Show your Bird Portraits
- Thread starter 1982chris911
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lion rock said:
The 600 really is a bit too big/heavy to fly with, but I'd highly encourage you to check out the 500 II, with and without a 1.4 TC. It fits perfectly well mounted on a gripped 5D III in my Lowepro Trekker AW 400 (carry-on approved) and it never bothered me during my Japan trip. I was backpacking virtually the whole 10 days and the pack never left my back. From the streets of Tokyo, to the mountains of Nagano/Yudanaka, and the cold lakes and passes of Hokkaido, it went with me everywhere along with a 16-35 II, 70-200 II, 50 1.8, 600EX-RT, ST-E3, Gitzo 3541 w/Markins Q-Ball, filters and other accessories and was never a bother. It's remarkably portable. Lighter than the 200-400 I believe (?).
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RMFagan,
I am eyeing the 300 f/2.8 to use with my 2X. At 1/2 the price of the super zoom I covert, I'll have some slack with the money. Though, I am also reading up on the new Tammy 150-600. If that lens pan out, who knows ...
I am a small guy and I don't feel comfortable getting a big camera bag. I used an InCase sling bag carrying my 5DIII, 24-70 II (new) and 70-200/2X with a 2-1/2 lbs tripod, plus few small items to Hanoi for a week and "trekked" for a couple of days with change of clothes in another backpack, and that caused me to think of the EOS M. Really.
My next adventure in December will be to New Zealand, and the airline are pretty straight of the weight of carryon (15 kilos), so, I have to put myself on a diet with my gear!
Hokkaido highways are quite nice, the highway poles are a few hundred yards apart and really let you know the curvature of the roads. Helps to reduce white knuckles,
. And, I hope you had some Hokkaido crabs, they are delicious!
-r
I am eyeing the 300 f/2.8 to use with my 2X. At 1/2 the price of the super zoom I covert, I'll have some slack with the money. Though, I am also reading up on the new Tammy 150-600. If that lens pan out, who knows ...
I am a small guy and I don't feel comfortable getting a big camera bag. I used an InCase sling bag carrying my 5DIII, 24-70 II (new) and 70-200/2X with a 2-1/2 lbs tripod, plus few small items to Hanoi for a week and "trekked" for a couple of days with change of clothes in another backpack, and that caused me to think of the EOS M. Really.
My next adventure in December will be to New Zealand, and the airline are pretty straight of the weight of carryon (15 kilos), so, I have to put myself on a diet with my gear!
Hokkaido highways are quite nice, the highway poles are a few hundred yards apart and really let you know the curvature of the roads. Helps to reduce white knuckles,
. And, I hope you had some Hokkaido crabs, they are delicious!-r
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I've seriously considered the 300 2.8 as a cheaper alternative as well. Especially if I can pick one up during a Canon refurb sale. Very tempting indeed.
I'm not too big either: 5'9", 150, but then again I've had 4 years experience with heavy packs as an infantryman in the Marine Corps so I guess heavy loads don't bother me too much.
I did actually notice how nice the roads were in Japan, Hokkaido in particular. I did indeed enjoy the crabs
I'm not too big either: 5'9", 150, but then again I've had 4 years experience with heavy packs as an infantryman in the Marine Corps so I guess heavy loads don't bother me too much.
I did actually notice how nice the roads were in Japan, Hokkaido in particular. I did indeed enjoy the crabs
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rmfagan said:I've seriously considered the 300 2.8 as a cheaper alternative as well. Especially if I can pick one up during a Canon refurb sale. Very tempting indeed.
I'm not too big either: 5'9", 150, but then again I've had 4 years experience with heavy packs as an infantryman in the Marine Corps so I guess heavy loads don't bother me too much.
I did actually notice how nice the roads were in Japan, Hokkaido in particular. I did indeed enjoy the crabs
If you shoot APS-C, the 300/2.8 + 2x is a good combo. If you shoot with a FF camera, however, nothing can really beat 1200mm and big pixels. If weight isn't an issue, the 600/4 is the best birding lens money can buy right now.
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Ha, perhaps not as good as I make it out I guess. Always another side to the story. All my money goes to photography and travel and I otherwise live on a Bud Light-budget to afford it.
It helps that I tend to make very good friends when I travel and am often invited to visit them, which usually negates lodging costs. A lengthy period of time living in the Caribbean and having to travel back and forth to NYC helped me rack up the flyer miles.
When you're flying and sleeping free, trips are a LOT more affordable!
It helps that I tend to make very good friends when I travel and am often invited to visit them, which usually negates lodging costs. A lengthy period of time living in the Caribbean and having to travel back and forth to NYC helped me rack up the flyer miles.
When you're flying and sleeping free, trips are a LOT more affordable!
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On the subject of telephoto lens choice, I've tried out Canon's big glass - 400 II, 600 II, and 800 - through CPS and you certainly can't beat them for distant shots, but I'm finding the 300 2.8 II + 1.4x & 2x to be much better for my needs. I like to walk around a lot, stalk my subjects, or walk to a good spot then wait for the subjects to get comfortable with me (my favorite technique for songbirds). With the 300, I can hand hold the camera (usually 5DIII with grip) and carry it around with little difficulty. You can do the same with the bigger lenses, but your arm and shoulder become fatigued pretty quickly. They perform well on a monopod, but I find monopods to be restricting when you need to make sudden movements to get a shot. On FF, it's difficult to get close enough to your subjects, but the challenge of wildlife photography is one of the reasons I love it.
On the other hand, if I spent my days in blinds or shooting from stationary positions, I would definitely go for the big glass.
P.S. Here's a shot of a Double-crested Cormorant with my old "birding lens" 70-200 f/4IS + 1.4x II @280mm and yes, the water is sadly that green - nitrate pollution of Wakulla Springs - one of the largest springs in the world:
On the other hand, if I spent my days in blinds or shooting from stationary positions, I would definitely go for the big glass.
P.S. Here's a shot of a Double-crested Cormorant with my old "birding lens" 70-200 f/4IS + 1.4x II @280mm and yes, the water is sadly that green - nitrate pollution of Wakulla Springs - one of the largest springs in the world:
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Thanks for the kind words Click ... I'm still hoping someone can help me out with identifying the name of that Owl.Click said:
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