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Jeweled flower mantis (head) Last one of this series. This is a 5:1 macro of the head. Compare to my first ever 7:1 macro (using a 1.4 extender) to get an idea of magnification difference:<br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/108417/jeweled_flower_mantis_eyes.html" title="Jeweled flower mantis (eyes)"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/2/108417_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=3LvtJPrKqId4MFk2XZhGdcJM6NM%3D" width="200" height="132" alt="Jeweled flower mantis (eyes) Creobroter gemmatus, purchased specimen.<br /> <br /> This morning I had what alcoholics refer to as a moment of clarity.<br /> <br /> Normally, when we travel abroad, I can&#039;t seem to choose between macro and general wildlife, therefore I always have the 80-400mm with me. Back home I pretty much only do macro, so the lens has been unused for quite a while now. And that&#039;s how I completely forgot that I also have a 1.4 extender, to be used when I need some extra range for birds. <br /> <br /> A moment of joy and cringe, as quite obviously I can use this same extender on the 5:1 macro lens, to reach a 7:1 magnification. It only took me close to a year to connect these dots.<br /> <br /> That said, my goal with extreme macro is not magnification for the sake of magnification. At 5:1 already, quite a few insects don&#039;t fit the frame, and then I still have a significant amount of cropping space. The only situation where I would find 7:1 useful is to zoom in on specific body parts more than I could do before.<br /> <br /> As for image quality, more testing is needed, but it looks acceptable to me. Note that the specimen is in somewhat of a poor state. This is a stack of 50 images at step size 20 &mu;m.<br /> <br /> Light setup:<br /> - The big reflection on the eye is a LED + big diffuser<br /> - The smaller bottom shine is another LED with barn doors<br /> - The top glow on the eye is a small backlight LED<br /> <br /> The background is a color card. Not entirely happy with the effect, but still learning. Creobroter gemmatus,Extreme Macro,Jeweled flower mantis" /></a></figure><br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/108497/jeweled_flower_mantis_extreme_macro.html" title="Jeweled flower mantis, extreme macro"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/2/108497_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=4%2BTyr%2FxPnsYj9yGYLt7Jq7lcDU0%3D" width="200" height="154" alt="Jeweled flower mantis, extreme macro Note: dried specimen.<br /> <br /> Upper body shot in its spread position. Wing detail:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/108499/jeweled_flower_mantis_fake_eyes_on_wing.html<br /> eyes:<br /> <br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/108417/jeweled_flower_mantis_eyes.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/108554/jeweled_flower_mantis_foreleg.html Creobroter gemmatus,Extreme Macro,Jeweled flower mantis" /></a></figure> Creobroter gemmatus,Extreme Macro,Jeweled flower mantis Click/tap to enlarge Promoted

Jeweled flower mantis (head)

Last one of this series. This is a 5:1 macro of the head. Compare to my first ever 7:1 macro (using a 1.4 extender) to get an idea of magnification difference:

Jeweled flower mantis (eyes) Creobroter gemmatus, purchased specimen.<br /> <br /> This morning I had what alcoholics refer to as a moment of clarity.<br /> <br /> Normally, when we travel abroad, I can't seem to choose between macro and general wildlife, therefore I always have the 80-400mm with me. Back home I pretty much only do macro, so the lens has been unused for quite a while now. And that's how I completely forgot that I also have a 1.4 extender, to be used when I need some extra range for birds. <br /> <br /> A moment of joy and cringe, as quite obviously I can use this same extender on the 5:1 macro lens, to reach a 7:1 magnification. It only took me close to a year to connect these dots.<br /> <br /> That said, my goal with extreme macro is not magnification for the sake of magnification. At 5:1 already, quite a few insects don't fit the frame, and then I still have a significant amount of cropping space. The only situation where I would find 7:1 useful is to zoom in on specific body parts more than I could do before.<br /> <br /> As for image quality, more testing is needed, but it looks acceptable to me. Note that the specimen is in somewhat of a poor state. This is a stack of 50 images at step size 20 μm.<br /> <br /> Light setup:<br /> - The big reflection on the eye is a LED + big diffuser<br /> - The smaller bottom shine is another LED with barn doors<br /> - The top glow on the eye is a small backlight LED<br /> <br /> The background is a color card. Not entirely happy with the effect, but still learning. Creobroter gemmatus,Extreme Macro,Jeweled flower mantis

Jeweled flower mantis, extreme macro Note: dried specimen.<br /> <br /> Upper body shot in its spread position. Wing detail:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/108499/jeweled_flower_mantis_fake_eyes_on_wing.html<br /> eyes:<br /> <br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/108417/jeweled_flower_mantis_eyes.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/108554/jeweled_flower_mantis_foreleg.html Creobroter gemmatus,Extreme Macro,Jeweled flower mantis

    comments (1)

  1. View Christine Young's profile
    Christine Young
    Lion
    View Lion class
    Incredible! Posted 4 years ago

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The Jeweled Flower Mantis

''Creobroter gemmatus'', common name jeweled flower mantis, is a species of praying mantis native to Asia.

Info 33 0
Similar species: Mantises
Species identified by Ferdy Christant
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By Ferdy Christant

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Uploaded Feb 10, 2021. Captured Feb 7, 2021 00:11.
country flag of Netherlands Explore Netherlands 8,314 2,306 0
  • NIKON D850
  • f/1.2
  • 1/6s
  • ISO64
  • 50mm