What Can You Possibly Do When You Get Up at 2:07am?

The Streak Continues: 237

This post was published at about 5:30am from Great Gull Island. I almost did not make it to Niantic in time to catch the boat to the island; when I called yesterday morning I learned that most of the Orient Point ferries were full…. I scrambled like mad to make the 10:30 sailing and once I made that the rest was the proverbial piece of cake. East wind on a sunny afternoon put me photographically out of business on Day 1. My main target will be recently fledged Roseate Terns; GI Director Helen Hays taught me to ID the young Roseates by their black legs and feet. The Common Tern young have light pink or orange legs and feet. I am online with my cell phone in the middle of nowhere, depending on the generator to keep the cell phone and the laptop charged enough to keep the streak going….

This post, which took me 1 1/2 hours to prepare–making the cards is time-consuming, marks 237 consecutive days with a new enjoyable and educational blog post. With so many folks getting in the habit of using our B&H links and our Amazon logo-links, why quit now? April, May, June, and July have been fantastic as lots of folks are getting the message; using my affiliate links does not cost you a penny and helps support my efforts here. To show your appreciation, I do ask that you use our B&H and Amazon affiliate links on the right side of the blog for all of your purchases. Please check the availability of all photographic accessories in the BIRDS AS ART Online Store, especially Gitzo tripods, Wimberley tripod heads, and the like. We sell only what I have used and tested, and know that you can depend on. We will not sell you junk. We know the tools that you need to make creating great images easy and fun. And we are always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail.

You can find the following items in the store: Gitzo tripods, Mongoose M3.6 and Wimberley heads, plates, low feet, and accessories, flash brackets, , Delkin e-film Pro Compact Flash Cards, LensCoat products, and our unique line-up of educational materials including ABP I & II, Digital Basics, Site and Set-up e-Guides, Canon and Nikon Camera Users and AF e-Guides, and MP-4 Photoshop video tutorials among others.

I would of course appreciate your using our B&H affiliate links for all of your major gear, video, and electronic purchases. For the photographic stuff mentioned in the paragraph above we, meaning BAA, would of course greatly appreciate your business. Here is a huge thank you to the many who have been using our links on a regular basis and visiting the BAA Online store as well.

This image was created at 5:32am with the hand held Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens , the Canon Extender EF 2X III (at 140mm), and the Canon EOS-1D X. ISO 250. Evaluative metering +1 2/3 stops: 1/15 sec. at f/5.6 in Tv Mode. Central Sensor Surround/AI Servo Rear Focus AF as framed was active at the moment of exposure. Click here to see the latest version of the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version.

What Can You Possibly Do When You Get Up at 2:07am?

You can finish your blog post for the day and head out early to Nickerson Beach, arriving in the dark at 4:41am. Then grab your 70-200mm f/4L IS II, add the 2X

The Streak Continues: 236

This post was published just before 6am from my Mom’s home in Holbrook, NY. I had another good afternoon at Nickerson yesterday. I will be very busy packing this morning as I head to Nianctic, CT to catch a ride on a Sunbeam fleet boat to Great Gull Island for a week as an invited guest. My main target will be recently fledged Roseate Terns. They are among the most exquisitely beautiful young terns. If I am able to get online with my cell phone as I did last year, the streak will remain intact. If not, I will see you in a week or so.

This post, which took me 3 1/2 hours to prepare–making the cards is time-consuming, marks 236 consecutive days with a new enjoyable and educational blog post. With so many folks getting in the habit of using our B&H links and our Amazon logo-links, why quit now? April, May, June, and July have been fantastic as lots of folks are getting the message; using my affiliate links does not cost you a penny and helps support my efforts here. To show your appreciation, I do ask that you use our B&H and Amazon affiliate links on the right side of the blog for all of your purchases. Please check the availability of all photographic accessories in the BIRDS AS ART Online Store, especially Gitzo tripods, Wimberley tripod heads, and the like. We sell only what I have used and tested, and know that you can depend on. We will not sell you junk. We know the tools that you need to make creating great images easy and fun. And we are always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail.

You can find the following items in the store: Gitzo tripods, Mongoose M3.6 and Wimberley heads, plates, low feet, and accessories, flash brackets, , Delkin e-film Pro Compact Flash Cards, LensCoat products, and our unique line-up of educational materials including ABP I & II, Digital Basics, Site and Set-up e-Guides, Canon and Nikon Camera Users and AF e-Guides, and MP-4 Photoshop video tutorials among others.

I would of course appreciate your using our B&H affiliate links for all of your major gear, video, and electronic purchases. For the photographic stuff mentioned in the paragraph above we, meaning BAA, would of course greatly appreciate your business. Here is a huge thank you to the many who have been using our links on a regular basis and visiting the BAA Online store as well.III TC and a 1D X and walk out to the East colony and wait for a few pre-dawn blast-offs. I used my standard blur technique: ISO 50 with ISO Safety Shift. Tv mode. A shutter speed of about 1/15 sec, sometimes slower. And dial in the EC depending on the tonality of the BKGR. About +1 1/3 stops with beach grass in the lower part of the frame or +2 to + 3 stops with sand and sky BKGRs.

