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Why I love my DA*200mm lens, especially in the Autumn

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Leo James Mitchell

Leo James Mitchell

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Kitchener, Ontario, CA
Here are some shots from around my garden with this fabulous lens. I love my Sigma 105mm Macro but somehow the 200mm piece of glass captures me!

A couple of days ago I put up a shot of a snail/slug that climbed a Black-Eyed Susan and was feeding on the base of the fading blossom...here is the same snail who is being fed on by a spider. Such is life! couldn't get a shot from the other side without destroying the garden but let your imagination work. It is kind of scary with just the legs showing!! DA*200mm, K20D, at ISO 400, f6.7, 1/90th of a second...all shots with this lens of course



Here are two shots of the bees around this set of weeds...I don't know what they are but the bees love the blossoms. Anyone identify this plant?



and the second bee



Ah what the heck and the final bee!



Anybody with shots of Autumn with this wonderful lens, feel free to post.

Best to all
Leo
--

K20D: Pentax DA* 200mm f2.8, Pentax DA* 55mm f1.4, Pentax DA 35mmm f2.8 Limited, Pentax DA14mm f2.8, Sigma 17-70mm Zoom, Sigma EX DG f2.8 70mm Macro, Sigma 105mm f2.8 EX DG Macro
mitch
 
The first is creepy, indeed, but well composed and shot too.

P.s. Are you sure the spider is actually feeding on the snail? I'm no naturalist, but I've never heard of such a thing.
--
Shooting since '59 and still waiting for a keeper
 
Leo - that first shot is awesome!! Great catch!! (But I know that I would have sacrificed the garden to get to the other side ;) )

I did a little research and found...the "Snail-eating Skunk Spider" which belongs to the Arachnid Order of Harvestmen (sounds very clandestine, doesn't it?), aka, "Daddy Long-legs". Looks like they feed almost exclusively on terrestrial snails :)

http://bugguide.net/node/view/168978
http://www.ent.orst.edu/bugbook/taxons/Taracus.html

I have no idea what your wildflowers are, but I love the soft white textures surrounding the bee... very nice!

Bud
--
Bud
Ohio



http://www.pbase.com/budohio
http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/budhensley
WSSA Member #209PX
 
BudOhio said:
I did a little research and found...the "Snail-eating Skunk Spider" which belongs to the Arachnid Order of Harvestmen (sounds very clandestine, doesn't it?), aka, "Daddy Long-legs". Looks like they feed almost exclusively on terrestrial snails :)
Click to expand...
That is absolutely fascinating. The article says that the habitat is Pacific Northwest (that would be the US habitat, of course) but Leo is in Ontario.

Leo: that back yard of yours sounds like a pretty thrilling place! Do you ever go inside?
--
Shooting since '59 and still waiting for a keeper
 
Leo, these are very nice.

But to my tastes, the last three are overexposed. What camera were you using?

Thanks,

Joe
 
Hi Jonska

Well if I had been able to shoot the other side which was thick with flowers and spider webs, you would have seen that the spider was perched on the slug's body...silly thing was stupid enough to be out of his shell! Anyway, it made for an interesting picture! Much as I appreciate what spiders do for us, their method of eating is pretty disgusting,yes?BTW I was as startled by this as you for I have never seen or heard of such a thing before!
Thanks for coming by and commenting mate!

All the very best to you
Leo
--

K20D: Pentax DA* 200mm f2.8, Pentax DA* 55mm f1.4, Pentax DA 35mmm f2.8 Limited, Pentax DA14mm f2.8, Sigma 17-70mm Zoom, Sigma EX DG f2.8 70mm Macro, Sigma 105mm f2.8 EX DG Macro
mitch
 
Thanks very much for your kind words my friend and thanks even more for discovering about this spider that eats slugs. Creepy but good!

The weed flowers are a mystery still, they are very pretty and I am loathe to pull up any beautiful flower/plant, weed or not! I am so glad you like the shots mate! This lens is a beauty...and guess what, it was assembled in Viet Nam! Oh dear me!! Sorry, a little sarcasm there Bud based on another earlier and irritating thread!
Thanks for coming by matey!

Warmest regards
Leo
--

K20D: Pentax DA* 200mm f2.8, Pentax DA* 55mm f1.4, Pentax DA 35mmm f2.8 Limited, Pentax DA14mm f2.8, Sigma 17-70mm Zoom, Sigma EX DG f2.8 70mm Macro, Sigma 105mm f2.8 EX DG Macro
mitch
 
Unfortunately I don't know what it's called either. Covered with bees, just like yours.

This was taken with my new Tamron 70-200/f2.8.

 
Hi again Jonska

I go in occasionally to eat and sleep! ;-) Unlike others who are younger, hale and hearty, my shooting takes place mostly in my backyard and environs since I don't get around as well as I would like. When I am lucky, I can manage to get to some great places to shoot and will more now that my wife has retired and has taken it upon herself to promote my photography and take me places I can't usually get to. On top of this, she is cracking the whip and has me on a strict good food diet and an exercise programme so that I may be able to get about more sprightly! She is a doll, very cute and strong for a little person.

Best regards
Leo
jonska said:
BudOhio said:
I did a little research and found...the "Snail-eating Skunk Spider" which belongs to the Arachnid Order of Harvestmen (sounds very clandestine, doesn't it?), aka, "Daddy Long-legs". Looks like they feed almost exclusively on terrestrial snails :)
Click to expand...
That is absolutely fascinating. The article says that the habitat is Pacific Northwest (that would be the US habitat, of course) but Leo is in Ontario.

