brooklyncarole Loc: New York

I'm going to Costa Rica this month and wonder what lenses you would recommend taking? I have a Nikon D90 camera? Also, is an off camera flash useful in the rain forest?

Lenf Loc: Strasburg,PA

Hello Carole, my most version lens is a Tamron 18-270,with a Nikon D-7000 it has a broad range and I have taken award winning shots with it. I am sure ok fellow UHH members will give you more choices. But for general travel this is my mainstay. You might also look into filters also.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Costa Rica can be very humid. Keep your camera and lenses in your camera bag with lots of Silica Gel (a moisture absorbing agent). To take that one step forward, get and use air-tight plastic bags (Ziplock, Glad, etc.) for everything, including barreries and cards. Use one large bag for your body and mounted lens. Silica Gel in all bags.

DEBJENROB Loc: DELRAY BEACH FL

I used a Nikon 28-300 .... did not have any need for a flash .... the less equipment you take ... the better ....

Poison Ivey Loc: Mtn Brook, AL

I do not believe January is a wet Month...I went last Jan and had no problem. When Rainy season arrives, it comes 1st Class!

martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida

Yeah, rainy season starts in May. I would not recommend putting stuff in Sealed bags as they will sweat, of corse depending on where you go. I always take the 70-300mm for the birds and the 18-200 for the landscapes. Send me a PM where you would like to go or better yet what you are looking for. Rain forest, cloud forest, coastal, rocky, ect... Please do Not stay in San Jose, that's the armpit of Costa Rica. The less you take the better in camera equipment other than lots of cards and an extra battery. Hope you can stay for at least 10 days or longer. You could spend a life time wondering around the country. Flash helps if taking macros, but no since carrying an off camera flash for other reasons. Get your self a little store bought diffuser for your pop up flash and use that if needed.

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

First: there are all different climates throughout Costa Rica, and even if it is not the rainy season, some places, like Manuel Antonio, will be hot and humid. The big risk to your equipment will be humidity - especially going from an air-conditioned room out into the warm humid air. For that reason, it is imperative to keep camera and lenses in an air-tight container (such as a heavy-duty Zip-Lock bag) when you leave the air-conditioned room for ten minutes or so. Then take them out so they don't sweat. Zoom lenses, because they have a section which is not air-tight, are at risk for getting fogged up internally. Fixed lenses would not have this problem. Make sure you have a good water-tight case to put your equipment in during the day if it starts to rain. I like a 70-300 lens for general purposes. I also carry my little Sony Cybershot in my pocket (in a Zip-Lock bag to keep body humidity away from it) in case I want to get a good wider-angle shot, or if I am going into a marketplace or village where I don't want to be intimidating people with a very expensive camera and long lens.

Take a macro lens - or if you don't have one, take close-up rings, which will save space/weight. There are lots of good close-ups to take (leaf-cutter ants, etc.). Most definitely take a flash. The rainforest is very dark, and you will find lots of things close enough to use the flash with, and fill-in flash can be a lifesaver as well. Also - for moderately close things I just use a bounce flash so that I don't have to carry another piece of equipment like a ring flash.

Insect repellent may be needed - some places at some times can be buggy in Costa Rica, and sometimes there is Dengue Fever in the towns/cities, and a few places have malaria (spread by night-time biting mosquitoes) but that is not a huge problem. I prefer the DEET wipes - you can keep them in your pocket or pack and just use them if needed. They are not greasy - you don't want your hands greasy with repellent when you are handling your equipment! I found that Ultrathon and others are way to greasy.

Hoatzin in the Amazon with fill-in flash.


Waxed-tail leafhopper in the Amazon


Green Palm Viper, Amazon (very poisonous!)


White-faced capuchin monkeys, Manuel Antonio NP, Costa Rica. Fill-in flash used.


Bats inside an old termite nest, Amazon - using flash.

brooklyncarole Loc: New York

We will be there for 10 days. Going to Arenal, Monteverde, and Manuel Antonio. I have a wide angle lens, a 70-300 mm, a 35 mm, and a 18- 105. I could buy an 18-200 or an 18-270 if need be. I can't carry them all and keep changing lenses.

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

The 70-300 and 18-105 would be plenty! You are going to the best places for photography! Hopefully Arenal will be visible to you! Even if not, you will enjoy the hot springs and the landscaping at the Tabacon is beautiful!

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

You are visiting the same three places I visited. There are three different zones: sea level, rain forest, and cloud forest. There is a Hummingbird "reserve" near Monteverde. You will be able to get close enough to "fill the frame" with the 105 focal length. I'm going to suggest another direction: the NikkorMicro 105g-- if you are going to buy something.... or it's more economical cousin, the Tokina in the same focal length.
My bag would include: SB400 with diffusor, Macro lens, the 18-105, and the 70-300.

OR, get something like the Canon SX50 and leave the big stuff at home.

Get going early each morning-- by this I mean 6-7am. There are some wonderful "eco tours" with very professional/knowledgeable guides where you can go in small groups. I was with family only (7). We did a float trip on the White River (it's not!) and saw a lot of wildlife.

Have a great time!

FutureLook Loc: Florida, USA

Where can I buy silica gels at a reasonable price? I checked several prices and they seem to be outrageously expensive. Your recommendations are greatly appreciated!

deepdiverv Loc: arizona

I would recommend a nikon 18-300 mm lens. I used it on my recent trip to Vietnam. The lens covers both ends ,wide angle and telephoto. It is also small and light considering the range it covers.

Vietnam nikon 18-300mm


Vietnam nikon 18-300mm


Vietnam nikon 18-300mm

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

I like the little cans of silica gel that have a color indicator to let you know when it has reached its limit - you can heat them in the oven to dry them out to re-use them

Check Amazon and B&H Photo:

http://www.amazon.com/Gram-Desiccant-Silica-Gel-4-Pack/dp/B005HXXBPQ/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1358094860&sr=8-5&keywords=silica+gel

FutureLook Loc: Florida, USA

Thank you!

SteveR Loc: Michigan

I am not really familiar with macros, and have not used mine in this way, but the Nikon 28-300mm lens can also be used in some sort of macro capacity. Perhaps someone else on UHH could explain it, or you could check with someone at a professional camera shop. I like the 28-300 in conjunction with a 10-24mm wide angle lens. I would also go with a Nikon.