This image was created at 5:32am with the hand held Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens , the Canon Extender EF 2X III (at 400mm), and the Canon EOS-1D X ISO 1650. Evaluative metering +2 stops: 1/15 sec. at f/6.3 in Tv Mode. Central Sensor Surround/AI Servo Rear Focus AF as framed was active at the moment of exposure. Click here to see the latest version of the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version.

Image Questions

These two image were created just minutes apart: why is there such a big difference in the (effectively) auto ISO settings: ISO 250 for opening image, ISO 1600 for the second image?

What percentage of the available focal length range did I use to create today’s two images?

Which of the two do you like best, if either?

Selling Your Used Photo Gear Through BIRDS AS ART

Selling your used (or like-new) photo gear through the BAA Blog or via a BAA Online Bulletin is a great idea. We charge only a 5% commission. One of the more popular used gear for sale sites charges a minimum of 20% plus assorted fees! Yikes. The minimum item price here is $500 (or less for a $25 fee). If you are interested please e-mail with the words Items for Sale Info Request cut and pasted into the Subject line :). Stuff that is priced fairly–I offer free pricing advise, usually sells in no time flat.

I will do my very best to keep the listings below current.

Used Gear Caution

Though I am not in a position to post images of gear for sale here or elsewhere, prospective buyers are encouraged to request for photos of the gear that they are interested in purchasing via e-mail. Doing so will help to avoid any misunderstandings as to the condition of the gear.

Used Canon 800mm f/56L IS USM Lens

Multiple IPT veteran and good friend Mike Gotthelf, is offering a used Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM lens in excellent + condition for $8850. The lens is like new except for some very minor wear on the finish. The sale includes the leather hood, the original hard case and key, a low foot, a LensCoat, and insured shipping via UPS Ground to US addresses only. Personal checks only; your new lens will be shipped only after your check clears.

This great lens, my favorite for 3 years, sells new at B&H for $13,999.00. B&H is asking $11,399.95 for a used one here in the same condition as Mike’s. They recently dropped their price for this lens from $11,999.90…. Buy Mike’s lens and save $2456.95 right now! It will save you a ton of dough and you will have a super-sharp lens with lots of reach. And it works great with a 1.4X TC too with all pro bodies and with the 5D Mark III.

Interested folks can contact Mike via e-mail or by phone at (978)-407-0679 (eastern time).

Used Mint Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II Lens for Sale

Aubrey Blalock is offering a used Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II lens in like new, near-mint condition–used only once, for $9,199. The sale includes the original leather front lens cap, the rear lens cap, the lens trunk, a LensCoat, and an Arca-Swiss compatible Really Right Stuff Low Foot. Seller pays insured shipping to continental US addresses. The lens will not ship until your check clears.

Please contact Aubrey via e-mail or by phone at 1-409-767-3155. As this lens sells new at B&H $10,499 you can save $1300 and wind up with the state of the art 500mm lens. To see if the 500 II is better for you than the 600 II click here. The 500 II is lighter than the 200-400 and is of course lighter than the 600 II. It is easily hand holdable by most folks. It features the incredible 4-stop IS system and is capable of producing razor sharp images with either the 1.4X III or the 2X III TC.

Check out more great used lens options here. I have added lots of great new listings in the last several days including an 800mm f/5.6L IS, the close-focusing Canon 300mm f/4L IS that makes a great starter lens for beginning bird photographers, a very versatile Nikkor 28-300mm 3.5-5.6 G ED VR, and a Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II, my favorite mid-range telephoto zoom lens. Lingering are a 400 DO, a Canon EOS-1D Mark III, and a Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS USM lens, the “old six.” The latter would be a great lens for someone young and strong. Or old and strong.

Used Canon 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM Lens

Sale Pending

John Beasley is offering a used Canon 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM Lens in nearly mint condition for $6299. The lens is less than 3 months old and has been rarely used. The sale includes everything that came originally with the lens—the hard case, the CDs, the warranty card, the lens strap, all except the shipping carton. Also included is a 4th Generation Design CR-X 3.5, The seller will pay insured UPS shipping within continental US. The lens will ship after the check clears.

Please contact John via e-mail or by phone at 917-374-7527 (eastern time).

Both Denise Ippolito and I have been loving our 300 IIs and using them extensively. It recently served as denise’s longest telephoto lens on both the Puffins and Gannets and the Nickerson Beach IPTs.

Used Canon 300mm f/4L IS USM Lens

Chris Callahan is offering a used Canon 300mm f/4L IS USM Lens in good to very good condition for $900. There is some wear on the finish. The sale includes the heavy duty fabric carrying case that is moderately worn, the tripod ring (tripod collar), and the rear cap. The seller will pay insured UPS shipping within continental US. The lens will ship after the check clears.