Leo: that back yard of yours sounds like a pretty thrilling place! Do you ever go inside?
--
Shooting since '59 and still waiting for a keeper
Click to expand...
--

K20D: Pentax DA* 200mm f2.8, Pentax DA* 55mm f1.4, Pentax DA 35mmm f2.8 Limited, Pentax DA14mm f2.8, Sigma 17-70mm Zoom, Sigma EX DG f2.8 70mm Macro, Sigma 105mm f2.8 EX DG Macro
mitch
 
Hi Joe! It is not the camera (K20D) it is yours truly bowing to the wishes of my wife Dar who thinks my captures are too dark and why don't I lighten up...since she is the house decor person and hangs the prints I do, I listen! And listen well! Like you, my own taste is a little more on the dark side! ;-) Actually I kind of like them this way!

Thanks for coming by Joe! You are always welcome here! You were one of the people who welcomed me to the forum and encouraged me a few years back when I first was deciding on Pentax or sticking with Canon! Thanks for that!

Best regards
Leo
How about this one Joe!



--

K20D: Pentax DA* 200mm f2.8, Pentax DA* 55mm f1.4, Pentax DA 35mmm f2.8 Limited, Pentax DA14mm f2.8, Sigma 17-70mm Zoom, Sigma EX DG f2.8 70mm Macro, Sigma 105mm f2.8 EX DG Macro
mitch
 
Hey Mark! What a great shot mate! I have heard that the Tammy lens you have is a winner! How do you like it? I considered it at one point but the weight was a negative for me. The DA*200 is just about my limit...actually I have been working out with dumbbells of late and it seems to be lighter...maybe I can handle the DA*300mm lens which I have had my eye on. LOL!
Thanks for posting here my friend! Well done!

Best regards
Leo
--

K20D: Pentax DA* 200mm f2.8, Pentax DA* 55mm f1.4, Pentax DA 35mmm f2.8 Limited, Pentax DA14mm f2.8, Sigma 17-70mm Zoom, Sigma EX DG f2.8 70mm Macro, Sigma 105mm f2.8 EX DG Macro
mitch
 
High praise indeed! Thank you very much Jay! It is very good of you to drop by and comment all the way from Arizona! You got to love this forum! Where else can you meet nice folks from places like Arizona, Ohio and even Iceland for goodness sakes! :-)
Jay Suchland said:
Wow!, Leo, these are all fantastic. Great lens, great work!
--
JOS
http://www.pbase.com/power3
Click to expand...
--

K20D: Pentax DA* 200mm f2.8, Pentax DA* 55mm f1.4, Pentax DA 35mmm f2.8 Limited, Pentax DA14mm f2.8, Sigma 17-70mm Zoom, Sigma EX DG f2.8 70mm Macro, Sigma 105mm f2.8 EX DG Macro
mitch
 
BudOhio said:
Here's another link.... looks like the affinity for escargot must run in the family... this one is in Maryland, USA ;)
Click to expand...
Fascinating. Do you think they might be of French origin?

And they have humans in their service to tread on their snails for them? Absolutely ingenious! Not like the French at all. (I'm just kidding, all you French and francophiles! J'aime la France et tous les Francaises - well, the ones I've met personally anyway).

Seriously, though, I have read about an urban bird that has learned to drop nuts on zebra pedestrian crossings in the hope that they get stepped on by the hordes of crossers - but of course birds are of a higher order then arachnids (or are they?).

Thanks to Bud for the enlightenment and thanks to Leo for the photo that gave rise to the discussion.
--
Shooting since '59 and still waiting for a keeper
 
Leo, thanks for the compliment, but I must say your shots are better than mine. I've only had the lens barely 24 hours, so it's too early to give an unqualified thumbs up, but I'm liking it very much so far.

This flower is a mystery to us as well. My wife moved it in the garden this spring, without remembering exactly what it was - I joked with her that she replanted a weed. It grew over 3 feet tall without having flowers until very late in the season. Now it's extended out over our entry walkway, with the bees threatening any visitor.
 
Thank you so much mate! High praise coming from you sir!

Like the DA35 Macro Limited, I think this DA*200 lens will become a classic lens for Pentax. It is indeed a gem Lance!

I received my DA14mm lens and am now waiting for my Conkin Filter set. I have been experimenting with the 14 and now remember that shooting with a wide angle lens requires careful planning and setup of the shot. You need a good, well focused center of interest up really close to anchor the shot! This will be a lesson in discipline for me! Many thanks for steering me right my friend!

Warmest regards
Leo
Lance B said:
Excellent stuff, mate. The DA*200 is a gem as well. :-)
--
Lance B
http://www.pbase.com/lance_b

Click to expand...
--

K20D: Pentax DA* 200mm f2.8, Pentax DA* 55mm f1.4, Pentax DA 35mmm f2.8 Limited, Pentax DA14mm f2.8, Sigma 17-70mm Zoom, Sigma EX DG f2.8 70mm Macro, Sigma 105mm f2.8 EX DG Macro
mitch
 
Excellent shooting Leo, I have never been a fan of white flowers (always thought they were colorless) but you have done a great job with them.

Mike
 
Geezz that sure is a beautiful image of the Black-eyed susan with a snail being devoured by DADDY LONG LEGS, grisly and beautiful at the same time oh the horror oh the horror is so sweet..

Great Work!! Gotta love the lens, white flower are okay with me..

Regards

Brent
--
Changing light gives me the possibility of seeing the world from a new
perspective.
For me photography is a tool for capturing these insights, for reflection and
sharing.
 
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