Advice can sometimes become clearer to you later! lol :)

I was given some great advice by one of my friends I admire, and though I was sure it was great advice I couldn't make sense of it. I thought about it off and on for days, and still couldn't understand it really.
I was told that moving the camera closer or further away instead of trying to just focus the insect in would help get a better macro shot. Also that a rail would help a lot to do this. Well this advice kept eluding me until I got my PN-11 extension tube. After trying it out I could see exactly what my friend meant. You see, with this tube it made focusing the insect in very hard and you have to get your camera just the right distance from the insect before it will come into focus at all. So even though I didn't understand the advice right away it became crystal clear later, and I was very glad I didn't just blow off the advice when I didn't understand it right away.
I believed this advice so much I bought the rail before I understood the real need of it.
I'm not saying that you should follow every bit of advice you get. But I suggest you don't blow it off just because you don't understand it right away, because it just might become crystal clear and very helpful before you know it!

Here is a couple shots I took with the tube, but without the rail which I'm still waiting on.

Advice is usually a good thing, combine that with some research and you have a winning combination.

Very good pictures.

With a macro lens that focuses to 1:1, focus is not much problem, you simply just focus, however it is. The 1:1 macro lens will focus anywhere, infinity to 1:1.

But with a lens using extension tubes, the focusing range is less (not designed for 1:1), and in fact, the normal focus range is near zero with much extension. So then, near 1:1, we more likely cannot focus at all (not enough range to be useful). So then, focus is accomplished by moving the camera back and forth. Which is difficult on a tripod, without the focusing rail.

Your very right Rick!

Thank you Wayne! And thank you for adding clarity too, I sure appreciate it!

Well done and sharp.

Thank you my friend! I really appreciate it!

Awesome macro shots, Bill. You're really getting into this, aren't you? Good on ya, bud.

Thank you very much my friend for the great complement! Yes I'm loving it!

PS. These two shots were done using my 200mm with the pn-11 extension tube.

A gazzillion years ago I used something almost exactly like this (without the macro flash)....when I had a Minolta X-700 and got the adjustable bellows for macro work. Thems the good 'ol days....

Yes what I'm using isn't quite that old a method, not quite but close! Lol Though I did consider trying the bellows! Lol