time today because I have to study
for my final exam tomorrow, but I had to stop by to congratulate
you for this excellent capture.. Very well done

Everton

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• horia (16656)
• [2007-12-10 2:35]

Hello my friend

I'm really sorry for missing out on some of your lovely photos, Alexei, but i've been involved on some projects these past few weeks and TN time had to be sacrificed... :(( My honest apologies, my friend!
Even now, i'm still not done with all of them but i had to come and detach myself from all that even for a little while and i relaxed myself by reading your always interesting notes and comparisons of your equipment.
I can only congratulate you on your results - as usual: terrific - and sya once again that i'm very much looking forward for spring so that i can finally do some testing like this myself :)
This is again a splendid macro, one with an amazing DOF and super sharp details. I really like your use of natural light here and the beauty of all the colors and tones that it gave you.
The dramatic close-up adds to the overall composition and it really proves once again that this inexpensive Sigma is a very versatile lens.
Wonderful work!

Bravo and TFS
Horia

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• Ena (2454)
• [2007-12-10 2:53]

Hi Alexei,
Great macro! Good composition and excellent sharpness!
Regards
Ena

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• fiyo (15161)
• [2007-12-10 3:13]

Hello Alexei,
Magnificent close up.Details are amazing.I liked POV,exposure,framing and composition also a lot.TFS

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• undoredo (2740)
• [2007-12-10 5:42]

Hello Alexei,
I'm back now and good to see you again.
Thanks for the kind comments on my previous shot Chickadee. :-)
This photo is a truly amazing macro shot with and delicate details and perfect DOF.
What a details on the body and wings!
Thanks for sharing this wonderful photo. :-)
Best wishes,
Kevin

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• jesst (2441)
• [2007-12-10 6:59]

Wonderful macro! Detail and sharp are amazing - like if this butterfly is a cat size. Nice color.

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• hester (11638)
• [2007-12-10 12:07]

Hi Alexei

That is a very close up, sharp and detailed macro shot. You have got great results out of the Sigma lens. Wonderful colours and excellent DOF as well

TFS

Karan

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• claudine (0)
• [2007-12-10 12:23]

Hello Alexei,
What a great, well composed and detailed macro! I don't have the equipment to do such work of art. I'm amazed by this proximity, clarity and quality. This is very well done with interesting notes. Thanks,
Claudine
PS, I have sent you an e-mail regarding those questions you had in your last comment about my picture :)

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• JORAPAVI (4643)
• [2007-12-10 13:47]

Hola Alexei,
Impresionante el acercamiento, con extraordinaria nitidez mostrando muy bien los pequeños detalles y texturas, fantástica iluminación. Saludos
José Ramón

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• jmp (8415)
• [2007-12-10 13:51]

Hi Alexei,
This a really close closeup! The most in details and sharpness. Impressive pov and composition too.
TFS José M.

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• jrobertop (544)
• [2007-12-10 16:47]

Hi Alexei,
Splendid macro of this wonderful butterfly!
Excellent coloration and texture.
Superb details and very good sharpness.
Thanks for sharing!
Regards,
José Roberto

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• NinaM (4077)
• [2007-12-10 18:59]

Hi Alexei, I am stunned by the beauty and precision of this photo, the DOF is superb. How beautiful can a butterfly be, it's incredible. I think they are the most beautiful of insects and this photo makes that true. I liked reading your note as well. Thank you to share such great pictures and notes,

Francine

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• arfer (0)
• [2007-12-10 19:48]

Hello Alexei

Just marking the post for now

Rob

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• PaulH (13882)
• [2007-12-11 3:01]

Hello Alexei,
wow...i'm speechless at how good this is! The level of detail is truly incredible. Exposure, DOF etc are all perfect...i am very impressed, well done!
Paul

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• John_F_Kennedy (3684)
• [2007-12-11 7:22]

Good portrait with excellent details! The fine animal looks great
Best wishes,
Achim

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• ridvan (5205)
• [2007-12-11 8:42]

selam alexei; Excellent macro shot of this butterfly .Nice composition.Good POV and sharp image whit nice details.splendid Colors. well done.
TFS ridvan

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• earthtraveler (3483)
• [2007-12-11 10:30]

Hi Alexei,
Fantastic macro closeup of this butterfly!
You acheived such wonderful sharp details and color.
Really fine. Composition is great. The flowers detail is so cool also. Well done, TFS
Richard

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• Patleboss (5950)
• [2007-12-11 12:16]

Wouaw Alexei,
what an outstanding cloes-up, simply fantastic,
cheer cheer cheer,
friendly,
Pat

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• cataclysta (5666)
• [2007-12-11 12:37]

Hi Alex
Great butterfly portrait. Almost perfect sharpness. Very nice POV. Perefect OOF homogenous background Great macro work
Best wishes
Krzysztof

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• anel (40574)
• [2007-12-12 4:31]

hello Alexei,
Trechnically I'm not a specialist, but I can see that this picture is of top level. All these details shown in a wonderful smooth light. I like also the composition with your choice to focus on the head of the Vanessa cardui. Bravo again
Thanks and best regards
Anne

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• marmottelolo (14697)
• [2007-12-12 5:02]

bonjour alexei
c'est impressionnant les details que vous avec obtenu sur les ailes de ce papillon et surtout avec ce 70-300 que je possede egalement,de plus vous avez utilisé un monopode et ce n'est pas toujours tres pratique car on a tendence a bouger tres legerement.
vraiment toutes mes felicitations.
laurent

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• angybone (7684)
• [2007-12-12 16:01]

WOW

That is amazing...such detail...this is going into my favorites folder. WOW! WOW! WOW!

