Steve Perry's Costa Rica Wildlife Photography Workshops (Page 2): Excellent advice: I shoot a Nikon D7500, and macro aside, plan to use my 70-200 2.8. I was wondering if that would be...

Raz Theo Loc: Music City

Briancanon wrote:

We went to Costa Rica the beginning of March. I brought a 18-135mm, 70-200mm, and my 1.4x extender. I also brought a nice tripod and an extra battery. My camera is a Canon 80D. You will want a fast lens like my 70-200L. Most tours do not want you to bring flashes. It will interfere with your night vision and distracts everyone. Be sure to bring something to store it all in that is waterproof.

Excellent advice: I shoot a Nikon D7500, and macro aside, plan to use my 70-200 2.8. I was wondering if that would be enough with my extender because every stop lost is really important in the jungle. So it seems like I'm anywhere between 200mm and 400mm short. But you apparently did all right. And I'm also learning that a flash might be a no-no.
Thanks.

mikeroetex Loc: Lafayette, LA

Raz Theo wrote:

Excellent advice: I shoot a Nikon D7500, and macro aside, plan to use my 70-200 2.8. I was wondering if that would be enough with my extender because every stop lost is really important in the jungle. So it seems like I'm anywhere between 200mm and 400mm short. But you apparently did all right. And I'm also learning that a flash might be a no-no.
Thanks.

I use a 300mm on my D500 and the FOV of 450mm does quite well. A 1.4 extender would get you to 630 with only one stop lost. You should get similar results on D7500.
I personally don't like extenders except on an FX camera and a fast prime, so I don't use the one I have.

i was a good 100-125 yards away at dusk for this shot, but struggled to get the eye perfectly in focus. Doubt I could ave gotten with extender on.

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Raz Theo Loc: Music City

mikeroetex wrote:

I use a 300mm on my D500 and the FOV of 450mm does quite well. A 1.4 extender would get you to 630 with only one stop lost. You should get similar results on D7500.
I personally don't like extenders except on an FX camera and a fast prime, so I don't use the one I have.

i was a good 100-125 yards away at dusk for this shot, but struggled to get the eye perfectly in focus. Doubt I could ave gotten with extender on.

Hey Mike, I'm certain you wouldn't have such a beautiful image with any extender. I neglected to mention that my full concern about the 1.4 in relatively low light (like you encountered) is how it impairs sharp focus. I don't yet have any experience with it with the D7500. I originally used it with my D700 and even then, given the same conditions, it was marginal. So maybe all those 150-600ers out there have something going. I think true suffering comes with trying to save a buck. But thanks for your reassurance about my wannabe D500.

mikeroetex Loc: Lafayette, LA

Raz Theo wrote:

Hey Mike, I'm certain you wouldn't have such a bea... (show quote)

By the way, I bought both of Steve's books, one on Wildlife and other on Focus Systems. Excellent and I do my best to emulate his techniques in the field. I didn't see the workshop announcement in time, so I'll see you there in 2021!

vandy

Raz Theo wrote:

I am considering one of Steve's trips in 2020 (not many spots left) and wondering which Hoggers might be taking this trip this year (or in the past) and what you're lugging along. He recommends being able to cover everything from macro to 600mm. I would appreciate any info, comments or advice.
Thanks.

I am signed up for May 29 through June 5 and am soooo looking forward to this. I have been drooling over this workshop for over a year now so when the chance came up I did not hesitate to pull the trigger.

Raz Theo Loc: Music City

mikeroetex wrote:

By the way, I bought both of Steve's books, one on Wildlife and other on Focus Systems. Excellent and I do my best to emulate his techniques in the field. I didn't see the workshop announcement in time, so I'll see you there in 2021!

Yeah, I've got 'em both too. But Steve's offerings and insights he throws out every now and then, seemingly random, are as informative as his books/videos.
As soon as I see a schedule for 2021 (how do you plan for 2 years down the road at my age?) I'll look you up.

Raz Theo Loc: Music City

vandy wrote:

I am signed up for May 29 through June 5 and am soooo looking forward to this. I have been drooling over this workshop for over a year now so when the chance came up I did not hesitate to pull the trigger.

So vandy, this how you do it? Make me jealous with your first post? Welcome aboard. There's a great group of really knowledgeable folks on board with you.
BTW: "vandy" doesn't by any chance prefer to Nashville, Tennessee's finest center of advanced learning does it?

Briancanon

The hardest is auto focus. There are so many things in the way. Be sure to use your manual focus more to fine tune the picture. 70-200 2.8 with the 1.4x extender gives you a Fstop of 4. The biggest issue is the constant change of lighting. Be sure to use a very fast exposure for the hummingbirds. There are so many and it's a great picture stopping them in flight. We stayed in La Fortuna and in Monteverde. Amazing. Pur La Vida

vandy

Raz Theo wrote:

So vandy, this how you do it? Make me jealous with your first post? Welcome aboard. There's a great group of really knowledgeable folks on board with you.
BTW: "vandy" doesn't by any chance prefer to Nashville, Tennessee's finest center of advanced learning does it?

Well I thought that may cause some turned up eyebrows but I said what the heck and did it anyway. I am a big fan of Vandy the school but that also happens to be the somewhat the first 5 letters of my last name, that being vande so I just turned into vandy. Thanks for the welcome!

Raz Theo Loc: Music City

Briancanon wrote:

The hardest is auto focus. There are so many things in the way. Be sure to use your manual focus more to fine tune the picture. 70-200 2.8 with the 1.4x extender gives you a Fstop of 4. The biggest issue is the constant change of lighting. Be sure to use a very fast exposure for the hummingbirds. There are so many and it's a great picture stopping them in flight. We stayed in La Fortuna and in Monteverde. Amazing. Pur La Vida

I am aware of the one stop loss with the 1.4 but am worried more about ridiculously high ISO's. Many thanks.

Raz Theo Loc: Music City

vandy wrote:

Well I thought that may cause some turned up eyebrows but I said what the heck and did it anyway. I am a big fan of Vandy the school but that also happens to be the somewhat the first 5 letters of my last name, that being vande so I just turned into vandy. Thanks for the welcome!