Stuff... And Dropping Like a Rock

Important Notice

I fly to Ushuaia, Argentina on 12 DEC arriving on the late afternoon on 13 DEC. I board the Ortelius on the afternoon of 15 DEC and disembark on the morning of 9 JAN. There is no wifi on the ship. That means that I will effectively and absolutely be without internet at least from 14 DEC through 9 JAN. At present I am further behind with answering e-mails than at any time since I have been answering folks’ photography-related questions about 25 years ago.

Please therefore refrain from e-mailing me at the usual samandmayas’ e-mail address until I get back on 13 JAN. You can reach my right-hand man Jim Litzenburg by e-mail here or reach Jennifer here as usual.

Important Blog Notice

I hope to have some time before getting on the ship to prepare a few new blog posts and to have them published during my absence with the help of either Jim or the invaluable Peter Kes, the BAA webmaster. In addition, my plan is to resurrect a collection of older but very important educational blog posts and have them re-published during my absence. Please enjoy. Please consider signing up for an IPT. And please continue to do a great job of using my B&H and other affiliate links while I am gone.

What’s Up?

Today is packing day. Serious packing. Getting everything that I need for a month long journey going as far south as the Antarctic Peninsula needs to be done with care. So I will be busy today.

This blog post was published from my home in Indian Lake Estates at just before 8:00am.

My Health

Many have written asking how my right shoulder and left knee have been doing since the last round of Stem Cell/Platelet-Rich-Plasma, and Prolozone injections several months ago.

For several years the pain in my right shoulder, from nagging but not-too-serious rotator cuff injuries, made it difficult for me to put on a t-shirt. If I swam two straight days, the pain got worse. When I was home for most of ten weeks from AUG thru mid-NOV, I was swimming 1/2 to one mile every day. Without pain. At present, I feel pretty much as if I have a new shoulder. While have not and will never go back to carrying a big lens on a tripod on my right shoulder, I am absolutely fine handling big glass in the field. As detailed in yesterday’s blog post here, I do use a variety of long lens bags when I need to walk considerable distances with heavy gear. In short, the results of the treatments have been nothing short of miraculous.

So how’s the bone-on-bone twice surgically repaired but not-too successfully left knee you ask? Nearly as good as the shoulder. It was pretty much perfect until the other day. I was with the Canon Destination Workshop group on Saturday morning past. As we approached the Flight Deck I noted that there were only a few cars. I made a snap decision to get take the group out on the deck. That decision turned out to be a brilliant one :). Anyway, I thought about getting out my flashlight while making my way out onto the deck with my gear. But I was a bit too lazy. On about my third step in the pitch dark my left foot struck on of those low concrete parking barriers. Ouch. I have had a very little bit of pain there since but yesterday I had a touch-up Prolozone injection and the knee is feeling great again this morning.

I am not sure if I mentioned it but when I had the right shoulder and left knee injected I opted to have Dr. Rucker try the same Stem Cell/Platelet-Rich-Plasma, and Prolozone injection protocol on my three trigger fingers: left pointer, right middle, and right pinkie. Those injections were extremely painful. Though healing there took longer than with the shoulder and the knee I am currently enjoying amazing relief from trigger finger pain.

So the right shoulder is like new, the left knee is not far behind, and the three trigger fingers are greatly improved. What’s the problem? The elders among us will remember the pitch line of the late Gilda Radner, as Saturday Night Live character Roseanne Roseannadanna, “It’s always something.”

About four months ago I began noticing a tiny pin-prick pain on the dorsal surface of the base of my left thumb. It was barely noticeable on some mornings. Skip ahead three months and I woke every day with pretty severe pain in the left thumb and wrist. When I would try to extend the thumb it felt as is someone were sticking a hot screwdriver into the base of the thumb and pushing it in as far as the wrist. A visit to my local chiropractor, TJ McKeon, revealed the very specific diagnosis of De Quervain’s Syndrome, aka tenosynovitis. As my health guru Dr. Cliff Oliver of San Diego, CA is 100% against the use of either splints or cortisone injections–the standard treatment for De Quervain’s, I got in touch with Dr. Rucker’s office.

