B&H August Event Space Programs Notice

What’s Up?

I got lots done on Monday and enjoyed a 3/4-mile swim and an ice bath. It is Tuesday morning and heading up to my appointment with a top-notch Orlando urologist for a post-surgery follow-up–with the San Diego surgeon’s blessings.

I prepared this post in about one and one half hours over a two day period on Sunday and Monday.

The Streak

Today’s blog post marks a totally insane, absurd, completely ridiculous, unfathomable, silly, incomprehensible, makes-no-sense, 246 days in a row with a new educational blog post. And I still have dozens of new topics to cover; there should be no end in sight until my big South America trip next fall. As always-–and folks have been doing a really great job recently–-please remember to use our B&H links for your major gear purchases. For best results use one of our many product-specific links; after clicking on one of those you can continue shopping with all subsequent purchases invisibly tracked to BAA. Your doing so is always greatly appreciated. Please remember: web orders only. AND Please remember also that if you are shopping for items that we carry in the new BAA Online Store (as noted in red at the close of this post below) we would appreciate your business.

Selling Your Used 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. You can see all current listings by clicking here or by clicking on the Used Photo Gear tab on the yellow-orange tab on the right side of the menu bar above.

Used Gear Sales Testimonial

Unsolicited, via e-mail, from top BAA Used Gear seller Jim Keener

The BAA Used Gear Page is the best place I’ve found for selling my used cameras and lenses.

I used eBay and Craigslist until I began checking in at BIRDS AS ART. I saw the gear listed for sale at BAA and it struck me that the people who visit the site are like me in some important ways. We own high quality, often expensive gear. It’s important to us, and we likely take care of it. In other words, a good market exists. And I noticed how Artie marketed each item. Informative, without too big a push. That’s why I decided to try BAA.

The process was easy. I clearly accepted the terms of sale, fully and fairly described what I was selling and the good and bad. I listed he stuff to be included with in the sale. Then Artie came back with what he thought was a fair price, leaving it to me to determine the balance between urgency of the sale and receiving a high price. I’ve followed his lead.

The responses I’ve received from potential buyers have been reassuring. Each has been well informed and courteous. They have not expected perfection, but have fully expected fairness and clarity. I’ve found that providing many photographs of what I’m selling is very helpful in the completing the various transactions.

I’m writing this because of how glad I am to find a place where there is a good market for what I want to sell and what I want to buy — I just tried to buy a 300mm f/2.8 II, but it has sold. The buyers and sellers are informed and fair-minded. And artie offers friendly and experienced advice. I’ve enjoyed the process. The BAA Used Gear page is the best experience I’ve had buying and selling gear.

Used Gear Sales Continue to be More Than Brisk!

• Long ago multiple IPT veteran Charles McRae sold his Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS lens in good to very good condition in early July for a record low $4,199.
• Walt Novinger sold his Canon 500mm f/4L IS USM lens in very good plus condition for $3,899 in early June.
• Jeffrey Fredberg sold his EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM L series lens in like-new condition for the record-low BAA price of $749 in late June.
• Jim Burns sold his Canon 200-400mm F/4L IS zoom lens with Internal 1.4X Extender in brand new condition for the insane BAA record-low price of $8499 in late June.
• Many multiple IPT veteran Monte Brown sold his Canon EOS 5D Mark III (with the BG-E11 vertical battery grip) both in excellent condition for $1599 in early June.
• Moody McCall sold his Canon 300mm F/2.8L IS II in excellent condition for $4199 in mid-June.
• Long-ago IPT veteran Charles Sleicher sold his Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM lens in very good plus condition for $3400 in mid-June.
• Top BAA Used Gear seller Jim Keener sold his Canon EOS 5D Mark III in absolute mint condition for $1599 in mid-June.
• KW McCulloch sold his Canon EOS-1D X in excellent condition for $2459 in mid-June.
• Many multiple IPT veteran Monte Brown sold his Canon EOS 5D Mark III (with the BG-E11 vertical battery grip) both in excellent condition for $1599 in early June.
• Les Greenberg sold his Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II lens in mint condition for $4499 in early June.
• Top BAA Used Gear seller Jim Keener sold his Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM lens (the old five) in very good plus condition for a BAA record low price of $3699 in mid-June.
• National Geographic shooter Tim Laman sold his Canon EOS-1D C in good condition for $2100 in early June. The 1D C is a 1D X with 4K video.
• Andres Leon sold his Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens in very good plus condition for the full asking price of $7899 in early June.
• IPT veteran Billy Wingfield sold his Canon EOS-1DX in excellent plus condition for $2400 in early June.
• Multiple IPT veteran Larry Master sold his near-mint Canon EOS-1DX for $2800 in early June.
• Moody McCall sold his Canon 100-400L IS USA lens in excellent condition for $599 in early June.

