Is the issue lack of a shop or lack of transportation? Rural or metro area? Maybe Best Buy? Will someone in the facility assist with info, etc?

This is my first time wintering in Everglades City - photo opportunities are frustrating. So much wildlife and so few places to get off the road and take leisurely pictures. Maybe the hurricane destruction is why people are saying that Merritt Island Refuge has way more birds than usual. There’s a road, Loop Road, that’s a little west of Shark Valley that’s a really nice drive, and we’ve had some luck there with gators and birds.

What a great itinerary and experience. I went in Nov 2018 and struggled with what cameras to take. I wound up taking my little Nikon Point ‘n Shoot (plenty of zoom capacity, “all the focus settings”, etc.). While my photos weren’t equivalent to what they would have been with my better bodies/lenses, they were fine. The pace of the daily sightseeing, the amount of walking and climbing and navigating through crowded and tight spaces, and all the things one winds up carrying to be out for a long day - you don’t need to compound daily travel demands with having to deal with the extra weight of a larger body, changing lenses, and missing the experience to get the shot. Go as simple as you can, see and breathe in the experience - it’s wonderfully unique.

I will admit to being a dilettante photographer. I lugged 2 bodies and 4 lenses to Hawaii several years ago and it was miserable. Was too busy shooting to enjoy the trip. Will never drag all that gear again unless I am driving. Took my Nikon P900 and a good Nikon pocket camera to Israel and got perfectly respectable shots and wasn’t so busy shooting that I forgot to immerse myself in the experience. I do have my gear insured under a rider to my homeowners, but would hate to have to file a claim and find a replacement camera on a trip.

Thanks everyone. I will continue to watch for availability at the stores I know to be reputable, NikonUSA, and here. Have a great weekend. Vera

I actually saw some aged posts on UHH that were complimentary. That’s why I asked the question - was thinking their reputation is trash.

As always, thanks in advance for the benefit of your knowledge.
I have decided to purchase the Nikon 200-500 lens, but it is generally out of stock “everywhere”.
I saw 1 at Abe’s of Maine (which seems to have a good reputation). But the description says, “brand new factory fresh import model”. The Nikon USA site gives a list of words to beware, and “import model” is one of them, so I am concerned that this is a grey market item and I could have warranty issues. As a comparison, B&H says their current inventory (when they have some in stock) is made is China. Abes offers extended warranties.
Your thoughts? Opinions? Should I be concerned? Should I just ask to ensure that this lens from Abes is covered under Nikon USA warranty?

We are leaving tomorrow to go down for 5 days so I checked road closures out of interest. The Loop Road was closed due fallen trees but seems to be open now. It is closed to auto traffic on Wednesday’s thru Sept. 30 - bicycles only. Your comments are most interesting since we are headed there.

Not sure how far off the beaten path you want to get. Once you get into Virginia - around Virginia Beach - First Landing State Park and Cape Henry Light House, False Cape State Park, the Great Dismal Swamp; whale-watching tours; over in Norfolk at Waterside there’s the Nauticus Center including the Battleship Wisconsin, Norfolk Botanical Gardens, McArthur Memorial. Probably you are going across the Bay Bridge Tunnel - if you wanted to head up RT. 17 instead, you can hit Yorktown (or Williamsburg/Jamestown), and then go up through the Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck - plenty of historical sites, little towns with great food and a couple of wineries, a couple of good lighthouses not on the shoreline.

I’m using a Nikon D500 and the teleconverter chart on the Nikon site has provided guidance on that. Says D500 provides autofocus support at f8 for the 1.4x.

After much angst, study, and comparison to the popular 150-600 lens offerings from Sigma and Tamron, I have decided to purchase a Nikon 200-500 mm lens to go on my D500 for wildlife, BIF, etc. Thought I would grab a teleconverter also, and I can use that on other lenses. I have reviewed the compatibility tables on the Nikon site; I understand the loss of light, etc. as you go from 1.4x to the 1.7x and 2.0x. It seems that most people use the 1.4x. I have read some of the threads on teleconverters on this site and would be interested in your comments about how you use different power teleconverters to better understand how to maximize their usefulness. Thanks in advance - your knowledge is always appreciated. Vera

Thanks for the information. I found it to be informative, and appreciate the insight.

Thanks. I can’t grab it but it will make someone a dandy rig.

If you don’t mind me asking, what is prompting you to sell?

I have read a good number of these comparison threads on here (and every one is educational) and all of you seem to prefer the 150-600 over the 200-500. Is that because the extra reach makes such a difference to you or do you think the results are actually better? I am looking at the 200-500 for my new D500 (mostly BIF, etc) and still weighing the choices. Thanks. Vera