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• saeedabbasi (5100)
• [2007-12-12 21:22]

Hi dear Alexei ,
nice shot with great focus as always.
good BG and nice sharpness.
thanks for sharing
my best wishes my friend
Saeed

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• Jamesp (18906)
• [2007-12-13 2:26]

Hi Alexei

Excellent close-up - the detail is outstanding. I do not know what else to say - kudos!

James

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• SelenE (13972)
• [2007-12-13 3:14]

Hi Alexei,
very good close up of this butterfly with lovely colors, focus, sharpness, POV and details. TFS
Best wishes,
Selen

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• zumoduvas (2535)
• [2007-12-13 5:29]

Hi Alexei.

Guau, very nice macro photo, great details.

Saludos.
Jose Luis.

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• aido (4046)
• [2007-12-13 11:31]

Hello Alexei,

What a wonderful image, I can almost feel the texture of the wings. Beautiful warm colours and light. I agree, the Butterfly is the same one as in the previous picture, it has identical 'disruptions' to the wing texture above the black marks.

I think the lens you have used is a fine macro lens. Dedicated macro lenses may exceed the quality, but I believe not all dedicated lenses.

Best regards,
Adrian

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• Juyona (16891)
• [2007-12-14 0:48]

Hola Alexei,
WOOW,
realmente es una macro de altura,
color y detalles hermosos...
foco genial, excelente trabajo,
saludos

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• oscarromulus (42)
• [2007-12-14 15:07]

Dear Alexei,
This is another OUTSTANDING piece of art by your hands.
It is FANTASTICALLY BEAUTIFUL.
A 3D image. Great notes too.
Warm warm warm regards from Mario.

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• saguzar (7202)
• [2007-12-15 5:57]

Hi Alexei,
A visual impact! Terrific macro of the head of this Vanessa. Details are good, and looks better with sun from behind. Superb job
Greetings
Hernán

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• captainsgirl (4088)
• [2007-12-15 15:50]

Hi Alexei,
Wow now THIS is a macro, the hair on the butterflys legs looks so soft like my dogs fur coat!! Great shot! TFS
Donna:o)

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• goutham_ramesh (12237)
• [2007-12-16 4:03]

Hi,
Its the photographer who makes the impact and not the lens! and ur an excellent photographer. Having said that i own both Sigma 180 MM macro and Sigma 70-300 APO macro and i vouch for 180 MM even though my 70-300 gives me good results. As Howard as mentioned when you want to fill the frame and do not want to crop; macro lenses do a better job.
cheers,
Goutham

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• sunkirana (1143)
• [2007-12-18 11:39]

Hi Alexei,

Visiting your photos after a LOOONG time :-). Reason - BUSY BUSY BUSY! Will try to be regular, IF work permits :-).

You have a VERY nice macro here. A TRUE MACRO picture. Sharp and detailed with good colours. The -1 bias helps on my Sony Alpha too, most of the times.

Good work,
Warm regards,
Kiran

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• Necipp (100)
• [2007-12-19 14:07]

Hello Alexei what great closeup with fine detail just superb! tfs rgds Necip.

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• krvanheuven (632)
• [2007-12-22 11:02]

Hi Alexei,

Your shooting some excellent macro shots. I like this one very very much. Superb colors, excellent POV and good sharpness.
TFS
Kim

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• peter_stoeckl (11530)
• [2007-12-22 17:47]

Dear Alexei,
having been eaten up by work during the last couple of weeks I am slowly catching up with what I have missed: This image is truly spectacular, so rich in details, clear and precise, and most powerfully approached and composed. By perfectly mastering your equipment to its limits you are expanding macro-photography into micro-dimensions. A fascinating document of exceeding the expected boundaries of resolution and heading into new territories. My great compliments! And thank you, dear friend.
All my best wishes to you.
Peter

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• Photoslave (1199)
• [2007-12-27 13:10]

Hi Alexei,

incredible macro shot! I like a lot these fine details, excellent result! Minolta was my camera in my film photos experience.

TFS

Gio

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• GLEM (10)
• [2008-01-05 8:08]

hi Alexei,
fantastique macro avec ce choix d'un plan serré, la qualité est au rendez vous, belles couleurs. Bon travail sur le BG.

Gaetan

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• valy67 (9219)
• [2008-01-19 4:56]

Hello Alexei !
I don't undrstand how I could have missed this one... It is probably the most awesome vlose-up on a butterfly I have ever seen ! There are so many details, each little hair is sharp and I can even see the sclaes on the wings ! Composition, colors, light, blurred BG, all these things are excellent too. Very well done !
Valerie.

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• Tobias__Ortmann (681)
• [2008-02-26 6:08]

Hi alex another great shot
very good sharpness great pov and good potrait picture of this butterfly
I like your gallery
very well done
Toba

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• Tamrock (1928)
• [2008-03-13 10:16]

hi alexei!
thats a great close-up with
really good sharpness!
well done!

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• haraprasan (20403)
• [2008-04-01 8:45]

Hi Alexei,
A nice close up shot of this beautiful butterfly. Excellent composition and details. Thanks a lot for sharing.

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• maurydv (36428)
• [2009-06-09 7:39]

Hello Alexei,
what a superb super macro shot, impressive detail, outstanding sharpness and lighting, POV, DOF and composition are excellent.
TFS
Best regards
Maurizio