Damselfly & Dragonfly Season is Starting Soon

It will not be long before we start seeing Dragonflies & Damselflies here in NJ. These are some of my favorite photo subjects. The images here were taken years ago at my pond at my old home. These were taken with an old 200mm Canon FD Manual focus macro lens adapted to a m43 Panasonic GH2 Camera or a Canon 400mm DO Lens with extension tubes for closer focusing. FOV of the Canon FD lens on a m43 body gave me the equivalent of a 400mm Macro lens. The Featured Image is a Damselfly with a raindrop on it’s head.

Damselfly Side View, 200mm FD Canon Lens, Panasonic GH2

Blue Dasher Dragonfly, 400mm Canon DO lens with an Extension Tube for Closer Focusing, Canon 1D mkIV

10 Comments on “Damselfly & Dragonfly Season is Starting Soon”

Mike Powell
April 19, 2022

I love these awesome images, Reed. The season has started already for us in Northern Virginia–so far I have photographed three dragonfly species and one damselfly species. It is so cool reading of you using the FD lens with an adapter–new life for old lenses.

Reply
- Reed Andariese
  April 20, 2022
  
  Thanks so much Mike! It is fun to adapt older lenses on the newer Digital Camera bodies. And they work quite well! Especially on m43 Camera bodies. On m43 Camera bodies the older Full Frame lenses sort of halves the field of view because it is only using a smaller center section because of the smaller sensor. So a 200mm macro Canon FD manual focus lens acts like a 400mm macro but with the depth of field of a 200mm lens because it is only using the smaller center area of the lens on m43’s smaller sensor. Plus I have some a few Canon FD & Nikon macro manual focus lenses. You just have to get Canon FD or Nikon adapters to the Canon EF mount.
  
  Reply
  - Mike Powell
    April 20, 2022
    
    I have some FD lenses, though no macro lens, so I may have to try them out with an adapter.
  - Reed Andariese
    April 20, 2022
    
    Yes! Give it a try! You could also get a set of Canon FD Extension tubes to get closer focusing. Not knowing what lenses you have
belindagroverphotography
April 19, 2022

Nicely done, Reed! I look forward to their return.

Reply
- Reed Andariese
  April 20, 2022
  
  Thanks! And Yes!, Hopefully it will be a Great Dragonfly Season!
  
  Reply
Eliza Waters
April 19, 2022

Exquisite images, Reed… hurrah for spring and summer!

Reply
- Reed Andariese
  April 20, 2022
  
  Thanks Eliza! Looking Forward to the warmer weather and to get out and find more photo subjects!
  
  Reply
doerfpub
April 22, 2022

Up close and personal – quite nice!

Reply
- Reed Andariese
  April 25, 2022
  
  Thanks! They are fun photo subjects!
  
  Reply