Bino (the doctor who is most happy with a big needle in his hand) and his bother Dini, came up with a new protocol: A-Cell and Prolozone injections. Jim Litzenberg drove me to their office in Bradenton yesterday while I answered e-mails on the laptop online with my Verizon Droid. After a series of numbing injections Dr. Rucker went to work doing what he does best with a series of injections in the left thumb and wrist. And as mentioned above, he kindly volunteered to add two Prolozone injections to his day’s work. He used a new relatively pain free without-the-need-for-numbing injections method of delivering the Prolozone into the knee joint and the lower quadriceps. It worked just fine.

When the numbing medicine in my thumb wore off I was in quite a bit of pain but fortunately we had a few gel ice packs in a cooler. That brought me quite a bit of relief. Once we got home I took 3 Advils and iced the thumb some more. When I awoke this morning, the left thumb had calmed down and was feeling pretty darned good. That may very well be the result of the fast healing and pain relief properties of the Prolozone but I am hoping against hope that the miracles will continue.

The treatments are quite expensive but what is he price of pain relief and improved function? If anyone wishes to get in touch with the Rucker brothers they can call their office in Bradenton, FL at (941) 448-1199.

When I was talking to Dr. Oliver about my upcoming treatment, I casually mentioned that I eat about one large jar of store-bought mayonnaise a week. As my health guru/chiropractor/nutritionist he about had a cow. “Heck, you never asked me about condiments” I said somewhat defensively.

What’s the big deal? Nearly all store-bought mayo is made with either or both soybean or canola oil. Each causes an inflammatory response in humans. Can you say shoulder pain, knee pain, trigger finger pain, De Quervain’s Syndrome, and benign prostatic hypertrophy? The latter gets me up as many as six times per night for pit stops when I am away from home without my ice baths.

Yesterday was my first mayo-free day in many decades…. When I get back from the trip I will be trying some healthy mayo recipes using coconut oil. If I like any of them I will share them with you here. In the meantime, you might consider ditching the mayonnaise….

Those interested in hearing my complete life-improvement health story may shoot us an e-mail with the words “Health Basics File” cut and pasted into the Subject line.

To show your appreciation for my efforts here, we ask, as always, that you use our the B&H and Amazon affiliate links on the right side of the blog for all of your purchases. B&H Is recommended for you major photography gear purchases, Amazon for your household, entertainment, and general purpose stuff. 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, have tested, and can depend on. We will not sell you junk. We know what you need to make creating great images easy and fun. And we are always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail.

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.

BAA Bulletin #470

BAA Bulletin #470 was published yesterday morning. It can be accessed online here. Be sure to check out the Bosque Moon Shot Repair Tutorial.

• Bosque Moon Shot Repair
• The Blog is the Bomb!
• Jim Neiger Osprey Heaven and Custom Anytime Workshops
• The New Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens
• Selling Your Used Photo Gear Through BIRDS AS ART

Used Gear Prices Dropping Like a Rock

The prices of some used photography gear have been dropping recently like the proverbial rock. Sellers have been forced to offer lower and lower prices on certain used cameras and lenses. The Canon EOS-7D that was listed yesterday for $475 sold immediately. But several older version Canon 500mm lenses and more than a few Canon EOS-1D Mark IV bodies have lingered for too long. Below are some new items and new price reductions. Several are ground-breakingly low and should sell almost instantly. You can see the complete listings here.

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 advice, usually sells in no time flat. In the past few months, we have sold just about everything in sight. Do know that prices on some items like the EOS-1D Mark IV, the old Canon 500mm, the EOS-7D, and the original 400mm IS DO lens have been dropping steadily.

Used Gear Cautions

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. Sellers are advised to take care to photograph their used gear with care against clean backgrounds so that the stuff is represented accurately and in the best light; please pardon the pun :).

Brand New Listings (12/11/14)

Canon EOS-1DvX Body with Extras

Muir Robertson is offering a used Canon 1DX Body in excellent condition–a small scratch in one spot on the body otherwise like new. The camera comes in the original box and with the standard accessories. The shutter count is a very low 30,497. The sale includes a RRS L bracket, 2 spare 1 series batteries, a Lexar 1000X 64GB CF card, a large Hoodman eye-cup (great for those with glasses), and insured ground shipping to lower 48 US addresses. Camera has just been checked out and the sensor cleaned by Canon CPS. System change drives sale.

