CR in Rwanda With The Canon EOS-1D X Mark II

[R1-7D]

Second example; ISO12800, same edits as above.

Exactly, there's no point to the 1DX2 anymore unless you need framerate and the focusing system. Tony Northrup said it first.


Lovely cat!

 

[rikstir]

Nice pics!! That must be an amazing experience.

 

[Loswr]

...though we did have some luck and could have easily been shooting with a 24-70.

Indeed...my wife and I were there about 10 years ago, lucked out by drawing the best-habituated Susa Group (of Dian Fossey fame) for our first trip up the volcano. Or maybe it wasn't luck, the night before our local guide brought his friend around for a beer with us – his friend was the head of the Rwandan National Park Service. Regardless, we did get quite close...

One of the adult females even rested her hand on my wife's shoulder as she walked past us.

Here's one more from that day...

 

[R1-7D]

...though we did have some luck and could have easily been shooting with a 24-70.

Indeed...my wife and I were there about 10 years ago, lucked out by drawing the best-habituated Susa Group (of Dian Fossey fame) for our first trip up the volcano. Or maybe it wasn't luck, the night before our local guide brought his friend around for a beer with us – his friend was the head of the Rwandan National Park Service. Regardless, we did get quite close...

One of the adult females even rested her hand on my wife's shoulder as she walked past us.

Here's one more from that day...

Wow, that must have been incredible being so close. Nice pictures.

 

[Dylan777]

What a great series Craig. I especially like the 4th and 6th

 

[lechphoto]

Craig, these are truly gorgeous and heartfelt images. Thanks for sharing! Can you let us know which lens you used for which photos? I'm sorry I couldn't find that info.
Lech

 

[lechphoto]

Craig, you know what, just knowing that I can not tell between the famed 70-200 and the new 85 tammy proves the point of the power of this new glass - that is as long as you can confirm your series of 8 photos includes at least one tamron image. Maybe this would be a good contest to determine which one(s)

 

[topdog]

...though we did have some luck and could have easily been shooting with a 24-70.

Indeed...my wife and I were there about 10 years ago, lucked out by drawing the best-habituated Susa Group (of Dian Fossey fame) for our first trip up the volcano. Or maybe it wasn't luck, the night before our local guide brought his friend around for a beer with us – his friend was the head of the Rwandan National Park Service. Regardless, we did get quite close...


One of the adult females even rested her hand on my wife's shoulder as she walked past us.

thanks for sharing. will be there next year and now I know what proper gears to bring for gorillas. so looking forward to it.....

 

[kevl]

Craig your comments about the Tamron 85 1.8 VC are what grab my attention. If the focus really is great then there is really no reason for a Sigma 85 Art. I've been resisting the Art lenses because I don't care how sharp a lens is if it misses focus. If the Tamron is good it might be my first off brand lens in years.

Hopefully you'll do your own full review of it.

 

[dash2k8]

Re: CR in Rwanda With The EOS-1D X Mark II

I think images cannot truly reflect what this camera is capable of in the field. Any experienced wildlife shooter on this board could have taken these images with an earlier body and the same lenses. I'd like to hear the editor relate how the 1DX2 has made things easier or obtained images in previously impossible situations.

These are wonderful portraits taken with a brand new camera. They speak for themselves, revealing much not only about the subject, but also about the empathy, intelligence, and vision of the photographer.

They also enrich the viewer.

Thanks for sharing these!

That tells me nothing about the camera, though. As I said, many of us could have gotten these with a 7D2. What I was asking for is real-world input on what this camera brought to the table that other cameras don't already. So far I've only read about fast and accurate AF, and would love to hear more.

 

[East Wind Photography]

Re: CR in Rwanda With The EOS-1D X Mark II

I feel like while these are astoundingly great images, they could have been better. Tony Northrup says the 1DX 2 is not the best wildlife camera and the 5DSR with its 50 MP and the 7D2 with its crop sensor can deliver just as good or better shots.

Still, though, wonderful pictures! Beautiful animals.

This is frankly nonsensical. As is a lot of what Tony Northrup produces. I've owned both. The 1DXii is so far ahead of the 7dii, it hardly warrants discussion. As it should be at the price. The 5DSR is not a wildlife camera, full stop. Try photographing a leopard on the move at night at 8000 iso with it.

+1 And I for 1 could careless what that guy has to say.

