Canisdirus

It can get pretty dark in a rainforest...at least for photography.
Make sure you have the fastest lens you can afford...you'll need the aperture for sure.
You may also consider a large fresnel lens for your flash...makes a difference.

If I had to choose... a 300mm f/2.8 prime should do nicely.
Fair amount of reach...light hog. You probably won't be shooting great distances inside rainforests...more like subjects close to medium...line of sight can be pretty short.

Then maybe a 60 or 90mm macro. The small stuff will amaze you.

SkyKing Loc: Thompson Ridge, NY

…oh…and if you wanted to take just one lens I would do the FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS Lens…

Lagoonguy Loc: New Smyrna Beach, FL

These photos are absolutely beautiful! Thank you for sharing. Only in my dreams.

photoman43

I went to CR a few years ago. My two most used lenses were a Nikon 300mm f4 pf and my Nikon 500mm f5.6 pf lenses. I had a Nikon D500 and Nikon D810 bodies. I had an extension tube, so for macro shots, I used the extension tube with my 300mm lens. You will find plenty of opportunities to shoot macro in CR.

Aside from brands, any camera and lens that will go 200-400mm or 200-500mm. And a macro lens or a lens with ext tube that makes it a macro lens.

Check out Greg Basco's website. He lives in CR.

For hummingbirds, bring a flash. Make sure you learn how to use it.

LEWHITE7747 Loc: 33773

You have a great budget. Mirrorless is the first thing. The next thing is Canon or Sony. You want light weight beacause you will be walking a lot. Canon: R5 with the 100-500 lens. Sony: A9ll with the 200-600 lens. Everything else is overkill . Law of diminishing returns. Put the rest of your money back in your pocket. A prime lens would be better but then you would get into a weight problem.

mikee

Plus, add a 1.4 teleconverter to your bag.

LEWHITE7747 Loc: 33773

The Nikon 200-500 weighs a ton! Try the R5 and the new RF 100-500. It will suprise you . A friend, an 85 year old tiny lady uses this and she put her tripod away.

Piltdown1952

I was in exactly the same situation (well actually monkeys plus birds). I have a Nikon DX body 7100 but there are more recent versions. Here is a lens alternative: rent a very long lens that would be far above your price point to buy. I used BorrowLeneses.com (they are not paying me for the plug!) You get to work with a $1,000+ lens for a few hundred. At least check out this option; it might work for you.

clint f. Loc: Priest Lake Idaho, Spokane Wa

Be sure whatever car you rent that you get the insurance they offer. Our friends in Costa Rica rented a 4x4 because theirs was in the shop. I was in the car every minute it was driven. When returned the rental company said the undercarriage was damaged and wanted big bucks right then to repair it. There was never anything done that could have damaged the car while we had it. It was interesting to see his attitude change when my friend showed he had purchased the insurance. I pity the next renter who was likely blamed for undercarriage damage and had to pay up on the spot when it was returned. I loved Costa Rico but there is a reason there are bars on all the windows. Keep you stuff secure. Read the state department travel advice and be safe in your travels.

bocaphotogal

These are spectacular photos.

HRBIEL Loc: Rapid City, SD

Easy to spend someone else’s money so how about Nikon’s D500 ($1300) with the Nikon 300mm f4 pf ($1700) and carry the Nikon 1.4 teleconverter ($400). Easily a hand holdable combination that would get you to 450mm reach at f4 and 630mm with the teleconverter at f5.6. Light weight and packable. Ck those prices as they are my recollection but I think they are close.

Barn Owl

ronichas, Your first photo of the hummingbird should be used by Sony for advertisement. It is one of the best flying hummingbirds images I have ever seen. Any ID on the specimen?

Ed Chu Loc: Las Vegas NV

I have a Sony aR7 III ( FF ) and an a6100 ( crop, also a backup ); Sony 100-400 with TC,a Tamron 18-200 that I am taking to CR in Jan

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

Olympus E-M1 mkIII and/or E-M1X along with the 12-100 f4 Pro IS lens and 100-400 f5/6.3 (24-200 and 200-800 in 35mm angle of view). The heaviest combination will be about 4.5 pounds. Totally handholdable with 7 stops IS. You will only need a medium backpack. Actually, with the budget you have given, you might as well add in the two teleconverters, a flash, and the 7-14 f2.8 Pro lens (14-28 in 35mm terms). Should all still fit in the medium backpack and meet your budget. Oh, no need for rain gear in the rain forest. Although you would need to be in a dry area for changing lenses, once changed, the system is weatherproof. That is why I suggest buying two bodies. No need to change lenses. If your second body is the E-M1X, it will have artificial intelligence to find/recognize birds and properly focus on them. The two bodies should run $3500 (E-M1 mkIII and E-M1X on sale until the end of the month) and the two lenses $1300 and $1500. That should leave you more than enough for filters and batteries. And there should still be enough for a flash and the 7-14 lens. The total weight of the backpack should come in at about 10 to 15 pounds depending on how much of the above suggested equipment you would buy. And remember, nothing is needed for wind, dust, rain, snow, and salt spray. It all cleans up under a gently running faucet with towel drying. And forget the tripod unless you just want to carry some extra weight.

And if you would like to see what is possible, go to the sites of Jay Dickman, Larry Price, Thomas Stirr, and others. They can also be found on the Olympus site (www.getolympus.com) under "Get Inspired".

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

These are astonishingly beautiful and among the best I've ever seen
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