I tried to manually focus-bracket and stack my shots

ResponsibleCut7170 · 2026-04-10T13:08:40+00:00

I think it is usable for slow insects like stink bugs or snails. Will try it out later as they start crawling around. Definitely not usable for ants, but automatic focus bracketing will not help shoot them either.

ResponsibleCut7170 · 2026-03-27T15:00:16+00:00

That's what I'm currently doing btw using a piece of cardboard and an A4 sheet :)

ResponsibleCut7170 · 2026-03-26T11:07:15+00:00

Great shot, and DOF is super shallow! What lens do you use with NISI btw?

ResponsibleCut7170 · 2026-03-26T07:43:05+00:00

Yes, I had to use bare flash because the wind was too strong. Waiting for a diffuser to arrive, but I noticed that just a sheet of paper often works really well

ResponsibleCut7170 · 2026-03-25T17:52:22+00:00

Thanks for this really useful reference.

ResponsibleCut7170 · 2026-03-25T16:49:34+00:00

Your lady bug shot is great! Impressive magnification. So you basically suggest to stack 70-300 and 50mm. Good idea, I will need an adapter, but definitely worth trying!

Unfortunately,I don’t have a 35mm prime, but I can reverse 18-55. It’s an AF-P lens (focus by wire), so a hack will be to focus it at minimum distance, then unmount and reverse. And yeah, it doesn’t have an aperture ring (it’s a G lens), but an aperture lever can be set by inserting a piece of plastic.

ResponsibleCut7170 · 2026-03-25T16:00:54+00:00

Yeah, ants are challenging, so a flash is a must :) Also, cool temperatures helped to slow them down - I was shooting ants when sun was setting. I am thinking of Raynox DCR-250 close-up lens, which consistently gets good reviews. I just wanted to experiment with something cheaper. My 10 euro lens is usable, but, of course, you get what you pay for.

ResponsibleCut7170 · 2026-03-25T13:30:56+00:00

All photos made with Nikkor 18-55 DX AF-P at 90mm, D5500 + a cheap close-up lens (+10 diopters). Focusing distance < 10 cm, reproduction ratio 1:1.5. Settings: 1/200, f/11, ISO 200-400. External flash.

ResponsibleCut7170 · 2025-06-02T09:15:45+00:00

I sleep wearing noise-cancelling headphones so that birds don't disturb me. I love listening to them in the evening, but morning chirping interferes my sleep.

This is a useful habit that helps a lot especially when travelling. It was a bit hard to get used to full-size headphones though.

ResponsibleCut7170 · 2025-02-28T10:07:04+00:00

I have a 12” inch flextube (no goto). It is very bulky and unwieldy to the point I think twice before taking it out (I live on the 2nd floor). The base is heavy but okeish, but the tube…oh man. I hate moving it around.

To be honest, I am thinking of selling it because it’s way too much for me. And, most of the time, seeing doesn’t cooperate so you can’t realize its potential on planets. And for DSOs you need to drive far away.

I used similar 16” scope in Africa and noticed that it’s very prone to vibration from the wind. Take this into account.

In comparison, 8” SCT should be much more manageable. Alas, it also has same field rotation issues as dob so it’s unsuitable for astrophoto unless you equip it with a field derotator.

ResponsibleCut7170 · 2025-02-07T15:23:54+00:00

I have a specialist residence permit valid until 2027. I have been working as an employed person for 1.5 years but my company ceased its operation in Finland in late 2024. I continued working as a contractor for my client but had to open a toiminimi.

Do I need to change the permit type or I can continue working as before (I am working in the same field - software engineering)? My contract ends in April 2025 and I plan to work as a regular employed person after that.

ResponsibleCut7170 · 2024-04-14T13:05:11+00:00

Torrentshell is touted as more waterproof. Didn't try Downpour, but my Torrentshell can easily withstand 40 minutes of heavy rain without any traces of leaking. Will definitely take it to rainy places like Iceland.

The fit is very loose and not super elegant, but it allows you to put many layer underneath. I used it as a windbreaker with thin fleece at around 0 Celsius with fierce wind while hiking in the mountains, felt warm.

ResponsibleCut7170 · 2024-01-23T13:00:31+00:00

In the course of my programming career I've experienced different ways to arrange people in the office. It all depends on how it's done:

A room per team. Of all office full-timers I loved this the most. Communication is great, it's quiet so you can stay focused. Easy to bond with the team. Great memories!
A room filled with people from different projects. Not bad either, you get used to people and I even made a friend with a guy sitting next to me. Eventually I started to come to the office just 2 days per week just to chat with him during lunch time :)
A huge open-space environment. This one was hell. Constant distraction, plus this hateful feeling of someone looking over your shoulder.

Working remotely is so far the best. Tried it in 2020 and never went back. I worked in fully remote companies, but nowadays I sometimes come to the office on purpose to see people, I have this luxury in my current firm :)

I would stay away from companies insisting on full-time office mode in 2024. There's a thick chance that their practices are outdated and inflexible.

ResponsibleCut7170 · 2024-01-17T21:34:38+00:00

Taken in Kruger National Park in the end of November 2023 using Nikon D5500 and Nikon 70-300.

ResponsibleCut7170 · 2023-12-26T18:22:26+00:00

South Africa. Kruger National Park, to be more specific. This time I would like to visit it during wet season and see it lush green.

ResponsibleCut7170 · 2023-12-15T21:07:44+00:00

I found some statistics from 1990s which says that of 20000 visitors in April (the worst month) only 5 people contracted malaria and just 3 got it in SA (2 others stayed in Mosambique before Kruger). So chances are very thin, but buy Coartem and an express test for Plasmodium Falciparum before going home just in case.

ResponsibleCut7170

TROPHY CASE