Yep I traded in my 5dsr to get the 1dx2 and I still have the 7d2 as a backup second body. Both are great cameras but the 1dx2 is way better at everything than the 7d2. I used the 5dsr for a few months and while it has great resolution, it sucks in just about every other area. I would only use it for landscape or portraits and even then most clients dont want wall murals. 5dsr is awful at tracking moving wildlife, frame rate is so slow you miss most of the great action, and the high ISO capability is not that great. As mentioned, ISO 8000 is ok but not like 8000 on the 1dx2. Wish I had not bought it really but good ridence.

 

[YuengLinger]

Re: CR in Rwanda With The EOS-1D X Mark II

I think images cannot truly reflect what this camera is capable of in the field. Any experienced wildlife shooter on this board could have taken these images with an earlier body and the same lenses. I'd like to hear the editor relate how the 1DX2 has made things easier or obtained images in previously impossible situations.

These are wonderful portraits taken with a brand new camera. They speak for themselves, revealing much not only about the subject, but also about the empathy, intelligence, and vision of the photographer.

They also enrich the viewer.

Thanks for sharing these!

That tells me nothing about the camera, though. As I said, many of us could have gotten these with a 7D2. What I was asking for is real-world input on what this camera brought to the table that other cameras don't already. So far I've only read about fast and accurate AF, and would love to hear more.

Sigh. I did my best to reply with sunshine to a post with no trace of appreciation for what was shared, and, worse, a dismissive, demanding tone. I really did my best.

This was a gracious sharing of images taken on a wonderful trip, not a lab analysis.

Air freshener, please!

 

[East Wind Photography]

Re: CR in Rwanda With The EOS-1D X Mark II

I think images cannot truly reflect what this camera is capable of in the field. Any experienced wildlife shooter on this board could have taken these images with an earlier body and the same lenses. I'd like to hear the editor relate how the 1DX2 has made things easier or obtained images in previously impossible situations.

These are wonderful portraits taken with a brand new camera. They speak for themselves, revealing much not only about the subject, but also about the empathy, intelligence, and vision of the photographer.

They also enrich the viewer.

Thanks for sharing these!

That tells me nothing about the camera, though. As I said, many of us could have gotten these with a 7D2. What I was asking for is real-world input on what this camera brought to the table that other cameras don't already. So far I've only read about fast and accurate AF, and would love to hear more.

Everything about it is better than the 7d2. Lets see, better DR, much better high ISO capability, better in camera NR and processing, full time lighted af points, -3 EV AF sensitivity which is letting me AF on stars (great for night starfield work), 14 fps, 4K 60 fps video, touch screen AF tracking, much much better af tracking for both stills and video, 2000+ shots per battery charge, full weather sealing..ok I can keep going but all of these points are real world benefits that set it aside from consumer type photography.

 

[SlydeR]

Second example; ISO12800, same edits as above.

Exactly, there's no point to the 1DX2 anymore unless you need framerate and the focusing system. Tony Northrup said it first.


Lovely cat!

I watched the TN video link provided and he did say that once he's not shooting action, then the 5DSR is his goto camera...makes sense...more MP/detail for a stationary object can't be argued...his wildlife style/use of that camera is for perched birds and he made the point of making large sellable prints for sale. The cat samples from the 5DSR really blew me away...I've heard (not seen) soooo many things about the 6400 ISO limit...impressed.

I've just upgraded from my 7DMKII and let me tell you that I hate passing 4000 ISO...I hate the image quality @ 6400 iso...tracking in low light sucked. Haven't given the 1D X MKII a full AF test as yet, but used it the other weekend at a wedding reception is some terrible low light and was blown away by the AF and High ISO capability.

You buy the camera body that suits your shooting needs. I shoot sports, mainly cycling and AF & shutter speed are essential...would not consider using a 5DSR for that propose. Not that it won't work and pictures would be impossible but it's just not optimised especially in the fps section...when I hear 5 FPS it sounds like an old car trying to start...lol

So I would say that the 5DSR is for slow moving wildlife. I chose the 1DX MKII for its reputation as a great sports camera.

 

[LetTheRightLensIn]

nice photos

 

[RobatCR]

I was a little North of there in 1994. I shot with an Olympus OM2s with a Vivitar Series 1 70-200 f2.8-4.0 and a Canon Elura DV camera.

First, when you find the gorillas, you never know what the contrast situation will be - easy to have full sun cutting through some medium dark shade in the focus area of interest. Today, if the shutter speeds worked, I would use auto bracketing/HDR. Shoot raw, there are a huge range of greens in the habitat and you don't want the camera to loose that in internal processing. But, hey, you all shoot raw!