The price for this package is great value at $5099. Interested folks please contact Muir first by e-mail and then by phone at 513-314-2471.

Two 1D X bodies served as my workhorse camera bodies since their introduction in early 2012. Sturdy, super-fast frame rate, gorgeous image files, and a great AF system. artie

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM Mk II Lens

Muir Robertson is offering a used Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM Mk II lens in like-new condition for $1850. The sale includes the original box and accessories and includes a Really Right Stuff lens foot and insured ground shipping to lower 48 US addresses.

Interested folks please contact Muir first by e-mail and then by phone at 513-314-2471.

As regular readers know the 70-200 f/2.8L IS II lens is with me every time I head into the field. It is amazingly versatile. I use mine often alone and with either TC. artie

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 L IS USM Lens (the white one with L series glass)

Muir Robertson is offering a used Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 L IS USM lens in excellent condition for $950. The sale includes the original box and comes with the optional Canon Tripod Mount Ring C, $164.95 at B&H, a RRS lens foot, and insured ground shipping to lower 48 US addresses. This lens is a great performer and if super fast f/2.8 isn’t critical, it is significantly lighter and smaller than the 70-200 F2.8 – perfect for travel.

Interested folks please contact Muir first by e-mail and then by phone at 513-314-2471.

I used this lens briefly in Norway to photograph jaegers in flight. It was ideal for the task: lightweight with super-fast and accurate focusing. artie

Canon EOS-5D Mk III with Extras

Muir Robertson is also offering a practically unused Canon 5D Mk III body in like-new condition with only 3,876 shutter actuations!. The camera comes with its original packaging, 1 spare battery, a Really Right Stuff L Bracket, and a Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD VC (Vibration Compensation) Aspherical (IF) Macro Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras, a Lexar 32GB 1000x CF card and insured ground shipping to lower 48 US addresses.

The remarkably low price for this package is only $2400. Interested folks please contact Muir first by e-mail and then by phone at 513-314-2471.

Y’all know how much I love my 5D III for landscapes and flowers and it does quite well for birds as well. artie

Used Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS (Image Stabilizer) USM Lens

Price reduced $350 on 10/17/2014!
Price reduced an incredible $650 on 12/10/2014!!!
Lowest price ever for this item!

Dan Womack is offering a used Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS (Image Stabilizer) USM lens in excellent condition with clean glass with a few small nicks on the lens hood for $4500. B&H was recently offering a virtually identical used “old 500” for $6,299.95; you can save nearly $2K by grabbing Dan’s lens asap. The sale includes the front leather hood, the rear dust cap, the original case with keys, and insured shipping to US addresses only. Your lens will be shipped only after your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Dan via e-mail or by phone at 337 412 1898.

The old five was at one time the world’s most popular telephoto lens. It still makes great images with both TCs. artie

Used Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS (Image Stabilizer) USM Lens

Kathleen Graff is offering a used Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS (Image Stabilizer) USM lens in very good to excellent condition for $4799. The sale includes the front leather hood, the rear dust cap, the original case with keys, a Lens Coat, a 4th GD Custom Lens Adapter Plate CP-51, the lens manual, and insured shipping to US addresses only. Photos available. Your lens will be shipped only after your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Kathleen via e-mail with a copy sent here. Alternatively, you can try her by phone at 262-797-2530 or 262-389-7998.

The old five was at one time the world’s most popular telephoto lens. It still makes great images with both TCs. artie

Used Canon EF 100-400 f 4.5-5.6 L IS Lens
Lowest price ever for this item!

Barry Mansell is offering a used Canon EF 100-400 f 4.5-5.6 L IS lens in excellent condition for $949 including insured shipping via UPS Ground to US addresses only. The plastic lens hood has a very few light scratches. The sale includes the original tough fabric case, the front and rear caps, and the lens hood. Your gear will be shipped only after your check clears.

Please contact Barry via e-mail, by phone at 904-388-8675, or on his cell at 904-655-0022. Eastern Time Zone.

