Corsica fox

Going to Panama soon with a couple days in the mountains to see/photograph birds. I'm not very experienced with birds in rain forest conditions. My gear will be a Nikon D610, 28-300 walk around, and a rented maybe bought Nikon 200-500. Tripod probably not practical but I can take a monopod. Is a ball head a good idea on it. I haven't done that before. As sort of a default set up I'm thinking aperture priority at 6-8, center focus, ISO either auto or 1600, and anything else you recommend. These will be largely for me as I don't compete or print big. Thanks for your help. I'm mostly an old amateur (Argus C3 era) who wants to stay current and worthwhile.

MtnMan Loc: ID

I took a Nikon D800 and 200-500 on a recent Africa trip. Although birds were not the primary target they ended up being close to 50% of my images.

There we travelled in open Safari trucks. People here had mentioned beanbags. They were completely unusable. Based on recommendations here I bought a nice monopod. It was also too awkward to use so went to the bottom of my luggage for the rest of the trip.

The 200-500 has awesome VR. It works well handheld. I ended up using M mode with f-stop at 5.6, min shutter speed at 1/500, and auto ISO. Spot focus and matrix metering. All images are sharp.

Going to Panama in March. Won't be doing Safari type things so probably won't bring the above rig. Much too heavy to lug around. Likely will use 28-300 on my D5300...with a rain cover. Same settings.

rwilson1942 Loc: Houston, TX

In my experience, ball heads do not work well with a monopod. I would recommend a monopod tilt head like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Manfrotto-234RC-Monopod-Quick-Release/dp/B000JLM50I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1476802340&sr=8-1&keywords=tilt+head+for+monopod

Corsica fox

Thank you both for your helpful responses. The tilt head is a great idea I'll follow up on.

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

Use auto ISO with shutter priority at a speed that works for the focal length you are shooting. Bring the best flash you can. There will be lots of opportunity to use it. If you have a macro lens, bring that - there are some fascinating bugs and insects in the rainforest!

If you will be staying in an air-conditioned room, make SURE that you bring some heavy zip-lock bags to keep your equipment in when you take them from the cool AC into the heat & humidity. You need to let everything to warm up for ten minutes or so before taking it out, or else you will get moisture condensing on - and IN - your lenses and camera! I also like to have an air-tight camera case in which I can keep silica gel canisters to keep my equipment in when not in use.


Also - if you have not had a Hepatitis A vaccination, get one before you travel. I don't usually worry about malaria prophylaxis in Central America, but there is sometimes a risk. I like to take the little DEET wipes with me and be ready to apply them if there are mosquitoes around. These do not make your hands greasy. Mosquitoes there can also carry Dengue Fever, Zika, Chikungunya, and other illnesses, so don't get bit!

wotsmith Loc: Nashville TN

I am a apple user, but in the high humidity of Central America, I have had my laptop quit on me. Was told that many computers quit from the humidity. A spare PC functioned well and saved the frames, but had to leave the processing till home. Apple had no explanations and the laptop started working after we were home a week. I am returning to Central America this winter and will take a waterproof case and a drying (or water absorbing gizmo) that is not expensive on Amazon, to put in the bag.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

Have not been to Panama but have been to Costa Rica Last trip I used the 200-500 on a DX body and the 70-200 on FX body had silica gel packets in my camera bag. did use a tripod

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

I wonder if tablets will be free of that problem.

bajadreamer Loc: Baja California Sur

Have done a lot of bird photography in Central America and Caribbean. Certainly the advise of many on this forum is valid, but I have found a couple of things that I have used that may be helpful. First, if you are staying in any of the lodges in the jungle/mountains, there will likely be bird feeders on the grounds. These provide terrific opportunities for tripod mounted shooting. On most of the trails you can bring a tripod, certainly not convenient, but not impossible. I use a lighter weight tripod than I would use at home but it certainly allows better pictures to be taken than you would be able to take hand held or even,off a monopod. The biggest drawback to the tripod is traveling. If you are going to use any of the local airlines, like Nature's Air, weight limits are enforced. When you check in, wear your photography vest, so you can take lenses, cameras etc, and move them from your baggage to your vest if you are close to weight limits.
Also, a significant number of the birds you will see will be along the dirt roads from your car (if you are renting a car or having a private driver). I take a beanbag, packed empty and then purchase a bag of rice locally to fill it. Really helps shooting from the car.
If you do not have a camera carrying harness, like Optech, get one. Makes it much easier to carry heavy camera/lens combinations and your binoculars.
Depending on where you will be staying in Panama, there will numerous opportunities even within the cities for birds.
I shoot Canon, either a 7DII or a 5DIII, with a 500+1.4TC, and by necessity, am stuck with f5.6. I use auto iso, with 400-1600 limit, shutter priority. Often I am shooting at 1/60-1/250 so IS is helpful, but the tripod is even more so. I have more problems with "bird shake" than "camera shake" at those speeds off the tripod. I use spot metering and focus because you are often shooting into trees and bush and try to use +1 EV. Because of the "bird shake" I try to maximize my chances at a good shot, by shooting in bursts of 2-3 shots at a time.
If the lodge you are staying at offers guide service, your experience can be greatly enhanced. Most of guides I have used have been very helpful in increasing the number of birds I see and the photography opportunities available. Tell them you are interested in photographing the birds, not just seeing them.
Beautiful place; hope you have a good time with lots of great pictures.

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

Best advice but with a little tweaking. I like using one or two stops down from the maximum aperture to get a little more lens sharpness and depth of field. I also prefer spot metering and back button focus. Before you go, figure out how high the ISO can go before you see objectionable noise. If you have to, open the aperture. If you can, bring a longer lens.

I would still take the tripod if not too bulky and heavy. You can use it as a monopod; just extend only one leg and lock down the head. You can move the monopod and camera as one unit.

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

Bajadreamer, a wealth of excellent advice here. Wish you had not posted it because now I want to go to Panama. How about posting a few pictures?

bajadreamer Loc: Baja California Sur

Thank you. Caribbean and Central American bird photography is my passion. This is a picture from a set I have recently been working on. I am a real amateur photographer especially when it pertains to post processing; takes me a long time.
This picture is a Cuban Tody, an almost unreal, fairy-tale, looking bird.

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

You are welcome. Your passion shows through your comments. Funny you say you an amateur because that word comes from the Latin amo, to love. Since you did not attach a picture, I presume you are referring to your avatar. If you ever want help with Lightroom, I will be glad to help you.

bajadreamer Loc: Baja California Sur

Sorry, my network shut down in the middle of my reply.
Your words are appreciated.

The first picture is of a Cuban Tody, a fairy-tale like bird.
The second is a Zapata Sparrow, an endangered bird.
The third is a Blue-headed Quail-dove, an example of a "feeder" bird that is almost impossible to see in the forest.

All these were shot with a Canon 7DII, 400mm f5.6, off a tripod.

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abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

Thanks for posting. Such pretty birds. Simple in appearance but so interesting in their behavior.