My Very Own Canon 100-400mm L IS II Zoom Lens/The Very Good and the Ugly...

What’s Up?

I scouted La Jolla for the second straight morning, the morning of Saturday, January 31. It was my first outing with the new lens. There is good news and bad news. Read on. I met seven of the nine folks on the sold out plus one more San Diego IPT at 7:30pm for a meet and greet and an introductory session. (BAA always reserves the right to go one over the published limit.)

This blog post took about 3 hours to assemble. I thought that I published it at 9:12pm PT, 12:12am ET on Saturday from my hotel room in San Diego, but when I woke up on Sunday morning I saw that it was still an unpublished draft. I am, therefore, publishing it at 4:44am Pacific time, which is 7:44am in the east. I still have many exciting new images, tales, and lessons from my recently concluded Southern Oceans trip to share with you here over the course of the next few weeks and am looking forward to doing just that. Do consider joining me in South Georgia next October for the trip of a lifetime. See here for the complete details.

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This image was created on the morning of January 31, 2015 at La Jolla, CA with the hand held Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM lens (at 349mm) and the Canon EOS-1D X . ISO 1600. Evaluative metering +1 stop as framed: 1/500 sec. at f/5.6. Rig on the Black Rapid RS-7 Strap. Four AF points to the left of the central AF point (manual selection)/AI Servo Rear Focus AF as framed was active at the moment of exposure (as is almost always best when hand holding). Click here to see the latest version of the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #1: Brown Pelican preening

The Plan

As I exited my vehicle I decided to keep things simple: grab the new Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM lens and do the whole morning with that and the 1D X . I brought the tripod topped with the Mongoose M3.6 but after the first few images things brightened up and I went hand held for the rest of the session.

On the good news front I had forgotten that you can screw off the lens foot with the Wimberley P-20 lens plate attached to save a few ounces when hand-holding the 100-400 II. As I never use the foot as a brace when hand holding as as some folks do–it always seems to get in my way–that is a nice plus for me.

This image was created on the morning of January 31, 2015 at La Jolla, CA with the hand held Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM lens (at 400mm) and the Canon EOS-1D X . ISO 800. Evaluative metering +1 stop as framed: 1/640 sec. at f/8. Rig on the Black Rapid RS-7 Strap. Two rows above and one AF point to the left of the central AF point/AI Servo/Surround Shutter button AF as framed was active at the moment of exposure (as is almost always best when hand holding). Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #2: Brown Pelican/breeding plumage/tight vertical head portrait

Why the 1D X?

On my first scouting morning I made nearly every image with the 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II and the 7D Mark II. I had no problem filling the frame with that set-up so I knew that I would be more than fine with the 100-400 II and the 1D X. Judging by the image above, I was very correct. 🙂

Note the beautiful color and the sharpness, a tribute to the lens, the 1D X, and my processing skills. 🙂

This image was created on the morning of January 31, 2015 at La Jolla, CA with the hand held Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM lens (at 400mm) and the Canon EOS-1D X . ISO 1600. Evaluative metering +3 stops off the very light blue water: 1/500 sec. at f/5.6. Rig on the Black Rapid RS-7 Strap. Central AF point (manual selection)/AI Servo/Shutter button AF as originally framed was squarely on the bird’s neck and was of course active at the moment of exposure. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #3: Non-breeding Brandt’s Cormorant landing

1/500th Second for Flight?

Many excellent flight photographers recommend a minimum shutter speed of 1/1600 sec. Going back to the days of film, I have always–when I focus accurately–been able to create sharp-on-the eye images at 1/500 sec and in so called “lousy” light I would much rather work at 1/500 sec. at ISO 1600 than at 1/1600 sec. at ISO 5000 (if my math is correct)…. In other words, with most flying birds 1/500 sec. is fast enough to prevent motion blur on the head and to create a sharp eye. 1/1600 sec is great when you have the light to work with.

Here, I love having the blurred wing tips to go along with the sharp eye.

This image was created on the morning of January 31, 2015 at La Jolla, CA with the hand held Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM lens (at 400mm) and the Canon EOS-1D X . ISO 1600. Evaluative metering +2 stops off the very light blue water: 1/640 sec. at f/5.0. Rig on the Black Rapid RS-7 Strap. Central AF point (manual selection)/AI Servo/Shutter button AF as originally framed was squarely on the bird’s neck and was of course active at the moment of exposure. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #4: Brown Pelican incoming flight

Lousy Light Exposure Question

Why +3 stops off the light blue water for the Brandt’s Cormorant image but only +2 stops off the same light blue water for the Brown Pelican flight image?

The Very Good

My new 100-400 II is exceedingly sharp. Contrast and color are just what I expect from Canon L glass. Except as noted below, the lens handles beautifully and balances perfectly with the 1D X as it will with the 7D II with the 7D Mark II and the Canon BG-E16 Battery Grip for the 7D Mark II.

The Ugly

I always cautioned folks purchasing the original 100-400 to check the smoothness of the push/pull zooming first thing out of the box. I advised that they set the loosey/tighty ring to smooth and turn point the lens toward the ground. Ideally, the lens would extend (zoom out) slowly due to gravity. I never thought that that might be a problem with a twist zoom design. I was wrong. I noticed right off the bat that the zoom was on the tight side. I did not even realize that there was a smooth/tight ring on the 100-400 II and I thought that my left wrist pain might have been clouding my evaluation. When I mentioned it to Patrick Sparkman who had joined me for the morning he suggest that I check the smooth/tight ring. That was a surprise. When I turned the ring all the way to loose I felt that the zoom was still much too tight. I had Patrick try it and he agreed. We compared it to the ease of zooming his Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lens. No contest. The zoom on my brand new lens is way too tight. I will continue to use it until I finish up here on February 8. I would much rather get a new lens than have the present one repaired….

If you own a 100-400 II please leave a comment and let me know how you find the ease of zooming. Bad left wrist or not, one shouldn’t have to struggle to zoom in or out.

San Diego rocks!

San Diego Natural History Museum Program & The Birds of the World Exhibit

On Saturday morning, February 7, 2015 I will be presenting “A Bird Photographer’s Story” at the San Diego Natural History Museum to kick off the Birds of the World photographic exhibit that will feature the images of about a dozen of the world’s top avian photographers. This program,which is being generously sponsored by the Canon Explorers of Light program, will be free and open to the public. I am proud to say that both Denise Ippolito and I will have images hanging in the show. The exhibit opening is scheduled for later that same day, February 7, 2015. (Times TBA).

Friday Morning Add-on In-the-Field Photo Session: February 6, 2015: $299.
Open to all.

This workshop includes 3 hours of in-the-field pelican photography instruction and brunch with image review and Photoshop instruction.

Images courtesy of and copyright Captain James Shadle (aka Froggie). All of the images here were created at Alafia Banks. Card creation and design by Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART.

The Hooptie Deux/Roseate Spoonbills and More Instructional Photo-Tour via pontoon boat. 4 1/2 DAYs: $3200. SUN FEB 22 thru lunch on THUR FEB 26, 2015/Strict Limit: 6 photographers/Openings: 1.

Due to a cancellation we now have a single opening on this trip which sold out minutes after being announced.

Meet and greet on the evening of SAT 21 FEB. Two great leaders: Captain James Shadle (Nikon) and Canon Explorer of Light Emeritus Arthur Morris.

Roseate Spoonbill is one of if not the most sought after avian photographic subjects in Florida. They are generally hard to find and somewhat difficult to approach. They are relatively easy to find at Alafia Banks—heck, you can’t miss seeing them, but even there they can on some days be somewhat difficult to approach. On some days we may be able to get ridiculously close to them. The huge incentive to get out to Alafia Banks in mid-February is the chance to photograph this species at the height of its spectacular breeding plumage….

Weather permitting there will be nine boat trips: 5 mornings and 4 afternoons! Mornings to Alafia Banks for spoonbills and Brown Pelicans (with lots of flight photography with the birds likely carrying nesting material), cormorants, ibises (both Glossy and White in breeding plumage. Many of the White Ibises will be sporting their spectacular, distended, red, naked (un-feathered) throat pouches—typically larger in the females. In addition we will get to photograph egrets including Great and Reddish, both in full breeding plumage, shorebirds, and more. There will be lots of flight photography opportunities. Afternoon trips either to Alafia Banks for spoonbills and more or to a more sheltered inland rookery location for a variety of nesting birds. In the event of horrific weather artie will either take the group to Fort DeSoto or will conduct an image review/Photoshop session. This IPT includes five lunches that will be followed by small group image sharing and review and some over-the-shoulder Photoshop instruction.

Important Notes

We stay in Brandon, FL for this IPT. From our hotel there it is is only about 20 minutes to the dock. The plan is for all nine sessions to be by boat. For the Alafia Banks segments, Captain Shadle provides light weight chest waders as much of the photograph will be done while we are standing in fairly shallow water behind our tripods. We help you get in and out of the boat with your gear. This is likely not the best trip for folks with balance problems. Note however that some folks may opt to stay on the boat. They usually have lots of chances for flight photography of spoonbills and other species but are almost always pretty far away from the spoonbills that land.

I recently saw a similar trip advertised two months too late for breeding plumage spoonbills (and two months too late for most of the rest of the species in breeding plumage). 5 Days: $3200. With only four boat trips…. The Hooptie IPT represents an incredible opportunity and with 3 slots filled already the remaining three spots should fill very quickly. We hope that you can join us. Scroll down for registration info.

All of the images here were created at Alafia Banks in the month of February. Images copyright Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART. Card creation and design by Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART.

Hooptie IPT Registration Info

A $449 non-refundable deposit is required to hold your slot for this IPT. Your balance, payable only by check, will be due on 11/22/2014. If you cancel and the trip fills, we will be glad to apply a credit applicable to a future IPT for the full amount less a $100 processing fee. If we do not receive your check for the balance on or before the due date we will try to fill your spot from the waiting list. If your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit. If not, you can secure your spot by paying your balance.

Please print, complete, and sign the form that is linked to here and shoot it to us along with your deposit check (made out to “Arthur Morris.”) You can also leave your deposit with a credit card by calling the office at 863-692-0906. If you register by phone, please print, complete and sign the form as noted above and either mail it to us or e-mail the scan. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via e-mail.

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