Gear Talk > Lenses

lenses for neotropical rainforest

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vlim:
What do you think if i buy this two lenses for my future trips in neotropical rainforest.

Canon lenses 300mm F/4 L IS  for mammals, birds and some of snake species and the 100 F/2.8 L IS for snakes and frogs, one on a 40D body and the other one on a 7D Body...

I hope for a new version of the 300mm F/4 L IS this year but it seems unlikely.

Thanks, Vincent

vlim:
Other option can be the new Sigma 150mm F2,8 EX DG OS HSM MACRO...

neuroanatomist:

--- Quote from: vlim on January 04, 2012, 10:48:51 AM ---Canon lenses 300mm F/4 L IS  for mammals, birds and some of snake species and the 100 F/2.8 L IS for snakes and frogs, one on a 40D body and the other one on a 7D Body...

I hope for a new version of the 300mm F/4 L IS this year but it seems unlikely.

--- End quote ---

Rainforest and the 300/4 IS don't seem to go well together.  The 7D has some weather sealing, and the 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS is a sealed lens - that's a good option for a rainforest.  The 300/4 isn't a sealed lens (nor is the 40D a sealed body).

I'd strongly consider taking sealed gear if possible.

You might consider the 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS zoom, which is sealed, but then it's f/5.6 at 300mm and you may need the extra stop. 

If your budget permits, perhaps the 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II with the 1.4x TC (II or III), which is a sealed combo that gets you to 280mm f/4 with very good IQ.  In fact, the 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II + 1.4x gets you to a native magnification of 0.3x, and if you add a 500D close-up filter to the front, you're at 0.84x with the combo (0.6x without the TC).  The 500D limits you to a working distance of 50 cm, but the IQ with that combo is pretty close to what you get from the 100L Macro (although the latter is a more versatile lens).

vlim:

--- Quote ---The 300/4 isn't a sealed lens
--- End quote ---

That's why i want a new version of this lens !

I was thinking about this 70-200 and even about the new Sigma 120-300mm F2,8 APO EX DG OS HSM which is a little bit more expensive and heavier but apparently very very good !

Thanks for sharing your opinion...

KitH:

It's dark inside tropical rainforest.  I found 1/15 f2.8 @400 ISO was typical and that was only 4 degrees south of the equator at midday, so the sun was about as straight downwards as it can get. 

Fastest possible lenses and high ISO are called for, along with the water sealing as per Neuro's advice. 

Keeping your camera and lenses warm and dry is important, switch off the aircon on the journey into the forest, chilling your kit will make condensation form as soon as you take it outside, have plenty of silica gel or a similar dessicant handy.   I stuck small packets of silica gel to the inside of a body cap and used that to draw damp out after using it in steamy forest.  Taking the battery out and stuffing that hole with silica gel packs also helps.
 

 



   

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