Please contact Chris via e-mail or by phone at 1-850-516-7155 (eastern time).

I have long recommended this lens as the best Canon bird photography starter lens, a clear choice over my old “toy lens,” the 400mm f/5.6L. Why? It is faster at f/4. It has IS. And it autofocuses with a 7D and a 1.4X teleconverter. The 300 f/4 L IS has great close focus making it great for frogs, butterflies, medium-sized and large flowers, and large insects like dragonflies. It is a great flight lens either alone or with the 1.4X TC. And it is deadly sharp. It is great on a tripod with the Mongoose M3.6.

Used Nikkor 28-300mm 3.5-5.6 G ED VR Lens

Steve Ellis is offering a used Nikkor 28-300mm 3.5-5.6 G ED VR lens in excellent condition for $699. The lens has some very minor wear on the finish. The sale includes the original box, soft case, manual, lens hood, front and rear caps a Hoya HMC UV filter, and insured shipping via UPS Ground to US addresses only. Personal checks only; the lens will be shipped only after your check clears.

Contact Steve via e-mail or call him at 203-292-3101 (EST time zone).

The 28-300 focal length range makes this lens very versatile. It is a great travel and B roll lens and a great lens to have at Bosque. It sells new at B&H for $1,046.95.

Used Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II Lens

Dale Lorenzen is offering a used Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM Lens in nearly mint condition for $1850. It is like new with a small scratch on the hood. The sale includes the original box, the software CD, the carrying case, the tripod ring, and the front and rear caps. The seller will pay insured UPS shipping within continental US. The lens will ship after the check clears.

Please contact Dale via e-mail. At this give-away price, this lens should sell instantly.

As regular blog readers know full well, the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens is one of my very favorite lenses. It is often the only other lens that I take into the field with my tripod-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens. As above, I use it often to create small-in-the-frame or habitat images. I use it for flocks in flight at Bosque with either TC. I use it often to photograph family groups of birds or birds interacting at close range. I use it a ton for scenic images as I did with great success in the Palouse. And I use it either alone (see here) or with either TC to photograph birds in flight at close range. In short, the 70-200 II is an incredibly versatile hand holdable intermediate telephoto lens that offers me a focal length range of from 70 to 400mm.

Used Canon 400 DO IS USM Lens

Joe Messina is offering a used Canon 400 DO IS USM lens in very good ++ condition for $4200. There are some minor cosmetic scratches to the finish. The lens hood is slightly out of round and is difficult to install. The sale includes an AquaTech flexible strap-on hood, a $150 value. The sale also includes the lens trunk (with key), the original leather hood, and a hard plastic lens cap. The seller will pay insured UPS shipping within continental US. The lens will ship after the check clears.

Please contact Joe via e-mail or by phone at 415-563-6577.

If you are looking for a fast, lightweight, hand holdable telephoto lens, this is the lens for you. Learn a ton more about the 400 DO here and see lots of 400 DO images by visiting the “The Canon 400mm f/4 IS DO Lens: Fourteen Images that Prove that the Internet Experts are (As Usual) Idiots” blog post here. The lens sells new at B&H for $6499.00.

Used Canon EOS-1D Mark III

Michael Zajac is offering a Canon EOS-1D Mark III professional digital camera body in Excellent condition for $1250. The sale includes the battery charger, one battery, the original paperwork, the camera strap, the original box, and shipping to the continental US.

Please contact Michael via e-mail or by phone at 732-979 -6644. Photos are available upon request.

Some EOS-1D Mark III bodies originally had AF problems. Michael’s did not. I have seen his great flight images made with this camera. This body features a 1.3X crop factor sensor and is a great step-up for someone who wants to take a big step up from a 7D. It’s powerful battery drives AF much faster than the pro-sumer bodies especially with either a 1.4X or 2X teleconverter in place.

Used Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS USM Lens, the “old six”

An Amazing Package for Someone Young and Strong. Or Old and Strong.

Chuck Pettis is offering a Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS USM lens for $6199 with an amazing package of extras, extras that I used and depend on. The lens is in excellent condition used only a dozen times. The sale includes the Lens Trunk (one latch on the case was damaged by the TSA on a trip to Bosque but the latch still functions fine), the leather lens hood, and the rear cap. Amazingly Chuck is also including more than $30 in extras: a Canon 52mm Drop-in Circular Polarizing Filter PL-C, also in excellent condition and an extra Canon 52mm Drop-in Filter Holder in excellent condition. I put a 3-stop ND in my extra filter draw for creating blurs on sunny days.

The seller will also pay insured UPS shipping within the continental US.

Interested folks can contact Chuck via e-mail or try him at 360-331-6667 or on his cell at 206-930-2623.

The old six was my workhorse super-telephoto for too many years….

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Typos

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