New Listings: Five BAA Record-low Used Gear Prices. Everyone is an expert when they know where to look: following up on detecting changes made in Photoshop ...

What’s Up?

We have had lots of unsettled weather here for more than ten days. It is not really safe to drive on the three fields down by the lake as sections of them are flooded. The only photographable birds around are the cranes, the Ospreys, and the ever-present Black Vultures. There are lots of wildflowers on the sidestreets but this morning — Wednesday 3 JUNE 2020 — it was too breezy for flower photography.

I’d love to entertain a few more responses to the Photoshop Hanky Panky question in yesterday’s blog post here. See more on that below.

Selling Your Used Photo Gear Through BIRDS AS ART

Selling your used (or like-new) photo gear through the BAA Blog is a great idea. We charge only a 5% commission. One of the more popular used gear for sale sites charged a minimum of 20%. Plus assorted fees! Yikes. They went out of business. And e-Bay fees are now up to 13%. Please understand that e-Bay prices are bogus. And the same is true of the prices of used gear including my dear friends at B&H and the other mega-outfits. They offer you pennies and then try to sell the stuff to ignorant folks for ridiculously high prices. With their huge international exposure, they occasionally find someone …

The minimum item price here is $500 (or less for a $25 fee). If you are interested please shoot us an e-mail with the words Items for Sale Info Request cut and pasted into the Subject line :). Stuff that is priced fairly — I offer pricing advice to those who agree to the terms — usually sells. With the pandemic and the down economy, the market is somewhat depressed. That said, the prices of used photo gear only go one way: down. The longer you wait, the less you will get for your gar. Period. Over the past year, we have sold many many hundreds of items. Do know that prices the used prices of many items have been dropping steadily. The prices garnered for used Canon gear has tanked completely as demand has dropped tremendously. It is ironic that for decades Canon gear had very strong resale value … That said, the prices on used Nikon gear are dropping as well. You can see all thee great bargains here on the Used Gear Page.

Note: all BAA Used Gear sales include insured ground shipping via UPS to lower 48 US addresses only. Others who live elsewhere are invited to e-mail the seller for shipping surcharge info. Sellers should charge you only the difference between shipping to the farthest US location from their home and the charge to a non-lower-48 address.

Recent Sales

Anita North sold her Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED lens in like-new condition for a BAA record-low $796.95 (was $896.95) and a Nikon AF-S Fisheye NIKKOR 8-15mm f/3.5-4.5E ED lens in like-new condition for a BAA record-low $696.95 (was $746.95), both within days of listing in early MAY 2020.
Patrick Hogue sold a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/4E PF ED VR lens in near-mint condition for a BAA record-low $1195.95 the first day it was listed in late-May 2020.
Dennis Westover sold his Nikon 300mm AF-S f/2.8 ED VRII telephoto lens in excellent plus condition along with a Nikon AF-S TC 17E II 1.7X teleconverter in excellent condition and a Nikon AF-S TC 20E III 2X teleconverter, also in excellent condition for the shock-the-world price of $3299.85 in late-MAY 2020.
Used Gear page regular Charlie Curry sold his Sony a9 Mirrorless Digital Camera body in like-new condition (971 shutter releases) and the Sony (VG-C3EM) Vertical Grip a BAA record-low $2598.00 in late-May 2020.
Sandra Calderbank sold her Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens in like-new condition for the BAA record-low-by-$1,500-price of $5,499.00 (was $5999.00) in late-May 2020.
Anita North sold her Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED (Macro) lens in like-new condition but for a barely-visible tiny (less than 1/16 inch) crescent-shaped scratch on the front element for the BAA record-low by-far price of $ $396.95, a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR lens in like-new condition for a BAA record-low $996.95, Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/4E PF ED VR lens in like-new condition for a BAA record-low $1196.95 a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR lens in like-new condition for a BAA record-low $1,346.95, and a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4 VR lens in like-new condition for a BAA record-low $546.95, all within a day of listing.
Jim Lewis sold his Canon EOS-1D X in near-mint condition with extras for a BAA record-low $1,500.00 (was $1,895.00) in early MAY 2020.
Kevin Spencer sold his Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM lens in excellent condition for $6,799.00 to a local buyer in early MAY 2020.
BPN friend Ravi Hirekatur is sold his Canon EF Extender 1.4X II (the 1.4X II teleconverter) in excellent condition for the ridiculous, you-might-as-well-give-it-away price of $89.00 (was $179.00) in early MAY.
Gary Meyer sold his Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6 VR PF lens in like-new condition for a BAA record-low $3096.95 and a Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E III in like-new condition for a BAA record-low $226.95, both on the first day of listing in early MAY 2020.
Jerry Barrack sold his Canon EF 70-300mm 1:4.5-5.6 L IS USM zoom lens (the white version) in near-mint condition for the BAA record-low price of $459.00 (was $699.00) in early MAY 2020.

