Help with Long Lens + Backup Body choice for Iceland

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jasonsim said:
Hmm...maybe instead of getting a longer lens, get a wide angle zoom. Perhaps a 17-40mm f/4L and the 7D as a compliment to the FF. The 1.4x on the 200mm f/4L IS should work decently well stopped down to f/8. Never been to Iceland, but imagine during this time, there is plenty of light with little night.

I'd take the 5D III, 7D, 17-40mm, 50mm Zeiss, 70-200mm + 1.4x. Light and covers mostly any situation. If you have more money to spend, get the 16-35mm instead.

Kind regards,
Jason S.

Hi Jason, I took your advice regarding the f/8 part and thought of going shooting some pigeons today with my 70-200 F4 IS + 1.4x @f/8. I must admit I hardly ever use the extender and was not very pleased with it wide open. Took the time to do a minor AF microadjust on the 5DIII, set f/8 and...WOW oh WOW! impressive, impressive IQ.

Flickr kind of destroys the jpg so had to export it from LR without any export sharpening at all. The first is a 100% crop (!). The second was cropped from the 5DIII to try to emulate more or less the frame of an APS-C to have an idea what to expect when fitted to a 7D and shooting a puffing with a 70-200 and 1.4x from 1.5m distance:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fegarix/8834046876/#

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fegarix/8834273196/#

Light was very bright so did not have to push the ISO, not that the 5DIII suffers from it, but I did own the 7D before and frankly did not like the IQ beyond ISO 800. Keeping in mind it is not going to be super sunny and shiny in Iceland I still wonder if the extra stop of the 2.8 may not be the solution to the ISO 800 ceiling of the 7D.

Another thing I realized while shooting those pigeons (roughly same size as a Puffin) that may favor the 70-200 2.8 IS II that I'll really need to be close to the darn puffins so 7D+1.4x may not be enough and I may need the 2x. One of the shots I would love to have are those detailing the face and I'm not sure the 1.4 will cut it cuz I'd prefer to avoid getting too close to those cliffs ???

choices, choices >:(
 
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For serious travel and bird photography, I second fegari as I do use the f/2.8 300mm II with both series III extenders because less than that does not give the quality I want. For convenience, I used to travel with the 100-400mm L, but as written at length, in the SX50 threads, I can get along with the SX50, which under good light and static subjects outperforms the 100-400 on a 5DIII. The SX50 is a good back-up camera altogether as it goes from 24-1200mm equivalent and has a very good lens. The 1.4x on the 70-200mm f/4 is pretty good if you don't need the length, and I use to to use it a lot.
 
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Dutchphotographer said:


It seems that most of the discussion resolves around the zoom range you need for the Puffins. If you go early July, you can get to them at the cliffs edge as close as you dare....

Very instructive pic, thanx! I'll be there end of July, hopefully they are till so numerous.

I'm set on the 2nd body, it'll be the 7D, I'll bring my 1.4x. Still trying to decide if pulling the trigger on the 70-200 IS II or bringing the much lighter f4 IS that I already have (and also the dude in the photo ;D).

By the way, where did you take the pic?
 
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I'd go with the 70-200 f2.8L IS and a 2x mk3 TC gives you lowever light ability when used normally 140-400 f5.6

i would also take my 300 f4LIS since I have one which give 600 f8 on the 5Dmk3 if needed

since you are going to resell the backup body just get another 5dmk3 or a 6D for the better iso than you will get over the 5dmk2
 
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I live in Iceland.

I also have a 5dmk3.
Zeiss 21
Canon 35L
Canon 24-70II
Canon 100L
Canon 70-200 f4

Have borrowed 2extender and a 70-200II for a few trips.

That has suited me just fine even tho sometimes a wider lens would be handy. Looking into getting a 17tse.

You can get pretty close to the puffins at Látrabjarg.
This puffin is @ 200mm uncut if I remember correctly

4.jpg

http://500px.com/OscarBjarna
 
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StepBack said:
You should buy the 500 or 800. They'll go well w/ your equipment. In fact get both so u never run short.

Yes StepBack, I might just do that, a 500mm on one hand and the 800 on the other. Those Puffins will never know what hit them..

Anyway...thanks to all for the comments. So it's settled for me and I'l be bringing:

5DIII + 7D
Zeiss 21mm, Sigma 35mm, Zeiss 50mm and the Canon 70-200 IS 2.8 II with 1.4 extender.

After returning from the trip both the 7D and one of the 70-200's will get sold.

@OscarBjarna: Nice Puffin! hope I'll get that kind of shot
 
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I have quite some experiance buying second hand camera gear, and one thing i noticed might bemefit your goal. Some people buy into the hobby and then suddenly want out, selling all their gear at once. So if you can afford investing, buy somebodys kit (i'd say containing the 7d and 70-200 II) and sell all the lenses seperately. You will have the gear you need for your trip, and make a profit in the process.
 
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procentje20 said:
I have quite some experiance buying second hand camera gear, and one thing i noticed might bemefit your goal. Some people buy into the hobby and then suddenly want out, selling all their gear at once. So if you can afford investing, buy somebodys kit (i'd say containing the 7d and 70-200 II) and sell all the lenses seperately. You will have the gear you need for your trip, and make a profit in the process.

Thanks but there are no 7D+70-200 kits. I got a good deal with a new 70-200 IS II, I´ll get the 7D second hand later on. The camera I will certianly sell.
 
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