GBHs and Egrets here in northern California seem to be tolerant to about 15 yards. This is full frame on a 5D at 300mm:
Without using blinds and some luck, I don't think I'll be filling the frame of my 5D with less than about 800mm. Maybe I need to start spending time in Florida.
I do get to spend some time in Florida on dive trips. But given that most of my time is in Virginia that limits me some. The GBH around here love the opposite bank from you. The river averages about 15-20 yards wide. So you are pretty much stuck using telephoto.
I was lucky to come across a raptor hanging out on my side of the river in a park a few weeks ago. Sadly none of the photos were worth doing anything with. The light was fading fast and the angle I was shooting from did not produce decent photos. I plan to go back and shoot some more at a later date. It appears that he hangs out in the park due to the abundance of pigeons under the bridges.
GBHs and Egrets here in northern California seem to be tolerant to about 15 yards. This is full frame on a 5D at 300mm:
Without using blinds and some luck, I don't think I'll be filling the frame of my 5D with less than about 800mm. Maybe I need to start spending time in Florida.
Sorry for the long delay in updating this. There was a delay in closing on the real estate, there was a delay in clearing the check, there was a delay at the bank releasing the money, there was a delay in the CC company accepting the payment, there was a delay.... You get the picture.
But I placed my order yesterday with B&H. A Canon 500mm f4, A Wimberly Gimbal Head, and a P40 Arca plate are on the way. :ivar
I finally signed up for NAPP and used it for the shipping discount. I have saved almost half the membership fee in this one order.
As soon as my rebate on the camera comes back I plan to pick up some extension tubes and TC's for it.
I was going to say why not give the Sigmonster a try, I know you wanted to stay with Canon but I've yet to see a birder dissapointed by it. And talk about reach.:jawdrop
Now there is some serious jonesing going on. I placed my order with B&H on Monday. I still have not gotten the ship notice on my lens. I am pretty certain that it is my bank screwing with the funds.
This is not fun waiting. I was hoping to get out and shoot with it this weekend.
Can I suggest that you place another order? With Really Right Stuff for the
replacement foot for the 500/f4. That will allow you to use the lense without
the plate for a more secure connection to the head as well as to use the lens
with a monopod w/o having to take the plate off the lens. You won't need the
other lens plate.
Also, the 500 is "small" enough that the Wimberly Sidekick would work. The
benefit of the sidekick over the larger head is that you don't need to remove
the whole gimbal mount to use the tripod for something else--mind you the
sidekick is not nearly as nice as the full head but if you're traveling, it does
save weight and bulk.
Moderator Journeys/Sports/Big Picture :: Need some help with dgrin?
Ian, Thanks for the suggestions. I did look at the RRS replacement foot and may go that route a little later. I can then move the P40 plate to another lens.
As for the sidekick, I did lot of reading on that subject. Most of the people I respect said that the 400 f2.8, 500 f4, and the 600 f4 should not be used on the sidekick. From their comments they indicate that the sidekick is great for smaller lenses but tends to torque due to the weight of these heavier lenses. If thought about it and figured that it was cheaper in the long run to go ahead and get the full gimbal head.
IAs for the sidekick, I did lot of reading on that subject. Most of the people I respect said that the 400 f2.8, 500 f4, and the 600 f4 should not be used on the sidekick. From their comments they indicate that the sidekick is great for smaller lenses but tends to torque due to the weight of these heavier lenses. If thought about it and figured that it was cheaper in the long run to go ahead and get the full gimbal head.
Works for me. I've seen guys running the 600 with 1dmkII body and no
problems. Me? Only the 500.
Moderator Journeys/Sports/Big Picture :: Need some help with dgrin?
I used a Canon 500f4 on a Sidekick all last year without any problems.
You do need a first rate ball head that will really hold the Sidekick in the proper vertical orientation. I have use the RRS Bh-55 ball head and the large Arca-Swiss head as well with a Sidekick.
A Sidekick is a lot lighter than the Wimberly gimbal mount and easier to pack. I carry both now, so I am familiar with and use both.
From what I have read, lots of folks use a Sidekick for the 500f4, but not the 600f4 or bigger lenses like the Sigmonster.
It was a little late to change the order. I think I will be happy with it either way. The part that stinks is that we have ice and sleet inbound.
So if the delivery does not get delayed, it will be a crappy weekend to go shoot. I am not really a [SIZE=-1]pessimist but I know how UPS is. They take exception on everything here. Its a bummer because I have the weekend free, the wife is out of town for training.