New Listings

Canon EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II Lens

BAA Record-low Price!
Sale Pending/first day of listing!

Blog regular Fred Innamorato is offering a Canon EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II lens in excellent plus condition for the BAA record-low price of $3099.99. The sale includes the original box, the lens trunk, the rear lens cap, the lens hood, the front lens cover, a Don Zek C3 lens cap, the lens strap, a Realtree Lens Coat, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Fred via e-mail or by phone at 1-216-978-6369 (Eastern Time Zone).

I owned and used and loved the 400 DO II when I shot with Canon and found a way to take it on most trips. I took it to Scotland and Nickerson Beach and San Diego. It served me well as my (lighter!) big gun several Galapagos and Southern Ocean (the Falklands and South Georgia) trips. It is a killer for flight photography with or without the 1.4X III TC. It is razor-sharp with the 2X on static subjects and skilled folks have had amazing success hand holding it with the 2X III TC for flight and for action. artie

EF 300mm f /2.8L IS II USM Lens

BAA Record-low Price!
Sale Pending/first day of listing!

Blog regular Fred Innamorato is offering a Canon EF 300mm f /2.8L IS II USM lens in excellent plus condition for the BAA record-low price of $2899.00. The sale includes the original box, the lens trunk, the rear lens cap, the front lens cover, the lens hood, a Don Zek C3 lens cap, the lens strap, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Fred via e-mail or by phone at 1-216-978-6369 (Eastern Time Zone).

The 300mm f/2.8 autofocus lenses have long been the first choice of the world’s best hawks-in-flight photographers with and without a 1.4X TC. When teamed up with either the 1.4X or 2X TC, they make a great hand-holdable walk-around lens. For folks with a 7D Mark II, the 300 II would make a great workhorse lens for bird photography. Grabbing Jim’s lens will save you an incredible $2,901.00 as new ones are going for $6099.00 from B&H. I owned and used several versions of the 300 f/2.8 lens for many years until finally replacing my 300 f/2.8 II with the 400 DO II several years ago. That said, the 300 f/2.8 II represents a great value as the 400 DO II sells new for $6,899.00.artie

Canon EF 100-400mm f /4.5-5.6L IS USM II Lens

BAA Record-low Price!
Sale Pending/first day of listing!

Blog regular Fred Innamorato is offering a Canon EF 100-400mm f /4.5-5.6L IS USM II lens in excellent plus condition for the BAA record-low price of $998.00. The sale includes the original box, the lens bag, the rear lens cap, the lens hood, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Fred via e-mail or by phone at 1-216-978-6369 (Eastern Time Zone)

This incredibly versatile zoom lens — with its amazing .98 meter close focus — was my favorite Canon telephoto zoom lens ever. By far. artie

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Camera Body

BAA Record-low Price!
Sale Pending/first day of listing!

Blog regular Fred Innamorato is offering a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV camera body in excellent plus condition for the BAA record-low price of $1549.00. The sale includes the original product box, the strap, the front body cap, the USB Cable Interface, an extra eye-cup, one extra Canon battery, the charger, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Fred via e-mail or by phone at 1-216-978-6369 (Eastern time zone).

