I'd have to echo Dave and George's suggestions, take a step back and really figure out what you want to shoot before you dive in headfirst. A fancy new camera doesn't take fabulous shots, it's the nutter behind the camera that does! Full frame DSLR's are mainly only of benefit if you are aiming towa...

Just keep in mind that both bird of paradise and sago's tend to expand quite a bit, my sago's are going nuts with throwing out new pups at the moment and will have to be addressed at some stage before they start breaking edging around them. Much the same with a ponytail palm that the previous owners...

Sure that's Parodia scopa Iann? Flowers from the apex would hint at Parodia haselbergii for me.

I'd say Mammillaria though not sure of the species.

Well, from what I've read L. schottii monstrose doesn't flower...or in rare cases have missformed flowers that never open so fruit would be a rarity. Without flower fruits can't form ;) Spines and form look more like my C. peruvians monstrose than my schottii, though the schottii is a mere baby comp...

L. schottii monstrose with spines and that flower though? I'd think not!

Has it's drawbacks though, from memory you do loose some light and the DOF is razor thin!

I've got a set of Kenko tubes for my Sony kit and it's highly depending on the lens how far magnification goes using them. "Best" lens I've found so far for me to use them with is an old Minolta 35-70 F4 that already has a "macro" mode, ie twist the zoom ring past the 70mm settin...

Have to say I have had thoughts of loading up one of the many old 35mm film bodies that I have laying around, last count was 10 oldish Minolta AF bodies that since I still mainly use Minolta AF lenses would be compatible with the majority of them. Only thing that really holds me back in the processi...

Think your spidey senses are right mate.

Next time around put something with some serious spines in the flats as company. Either Cholla or something fluffy looking like Mammillaria senilis, ought to make the cretins think twice after they meet those spines!

To those who enjoy it, Merry Christmas.
Though at a personal level...bah humbug! 13 years worth of working a retail related job has forever ruined it for me I'm afraid.

Been a few months now since I posted last in this thread, spring and summer kicked off with a vengeance down here and plants are kicking into overdrive...but I still keep shooting little things with feathers rather than flowers :oops: Some of the shots I've managed over the last few months. Satin Bo...

What about the Galapagos endemic species? They ought to be pretty rare in cultivation due to the strict laws they have.
Brachycereus nesioticus particularly I could imagine.

Ever had that eruca flower?
Was blessed enough last year to catch one in flower at a local cactus nursery, owners claimed it was only the 3rd or so time in 20+ years they had seen it in flower.