The 100-400 is a versatile intermediate telephoto zoom lens with 1,000+ uses. It makes a great starter lens especially for folks who do general nature and wildlife in addition to birds. I’ve sold 100s of images made with a 1-4 and denise loved hers for many years forsaking it only recently for the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens. Barry’s 100-400 is priced to sell. artie

Used EOS-1D Mark IV Digital Camera Body

Price reduced $700 on 12/10/2014. Lowest 1D IV price ever!

IPT veteran Brent Thompson is offering a used EOS-1D Mark IV digital camera body in excellent condition for $1799. The sale includes the RRS L-plate, the charger and battery, and all the manuals and cables that came in the box, the camera strap, the original box, and insured ground shipping to continental US addresses only. Your camera will be shipped only after your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Brent via e-mail, by phone at 650-857-8695, or on his cell at 408-219-5023 (Pacific time).

Two Mark IVs served as my workhorse bodies for more than three years. artie

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Gerald Barrack is offering a used Canon EOS 1D Mark IV body for the low price of $1900. The body is in very good to excellent condition and is in perfect working order having been check by CPS in November 2014. The body has several scuff and wear marks that do not affect function. Photos are available upon request.

The sale includes a Really Right Stuff mounting plate, the original Canon camera strap, the battery charger and an extra battery, the instruction manual, and insured ground shipping within the continental US. Interested folks can contact Gerald via e-mail or try him on his cell at 201 638 3510 (Easter Time Zone). The camera will be shipped only after your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Two Mark IVs were my workhorse bodies for many years. artie

Used Sigma Zoom Super Telephoto 300-800mm f/5.6 EX DG APO IF HSM Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS

Beth Starr is offering a used Sigma Zoom Super Telephoto 300-800mm f/5.6 EX DG APO IF HSM Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS, aka The Sigmonster, in like-new condition. Used only 3-4 times: $5,500. The sale includes the original shipping box and the original lens case. Includes insured ground shipping in the continental US. You can call Beth on her cell at 908-625-1589 or contact her via e-mail.

This is a superb lens for folks working from a vehicle with the lens supported by a BLUBB. James Shadle has used the Nikon mount version of this lens on a tripod for years to create many memorable images. Strong folks can save a bundle as this is a steal at $2,499 below the list price. artie

Used Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS (Image Stabilizer) USM Lens

Mike Stevens is offering a used Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS (Image Stabilizer) USM lens in like-new condition (used just once) for a ridiculously low $7999. The sale includes the front leather hood, the rear dust cap, the original case, a Wimberley P-50 lens plate, and insured shipping to US addresses only. Your lens will be shipped only after your check clears unless other arrangements are made; Paypal is an option.

Please contact Mike via e-mail, by phone at 951-260-2507, or on his cell at 951-821-1600.

The 800 was my go-to super-telephoto lens for about 4 years. artie

Used EOS-1D Mark IV Digital Camera Body

Price reduced $249 on 10/30/2014!
Price reduced another $300 on 12/7/2014!

Multiple IPT veteran and good friend Monte Brown is offering a used EOS-1D Mark IV digital camera body in excellent condition (with about 22,000 shutter actuations) for $1900. The sale includes the charger and an extra battery, the original box, cables, software, manuals, and insured ground shipping to US addresses only. Your camera will be shipped only after your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Monte via e-mail or by phone at 765-744-1421 (Eastern time).

Two Mark IVs served as my workhorse bodies for more than three years. artie

Used Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS Zoom Lens

Price reduced $74 on 12/7/2014!

Multiple IPT veteran and good friend Monte Brown is also offering a used Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS Zoom Lens in very good to excellent condition for only $799. The sale includes both front and rear lens caps, the older-style tough fabric case, the original box, and insured ground shipping to US addresses only. Your lens will be shipped only after your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Monte via e-mail or by phone at 765-744-1421 (Eastern time).

I used this lens for about two years. It makes a great lightweight, intermediate telephoto lens that is sharp, easily hand held, and works well with a 1.4X teleconverter. It is great for hand held flight photography and would go great with a 7D II (and a 1.4X TC) as a starter bird photography rig for folks who work around relatively tame birds. artie

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