What can I say? The 5D IV was my favorite ever Canon digital dSLR. I owned and used three of them while my 1DX II sat on the shelf in my garage for the most part. If you have been dreaming of a 5D IV, grab Fred’s camera body right now and save a cool $950.00.artie

Canon EOS-1DX Mark II Camera Body

BAA Record-low Price!
Sale Pending/first day of listing!

Blog regular Fred Innamorato is offering a Canon EOS-1DX Mark II camera body in excellent plus condition for the BAA record-low price of $2698.00. The sale includes the original product box, the strap, the front body cap, the USB Cable Interface, an extra eye-cup, one extra Canon LP-E19 battery pack, the charger, the battery compartment plug, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Fred via e-mail or by phone at 1-216-978-6369 (Eastern time zone).

The EOS-1DX Mark II is a Canon flagship professional camera body. I made many fine images with mine. It is rugged and fast and featured Canon’s best AF system (before the release of thee 1dX III). The 1DX II sells new for $4,999.00 so you can save a very cool $2301.00 on this great deal. artie

Canon EF Extender 1.4X III (teleconverter)

Sale Pending/first day of listing!

Blog regular Fred Innamorato is offering a Canon EF Extender 1.4X III (teleconverter) in excellent plus condition for $219.00. The sale includes the front and rear lens caps, the lens pouch, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Fred via e-mail or by phone at 1-216-978-6369 (Eastern time zone).

As regular readers know, I depended so much on TCs when I shot Canon that I always traveled with two spare 1.4X-s and one spare 2X TC. artie

Canon EF Extender 2X III (teleconverter)

Sale Pending/first day of listing!

Blog regular Fred Innamorato is offering a Canon EF Extender 2X III (teleconverter) in excellent plus condition for $219.00. The sale includes the front and rear lens caps, the lens pouch, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Fred via e-mail or by phone at 1-216-978-6369 (Eastern time zone).

As regular readers know, I depended so much on TCs when I shot Canon that I always traveled with two spare 1.4X-s and one spare 2X TC. artie

Canon EF Extension Tube Set

Sale Pending/first day of listing!

Blog regular Fred Innamorato is offering the Extension Tube Set, the EF 12 II and EF 25 II, in excellent plus condition for $124.90. The sale includes the original boxes and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your set will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Fred via e-mail or by phone at 1-216-978-6369 (Eastern time zone).

As regular readers know, I used extension tubes often to reduce the minimum focussing distances of my two Cann macro lenses and my super-telephotos. I used them behind a TC to focus closer with AF and at times, in front of a TC to get even closer while having to use manual focus). The pair sells for $224.90 so you can save an even $100.00 by grabbing the pair. artie

This image was created on 10 MAY 2020 at Indian Lake Estates, FL. I used the Induro GIT 404L/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 1.4xteleconverter, and the 61-MP Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital Camera Body. ISO 1000. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/800 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. AWB at 12:321am on a (wonderfully) cloudy day. Tracking Flexible Spot (M) AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed to perfection. Version III: Sandhill Crane one-day old chick standing near adult on the nest

Version III

This is the third optimized version of this image. I followed additional suggestions made in comments on the Sandhill Crane Chick Grass Blade Removal and Canvas Expanded as Suggested … blog post here

Here is a comment from that blog post along with my reply:

Allen: Much better without the grass coming out of the chick’s head. Not thrilled with the “content-aware” fill of the canvass expansion to the left. Can see obvious repeated patterns of grass details.

artie: Hi Allen, As I have proven here on many occasions, ‘obvious repeated patterns” are always visible when I have told folks where to look. In the video, you will learn that Content-Aware failed in the lower-left corner. And I took care to reduce or eliminate and repeats when I covered the problematic area with a refined Quick Mask. A close look reveals that I might have missed on a repeat of a brown area.

Only three folks have responded to the question in the A Photoshop Hanky-Panky Quiz: Win a Copy of The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II)
here.

I sent Allen a special invitation to respond to yesterday’s challenge.