Focus Stacking Fungi - Comparison with Wide Angle etc

Apologies for more fungi but they are very useful for trying out focus stacking as they do not move! I used a 50mm macro and in-camera focus bracketing for taking the stack (25 or 35 shots), processed with Zerene stacker (not tidied up at processing stage so some imperfections evident on the final image), 

Mostly I used the traditional F2.8 for the images but image 2 is F8 giving a bit more background details, images 6 and 8 are wide angles (12mm) to compare the results and the final image demonstrates that, for some subjects, a much large stack number is required at the macro level.

12 mm Lens with Close up Filter for Fungi

 Still on my quest for a wide-angle close-up solution, I have managed to attach a close-up filter to my Zeiss 12mm lens and tried some fungi photography in our local Hardwick wood today. Very pleased with the results both wide open at F2.8 (numbers 1 and 8) and other apertures F7.1 (6), F9 (3) F14 (2,4,5,9-11), F16(7)  F22 (12). 

IR Cambridge Botanic Gardens

Images from yesterday's visit to the Botanic Gardens. All taken on converted Canon 1D MkII at f2.8.

IR Images, Fen Causeway Area of Cambridge

Some images taken with my Canon IR-converted camera on a walk back to Grange Road from the Botanic Gardens. A dull day but this seems to suit this camera giving very muted colours. Adjusted only in lightroom (no profile used).

Close-up Photography with 12mm lens

I always enjoy photographing with my Zeiss 50mm Touit Macro lens and so decided to try 'close-up' photography with Phil's 12 mm Zeiss lens. Although it won't focus close enough to give a macro image (1:1), for larger subjects it does give very pleasing 'in habitat' images and, of course being Zeiss, it is a very bright sharp image. Does anyone know if it is possible to use a very short extension ring to bring the focus point closer? The smallest ring I have is 11mm and the focus point is too close so can't focus.