So do you guys have any advice on filters for this monster? Polarizer, and the like?
I have the Canon polarizing filter ( 52mm drop in ) for the 500f4, but truthfully, I have not used it. That's $167 bucks going to waste I guess.
For wildlife it is probably of less usefullness, than for shooting landscapes ( I think anyway )
Usually for shooting wildlife the costs in lost light are too high ( 1 - 2 fstops ) Shooting landscapes on a tripod, that loss of light might be moot.
I don't use a polarizer for digital as much as I did for film, but it certainly can help with reflections from water surfaces, and increases color saturation.
The Sigmonster comes with a circular polarizing filter included. Who'd have thought!?
Comments
Without using blinds and some luck, I don't think I'll be filling the frame of my 5D with less than about 800mm. Maybe I need to start spending time in Florida.
I was lucky to come across a raptor hanging out on my side of the river in a park a few weeks ago. Sadly none of the photos were worth doing anything with. The light was fading fast and the angle I was shooting from did not produce decent photos. I plan to go back and shoot some more at a later date. It appears that he hangs out in the park due to the abundance of pigeons under the bridges.
http://help.smugmug.com
But I placed my order yesterday with B&H. A Canon 500mm f4, A Wimberly Gimbal Head, and a P40 Arca plate are on the way. :ivar
I finally signed up for NAPP and used it for the shipping discount. I have saved almost half the membership fee in this one order.
As soon as my rebate on the camera comes back I plan to pick up some extension tubes and TC's for it.
http://help.smugmug.com
go the 500mm/f4.0!
Longitude: 145° 08'East
Canon 20d,EFS-60mm Macro,Canon 85mm/1.8. Pentax Spotmatic SP,Pentax Super Takumars 50/1.4 &135/3.5,Pentax Super-Multi-Coated Takumars 200/4 ,300/4,400/5.6,Sigma 600/8.
5D2/1D MkII N/40D and a couple bits of glass.
This is not fun waiting. I was hoping to get out and shoot with it this weekend.
Time to call the bank and throw a fit.
http://help.smugmug.com
replacement foot for the 500/f4. That will allow you to use the lense without
the plate for a more secure connection to the head as well as to use the lens
with a monopod w/o having to take the plate off the lens. You won't need the
other lens plate.
Also, the 500 is "small" enough that the Wimberly Sidekick would work. The
benefit of the sidekick over the larger head is that you don't need to remove
the whole gimbal mount to use the tripod for something else--mind you the
sidekick is not nearly as nice as the full head but if you're traveling, it does
save weight and bulk.
As for the sidekick, I did lot of reading on that subject. Most of the people I respect said that the 400 f2.8, 500 f4, and the 600 f4 should not be used on the sidekick. From their comments they indicate that the sidekick is great for smaller lenses but tends to torque due to the weight of these heavier lenses. If thought about it and figured that it was cheaper in the long run to go ahead and get the full gimbal head.
http://help.smugmug.com
Works for me. I've seen guys running the 600 with 1dmkII body and no
problems. Me? Only the 500.
You do need a first rate ball head that will really hold the Sidekick in the proper vertical orientation. I have use the RRS Bh-55 ball head and the large Arca-Swiss head as well with a Sidekick.
A Sidekick is a lot lighter than the Wimberly gimbal mount and easier to pack. I carry both now, so I am familiar with and use both.
From what I have read, lots of folks use a Sidekick for the 500f4, but not the 600f4 or bigger lenses like the Sigmonster.
Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
It was a little late to change the order. I think I will be happy with it either way. The part that stinks is that we have ice and sleet inbound.
So if the delivery does not get delayed, it will be a crappy weekend to go shoot. I am not really a [SIZE=-1]pessimist but I know how UPS is. They take exception on everything here. Its a bummer because I have the weekend free, the wife is out of town for training.
So do you guys have any advice on filters for this monster? Polarizer, and the like?
[/SIZE]
http://help.smugmug.com
For wildlife it is probably of less usefullness, than for shooting landscapes ( I think anyway )
Usually for shooting wildlife the costs in lost light are too high ( 1 - 2 fstops ) Shooting landscapes on a tripod, that loss of light might be moot.
I don't use a polarizer for digital as much as I did for film, but it certainly can help with reflections from water surfaces, and increases color saturation.
The Sigmonster comes with a circular polarizing filter included. Who'd have thought!?
Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
I did not get the extra bushing required to mount the P40 plate properly so I have to order that.
I now have to email my buddy to see if he can head out to the hawk rookery.
http://help.smugmug.com