My experience with an other than a Canon battery (Adorama) is that they do not last as long. Bite the bullet. You just spent $3,500.00 for a camera. Why not get the best for a few bucks more for a battery, have all the functions work and have peace of mind. I tried an off Canon brand. I will never go back to a non-Canon battery. I have come to the conclusion that "cheap" may work, but I end up buying a similar Canon product because cheapo failed.
AND you can always get it repaired by Canon. USA warranty only. Also goes for memory cards. Memory has never been less expensive, If you want to get all of what this camera can deliver for a few extra $'s Get some new cards. After all, you bought it; pamper yourself and know you are getting all there is from this fabulous camera. Good luck, happy stressless shooting and I hope to follow you someday to Mk IV.

Great solution from Bill de for practice. Go for it !

Also, if shooting upward with a lot of sky showing, your meter will be fooled by the amount of light in the sky and under expose the bottom of the airplane. If shooting in any auto mode open up + 2/3, more or less EV depending on brightness of sky. In this shot, the sky is a beautiful color but the shadowed underbody is dull. (I'll bet if you were to look at that scene again in real life, the sky would be lighter) Try it, you will like it. Just like shooting in snow or at the beach. Do you want the sky/snow look like 18% grey ? I didn't see what photo shop guy did, but I always like to see more space ahead than behind or equal. You want to have space to fly into, not out of. Have fun, shoot lots. Cheers.

First, forget the tripod. You should pan along with the direction of flight. Keep panning after you have taken the shot/shots, just like a golf follow through (but, don't keep your head down or you will not see your subject, ha) or shooting a shotgun at a clay pigeon. If you want to blur the props, pan at a slower shutter speed and hope the pan of your camera is equal to the motion of the plane. Not so easy to do as say, especially if you have only one chance on a fly by. Takes LUCK and a lot of PRACTICE. Good luck.

I have done that cruise. You will LOVE it. I found with a full frame Canon 5D III the lens used 99% of time was 24-105. The other was a 70-300 for castles and such on the shore as you pass by. I wished I had brought my 16-40 for interiors. Doubt you will need your monopod. A small tripod, maybe. (used on short sturdy leg length for night shots). I too brought a 50mm for night shots and never used it. Probably because I was too lazy. Have a GREAT time, I envy you.

Ditto to Gary. If so, It would be GREAT, providing the optics are good.

Canon sells refurbished lenses in a white box with red "Canon" name underlined with 7 black lines. I have a 70-300 f4-5.6 IS (USM) that I bought direct from Canon in this box. There is a RED dot in the "locking hole" on the base. It is a good lens for the price.

Hi Dugole. I use the 100-400 II plus the TC 1.4 III on my 5D III and 7D II. My results are that the combo have been my go to lens for birding and I am really happy with the IQ through the entire zoom range. Have you micro adjusted this combo with your 5D III ? I have with both the 100mm end and 400mm with the TC 1.4 III and without on both cameras. Both needed adjusting with the lens alone and with the 1.4 TC.

Instructions from Kenko TELEPLUS 1.4 PRO DGX.
"Kenko TELEPLUS is designed to be best for use with longer telephoto lenses. When using with over 100mm lens, it improves the resolution at the peripheral corners and prevents deterioration of light".

TC's are not meant for short lenses. Did you have your IS turned off?
All images are soft on my monitor. Sorry about that.

P.S. I also used a mild diffuser for "older" (wrinkles) subjects. They loved it.

Foe a single person I used a 105 on a full frame body for years, professionally, as a full time pro. So, 85mm on your crop will be the the best if a prime.

Foe a single person I used a 105 on a full frame body for years, professionally, as a full time pro.

That being the case, I feel the 5D III is the one for you. I have both.

It decreases MAXIMUM f stop by ONE f stop = f8.0. You retain autofocus, CENTER SPOT and Center surround ONLY on the following Canon cameras; 1DX, 5D III and 7D II.