Second I would strongly suggest capturing some video. The gorillas consider it a challenge to look into their eyes. With video you can capture some of the experience looking into their eyes. Our visit was 1 hour - so just shoot a few clips as you are inspired. A monopod would be nice, but the gorillas are a crowded unpredictable setup between all the people in your group - 10 for us, 3 guides, a family of gorillas and any small gorillas which might suddenly decide to get close to you.

While we were with the gorillas we had to calmly evade fire ants. You are in the bush, so picking where to stand is a challenge. (We also had Rwandan War gunfire in the distance and today's gorilla habitat is not that far from various East Congo conflicts. A slight acquaintance was kidnapped in 1999 on a trek out of Uganda to visit gorillas near there, and was a rare survivor)

So in summary I would say keep it simple and keep your equipment silent as possible. You are going to be in a heightened state, and possibly fatigued, so the weight of the gear for the hike in/out should be minimized and fiddling with lens changes and tripods is a distraction to you and the wild gorillas (and may be in precipitation).

Also exchange info with your party to exchange exposures.

It is a lifetime experience.

(And please, for you who have been, feel free to respond on your experience)

 

[Gnocchi]

Great photographs.
Thanks for sharing.

 

[ykn123]

Re: CR in Rwanda With The EOS-1D X Mark II

Did the gorillas in Rwanda last october, with 5DSR, 7D2 and 5D2, here's a little selection:

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=18142910&size=lg

5DSR in these circumstances was just brilliant & produced images that are just out of this world. For me, there's no better body for the job. Paired it with 70-200 2.8 IS II most of the time. For gorillas, the crop 7D2 was great but too tight, better for distant elusive chimps & birds. The 5D2, while still producing good quality shots, just made me want to kill the guy who designed its AF. RIP, it died over there in the rain...

Sorry to say and I don't mean disrespect... But those images can't even compare to Craig's. They look flat, over processed and there are a lot of flat highlights and lack of sharpness... Out of this world? Maybe out of this country... Nothing like the quality of the 1DX II... Again. Just my opinion as a viewer.

+1 If you don't see the difference between Craigs images and those flat looking images than go and find another hobby

 

[rcarca]

Re: CR in Rwanda With The EOS-1D X Mark II

Did the gorillas in Rwanda last october, with 5DSR, 7D2 and 5D2, here's a little selection:

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=18142910&size=lg

5DSR in these circumstances was just brilliant & produced images that are just out of this world. For me, there's no better body for the job. Paired it with 70-200 2.8 IS II most of the time. For gorillas, the crop 7D2 was great but too tight, better for distant elusive chimps & birds. The 5D2, while still producing good quality shots, just made me want to kill the guy who designed its AF. RIP, it died over there in the rain...

Sorry to say and I don't mean disrespect... But those images can't even compare to Craig's. They look flat, over processed and there are a lot of flat highlights and lack of sharpness... Out of this world? Maybe out of this country... Nothing like the quality of the 1DX II... Again. Just my opinion as a viewer.

This is a typical cynical, demotivational comment on Canon Rumors. Mister Cactus has shared some moments that were special to him. Simply dismissing his efforts was graceless and nasty. It is exactly what stopped me from posting photographs ever on this site, even those where photographs are encouraged. Of course Craig's photographs are excellent - but don't let that spoil the joy of others...

 

[Eldar]

Re: CR in Rwanda With The EOS-1D X Mark II

Did the gorillas in Rwanda last october, with 5DSR, 7D2 and 5D2, here's a little selection:

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=18142910&size=lg

5DSR in these circumstances was just brilliant & produced images that are just out of this world. For me, there's no better body for the job. Paired it with 70-200 2.8 IS II most of the time. For gorillas, the crop 7D2 was great but too tight, better for distant elusive chimps & birds. The 5D2, while still producing good quality shots, just made me want to kill the guy who designed its AF. RIP, it died over there in the rain...

Sorry to say and I don't mean disrespect... But those images can't even compare to Craig's. They look flat, over processed and there are a lot of flat highlights and lack of sharpness... Out of this world? Maybe out of this country... Nothing like the quality of the 1DX II... Again. Just my opinion as a viewer.

+1 If you don't see the difference between Craigs images and those flat looking images than go and find another hobby

And the two of you could take a basic course in etiquette and normal courtesy, before you make another comment ...