Thanks for uploading the frames, Mandy! You are definately getting there.

I think the condenser will help a lot. Also, what type of macro filter are you using? Looks like you're getting a bit of color separation.

What does colour separation mean? Is that a good or bad thing?
I don't really know where the heck I got this little macro lens, but I found it when I went rumaging about a month ago and almost forgot about it. But I put it on the end of my camera and voila! instant macro!

Please fill me in on the colour separation stuff Frank - I have a macro lens on order - which I will cancel if this is good enough, but not if this is going to be a problem (colour separation that is).

color sep...
 

color seperations is bad.....


the better the lens design the less seperation....

By color separation I believe they mean chromatic aberration. It's when each color of light doesn't focus at exactly the same place giving you a colored fringe around objects.

Yeah, I think I am going to spend the money on the Macro filter- it is going to be about $70.00 with tax for a 7+ 10+. And it will make a difference in the colour separation.
Thanks for the info.

I imagine you already know this, but it was hard to tell from the earlier posts. The condensor goes between the GG and your camcorder... not between the SLR lens and the GG. Theoretically the SLR lens is already 'as good as it can be' for imaging to a particular focal plane. What you're trying to do is then take a subsequent picture from the backside of that... and this is where you need the condensor: