BIRDS AS ART Garage/Yard Sale: Something for Everybody! And My First SONY a9 II Experience ...

What’s Up?

I finally got down to the lake with my brand-new SONY a9 II this moorning. I loved that the ergonomics and controls are virtually idenitcal to the a7TR IV. There was no flight and not much around besides the cooperative Black Vultures. So those are what I photographed. Learn more below.

The overnight low was 48 degrees and the pool is down to 76 degrees this morning, Tuesday November 19, 2019. The pool had been at 86 degrees ten days ago. I will swim twice today …

I’ve been intending to conduct a garage sale for several years now and finally have gotten around to it. Do check out each item below as you just might find something on your wish list with a ridiculous low price. As always, I price my stuff to sell immediately …

IPT Updates

• The Return to Bosque Reduced Rate Scouting IPT. NOV 26-28, 2019 — 3 FULL DAYS: $1199.00. Limit: 8/Openings: 2. Extra Day Options: Join me for one to three extra In-the-Field Days at the end of the IPT as follows: FRI 29 NOV, SAT 30 NOV, and SUN 1 DEC for only $300.00/day.
• The 2020 San Diego 4 1/2-DAY BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT) WED JAN 8, 2020 thru and including the morning session on SUN JAN 12: 4 1/2 days: $2099.(Limit: 8/Openings: 5)

Click here for complete IPT info and details.

BIRDS AS ART

BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Money Saving Reminder

If you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H, would enjoy free overnight shipping, and would like a $50 discount on your first purchase over $1000.00, click here to order and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If you are looking to strike a deal on Canon or Nikon gear (including the big telephotos) or on a multiple item order, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time) and be sure to mention your BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H. Those include the SONY a7r IV, the SONY 200-600, the SONY 600mm f/4 GM, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is eager to please.

Gear Questions and Advice

Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.

BIRDS AS ART Garage/Yard Sale

If you would like your stuff shipped today you can call Jim at 863-692-0906 and pay by credit card + 4%. Otherwise e-mail first and arragne to send a check; Your item or items will not ship until your check clears.

Canon MT-26EX-RT Macro Twin Lite

Sold

I am offering a lightly used Canon MT-26EX-RT Macro Twin Lite in like-new condition for only $499.00. This sells new for $989.00! The sale includes the storage case and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only.

Please contact artie via e-mail

BG-E20 Battery Grip for Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

Sold

I am offering a new-in-the-unopened-box BG-E20 Battery Grip for Canon EOS 5D Mark IV for only $149.00. When I shot Canon, I used a battery grip with all of my 5D Mark IV bodies. This sells new for $199.00. The sale includes insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only.

Please contact artie via e-mail.

Canon EF 1.4X III Extender (teleconverter)

Sold

I am offering a Canon 1.4X III: teleconverter in better than excellent plus condition but for one pinpoint and one very small scratch on the rear element for a silly-low $129.00. These tiny scratches will not affect your images unless you point at the sun and stop down. Includes front and rear caps and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only.

Please contact artie via e-mail.

Canon EF 1.4X III Extender (teleconverter)

Sold

I am also offering a Canon 1.4X III teleconverter (sn/0660000060) in excellent condition for $129.00. No caps are included. The glass is clean. The sale does include insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only.

Please contact artie via e-mail.

Canon EF 1.4X II Extender (teleconverter)

Sold

I am also offering a Canon 1.4X II teleconverter (sn/117093) in excellent condition for $99.00. No caps are included. The glass is clean. The sale does include insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only.

Please contact artie via e-mail.

Canon EF 2X II Extender (teleconverter)

Sold

I am also offering a Canon 2X II teleconverter in excellent condition for $99.00. No caps are included. The glass is clean. The sale does include insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only.

Please contact artie via e-mail.

Canon 2X II: Very good to excellent condition. Both caps. Glass is clean. $119 includes shipping.

Vello Auto Extension Tube Set for Canon EF/EF-S Mounts and Lenses

Sold

I am offering a Vello Auto Extension Tube Set for Canon EF/EF-S Mounts and Lenses for only $30.00. The electrical contacts work fine and since there is no glass they function just fine. This sells new for $79.95. The sale includes insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Great for macro or for reducing the effective Minimum Focusing Distance of your big lenses.

Please contact artie via e-mail.

Vello Auto Extension Tube Set for Nikon F Mount

Sold

I am also a new-in-the-box Vello Auto Extension Tube Set for Nikon F Mount for only $35.00. The electrical contacts work fine and since there is no glass they function perfectly. This sells new for $79.95. The sale includes insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Great for macro or for reducing the effective Minimum Focusing Distance of your big lenses.

Please contact artie via e-mail.

Kenko Auto Extension Tube Set DG for Nikon Lens

Sold

I am offering a never-used Kenko Auto Extension Tube Set DG for Nikon Lens for only $50.00. The electrical contacts work fine and since there is no glass they function perfectly. This sells new for $129.90. The sale includes insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Great for macro or for reducing the effective Minimum Focusing Distance of your big lenses.

Please contact artie via e-mail.

Though they are light and have much plastic in their construction, these Vello extension tubes are quite adequately engineered to work with Nikon cameras and lenses. They mount to my D7000 and D750 smoothly, without roughness or needing excessive force. The same goes for the lenses I use; 24-120, 70-200 and 200-500, plus a DX 16-85. The lens release tabs dont inspire great confidence in their appearance, but I find that they do operate well. Macro work is sensitive to focus, so although these tubes transmit focus information from lens to camera, as well as exposure and VR, it is probably better to focus manually in some cases. For anyone on a budget and wanting to try macro-photography inexpensively, these tubes are a great way to do so before sinking many hundreds of dollars into a macro lens. Keith

Wimberley WH-200-S Sidemount Wimberley Head

Wimberley WH-200-S Sidemount Wimberley Head

Sold Immediately

I am offering a never-used Wimberley WH-200-S Sidemount Wimberley Head for only $199.00. The sale includes insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Great for macro or for reducing the effective Minimum Focusing Distance of your big lenses. This sturdy side-mounting gimbal head sells new for $445.00.

Please contact artie via e-mail.

Wimberley F-9 Flash Bracket (for Wimberley Head Version II)

Sold

I am offering a Wimberley F-9 Flash Bracket in excellent plus condition for the very low price of $89.00. This bracket attaches directly to the Arca-Swiss style dovetail on the swinging arm of the Wimberley Head Version II. Since it is attached to the head and not to your lens, it remains in place when you switch lenses. It folds flat for easy storage. The F-9 bracket has been designed to clamp to both the swing arm of the V-2 Wimberley and to the lens plates so it can be used when working on the ground or from the car. The sale includes insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only.

Please contact artie via e-mail.

Giotto Tiny Ballhead

Sold

I am offering a Giottos MH 1302-655 ballhead in very good to excellent condition for the silly low price of $40.00. It sells new for $99.00. The sale includes insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. I used this often at Bosque and in Holland for putting a short lens on the tripod via a Wimberley P-5 camera body plate (add $35 for this plate that sells for $52.00 new).

Please contact artie via e-mail.

Induro BHM-1 Ballhead

Sold

I am offering an Induro BHM-1 Ballhead in like-new condition for the very low price of $79.00. Slightly larger and sturdier than the item above, this too can be used with short lens or intermediate telephotos. Add the Wimberley P-5 camera body plate to mount the camera on the ballhead. The sale includes insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. This sells new right now for $179.00.

Please contact artie via e-mail.

SanDisk Extreme SDXC UHS-I 32GB Card

Sold

I am offering brand new SanDisk Extreme SDXC UHS-I 32GB Cards for only $5.00 each. I have six for sale. Buy all six for $25.00. The sale includes insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. These sell new right now for $12.66.

Please contact artie via e-mail.

SanDisk Extreme Pro SDHC UHS-I 64GB Cards

Sold

I am offering brand new SanDisk Extreme Pro SDHC UHS-I 64GB Cards for only $8.00 each. I have two for sale. Buy both for only $15.00. The sale includes insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. These sell new right now for $18.99.

Please contact artie via e-mail.

SONY 64GB G Series XQD Card

Sold

I am offering a lightly used (looks like new) SONY 64GB G Series XQD Card for only $49.00. These sell new for $139.00. The sale includes insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. I used these with my Nikon gear.

Please contact artie via e-mail.

SONY 128GB G Series XQD Card

Sold

I am offering a lightly used (looks like new) SONY 128GB G Series XQD Card for only $69.00. These sell new for $199.00. The sale includes insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. I used these with my Nikon gear.

Please contact artie via e-mail.

This image was created this morning from my SUV with the Induro GIT 304L/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 2.X teleconverter, and the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital Camera (Body Only). ISO 800. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/125 sec. at f/13 in Manual mode. AWB at 8:49am on cloudy-bright morning. Flexible Spot (S) Continuous/tracking AF was active at the moment of exposure. I selected an AF point that fell right on the bird’s eye. Click on the image to enjoy a larger version. Black Vulture head and neck portrait

My First SONY a9 II Experience

As noted above, I finally got down to the lake this morning. Before I get on the plane to Bosque this Friday, I wanted to make sure that the new a9 II functioned properly. It did. Handling and ergonomics are virtually identical to the a7R IV so that is a big plus. As expected, sharp a9 image files pale in comparison to sharp a7R IV files, especially in terms of fine detail. It is likely that I will not get the chance to see if the a9 II’s vaunted AF system lives up to everyone’s very high expectations until I get to Bosque … It will be interesting to compare AF performance of the a9 II and the a7R IV with both the 600 GM and the 200-600 G. Time will tell.

I was lucky with this one to get a still blue water background. I did, however, need to update Capture One so that I could see the a9 II images.

If In Doubt …

If you are in doubt about using the BAA B&H affiliate link correctly, you can always start your search by clicking here. Please note that the tracking is invisible. Web orders only. Please, however, remember to shoot me your receipt via e-mail.

Please Remember to use my Affiliate Links and to Visit the BAA Online Store 🙂

To show your appreciation for my continuing efforts here, we ask, as always, that you get in the habit of using my B&H affiliate links on the right side of the blog or Bedfords, for all of your photo and electronics purchases. Please check the availability of all photographic accessories in the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store, especially the Mongoose M3.6 tripod head, Wimberley lens plates, Delkin flash cards and accessories, and LensCoat stuff.

As always, 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 please remember that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail.

I would, of course, appreciate your using our B&H affiliate links or Bedfords for all of your major gear, video, and electronic purchases. For the photographic stuff mentioned in the paragraph above, and for everything else in the new store, 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 those who will be visiting the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store as well.

Facebook

Be sure to like and follow BAA on Facebook by clicking on the logo link upper right.

Typos

In all blog posts and Bulletins, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors. Just be right :).