db2step Loc: arizona and Idaho

nice sharp and tight composition. good shots

bajadreamer Loc: Baja California Sur

Thank you. I did not intend to steal this thread.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

I found in my wandering around central and south American jungles that many birds were quite close. I was on foot 90 %of the time though. your choice of equipment is good. If you can carry a tripod there are times it will be invaluable as there are scenery and other things that will benefit from the tripod. Enjoy the trip and stay alert for hidden wildlife. It amazed me how many birds etc. could be so near and not flee.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

A monopod is a GOOD idea. A ball head is NOT. I would recommend a large arca swiss foot on your tripod collar to allow adjustment for balance with the large extending zoom. Then I would use this type head - http://www.ebay.com/itm/Haoge-Metal-Tripod-Monopod-Tilt-Head-with-58mm-Panoramic-fr-Benro-Sirui-RRS-Arca/181999671094?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D39855%26meid%3D33db371c8c5f483293484cc1f1ac8fc0%26pid%3D100011%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D18%26sd%3D172269048688

Or, I would use this type of head for following action better ( video fluid head) - http://www.ebay.com/itm/281922612125?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

for a monopod I utilize a RRS monopod head http://www.reallyrightstuff.com/MH-01-Pro-head-with-standard-screw-knob-clamp

rob7789 Loc: Florida

I was in Panama last March. I used a Canon 7D II and a 100-400 II lens. Our group birded the mountains and the lowlands. There was very little light in the rain forest, and many of the birds were high up in the canopy. I don't think a tripod or monopod would have helped me there. They probably would have made it more difficult. If you visit hummingbird feeders in the mountains they could help. Below is a link to some of the pics that I took in Panama. By clicking on the individual picture, you will be able to see where it was taken and the EXIF data. That could give you an idea of the settings you may have to use. Good luck.
https://flic.kr/s/aHskwGtkBN

Corsica fox

I'm overwhelmed with takeaways for my Panama trip and I thank you all for them. I'm having to take notes to make sure they register, esp the humidity issue. The bird pics were fabulous and I have had some experience with lodge feeders. My enthusiasm for photography can sometimes overwhelm my wife's tolerance on these exotic ventures so I need to balance things. We've been married 54 years so so far so good. Most of your advice will be invisible to her but I will credit you all for the bug tissues.

martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida

When shooting in rain forest my biggest problem was always the humidity and all the Sweating I did. A light back pack with dry towels to keep your hands and face wiped dry is a Big plus. Plus to keep between your sweaty body and camera.. Up in the cloud forest totally different as it's damp and moist from the elevation, so again very light cloth to keep over camera and dry lens cloth to wipe off front of lens or keep cover on. In both conditions travel as light as possible. All the lodges and even a lot of restaurants will have sugar water feeders and fresh fruit out for the birds, great for tripod. On the trails, tripods only get in the way. Hand held is really the way to go, but you don't really have the experience. An experience guide should work only areas you can get good light in unless you after a specific type of bird. You should be working the local trees that are fruiting this time of year to get the most out of your trip. All birds eat, find their food you find the bird.....If hiring a guide, ask other birders that have been in country. Most all clerks and taxis cab drivers get kick backs if they point you to someone specific.. Better to find a satisfied customer instead. Good-Luck.....

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Yes, the tilt heads made specifically for the monopod are fine, though I wouldn't buy that Manfrotto because it's not compatible with the Arca-Swiss type lens and camera plates I use. To be compatible with those, I'd instead buy https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AF6NV8M/ref=twister_B016C5HPLS?_encoding=UTF8&th=1, or similar.

A simple ball head works pretty well on a monopod. I've got one set up that way... with a medium size ball head that uses a single lever to control all movements.

You really only need the tilt movement.... no need for the rotational movement of the head since you can simply rotate the monopod instead.

I have another monopod without any head... just an Arca-Swiss type quick release platform. Leaning forward or backward with it serves instead of a tilt.... But that doesn't give as much rnge of movement at a tilt or ball head will.

Geegee Loc: Peterborough, Ont.

All of the following is for lenses that have a tripod foot with a rotating collar - I have had excellent results using a gimbal head on both tripods and monopods. If you don't have a gimbal head but have a ball head, rotate the head until the slot is on the right hand side then drop the camera mount portion into the slot and then you can easily rotate the lens in the lens collar for either horizontal or vertical positions. Using the slot gives much more stability because the camera will not try to flop all over the place when you unlock or release the tension of the ball head. Set the tension accordingly and you have a poor man's version of a gimbal head. If you don't like lugging a tripod or a monopod or if your monster lens gets too heavy handholding, make a bodypod as illustrated in Imagemeister's avitar further up on this page. The gimbal head will not work very well on the bodypod but the ball head works well if it has a good tension adjustment.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

From your years of marriage, I'm guessing that you are older than me {I'm just 68}; if you're strong enough to physically support the 500mm lens on your own, I guess I don't understand why you would even think of taking a tripod with you. The birds I photograph turn out to be fairly mobile characters, and by the time I could set up a tripod, they would have moved to another location, so I see a tripod as being something you lug along to make hiking more of a workout. I have a MeFoto walking stick / monopod, but apart from its function as a walking stick, I have it only to help stabilize my birding kit {Pentax Q-7 + 300mm lens, which has FOV of nearly 1400mm 35mm lens}. If you do need help holding / stabilizing the lens, then I would recommend a walking stick / monopod like this; otherwise, I would depend on shutter speed and image stabilization to provide the needed stability.