Canon 300mm f/4L IS USM Lens

Tom Mast is offering a used Canon 300mm f/4L IS USM lens in excellent condition for $625. The sale includes the the front and rear lens caps, the tough fabric lens case, and the original equipment tripod collar, all packaged in the original box. Insured ground shipping by major courier to US addresses only is also included. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangement are made.

Please contact Tom via e-mail or by phone at 1-813-920-4592 (8am to 8pm Eastern time).

I owned and used this great lens for several years. It is a great flight lens and I always loved its close focusing abilities that made it great for flowers, frogs, and dragonflies. I firmly believe that it is a far better bird photography starter lens than my beloved old “toy lens,” the 400mm f/5.6L lens. Why? It is image stabilized and it does great with all AF points with a 1.4X TC. Grab this one while you can as the price is right. artie

Canon 500mm f/4L IS USM Lens; With Extras!

Henry Raymundo is offering a used Canon 500mm f/4L IS USM lens in excellent condition for $3999 with lots of extras: a Lens Coat, a Wimberley P-40 plate, and a 1.4X II teleconverter (the Extender EF 1.4X II in Canon parlance). The series II 1.4X is as sharp as the series III version and works perfectly with the older super-telephoto lenses. The version III TCs do communicate better AF-wise but only with the Series II super-telephotos… This sale also includes the lens trunk, the manual, the lens strap, the leather front cover, the rear lens cap, and insured ground shipping via major courier. See also item next for a complete kit. Your items will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangement are made.

Please contact Henry via e-mail or by phone at 1-(303) 880-0424 (Mountain time).

The 500 f/4 lenses have long offered the world’s most popular focal length for bird, wildlife, and nature photography. I have owned various iterations of this lens for more than 15 years. I loved my old five. With all the great extras, this is an astounding value. Grab it now or it will be gone. artie

Gitzo 1325 Tripod and Wimberley V-2 Head: super low price for the pair

Henry Raymundo is offering also offering a used Gitzo 1325 tripod and a Wimberley V-2 head both in very good to excellent condition for the silly low price of $699. The sale includes insured ground shipping via major courier. Your items will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangement are made.

Please contact Henry via e-mail or by phone at 1-(303) 880-0424 (Mountain time).

Canon 100-400mm IS L Zoom Lenses

Henry Raymundo is also offering two used Canon 100-400mm IS L Zoom lenses, one in excellent condition for $599, the other in very good plus condition for $549. Each sale includes the rear cap, the lens hood, the tough fabric carrying case, and insured ground shipping via major courier. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangement are made.

Please contact Henry via e-mail or by phone at 1-(303) 880-0424 (Mountain time).

I owned and used several 100-400 IS L lenses over the years and produced many hundreds of sale-able images along with a fw contest winners and book covers. The old 1-4 makes for a great and inexpensive starter lens for the fledgling bird photographer. artie

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM Lens

Henry Raymundo is also offering a Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM lens (not the white L version) for the ridiculous low price of $499. The sale includes the front and rear lens caps and insured ground shipping via major courier. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangement are made.

Please contact Henry via e-mail or by phone at 1-(303) 880-0424 (Mountain time).

Though I have never used this lens I do know that it would make and extremely versatile, lightweight, compact travel or B-roll lens for just about anyone. In a pinch it could serve as a starter bird photography lens for those who live near tame birds, in other words, for those who live in Florida. I know also that this is a great value as it is currently in production and sells new at B&H for $1,399. artie

Canon EOS 7D Camera Body

Henry Raymundo is also offering a Canon EOS 7D camera body in excellent condition for $399 with an extra battery. The sale includes the front and rear lens caps, the original CDs and cables, the battery charger, an extra battery (as noted above) and insured ground shipping via major courier. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangement are made.

Please contact Henry via e-mail or by phone at 1-(303) 880-0424 (Mountain time).

The original 7D digital camera body makes an ideal starter camera for someone just getting started with digital. Be sure to learn to expose to the right with this body (especially) to keep the small pixel noise to a minimum. artie

B&H August 11, 2016 Event Space Programs

On Thursday, August 11, 2016, I will be presenting two free programs at the B&H Event Space as below. If you would like to attend, it would be best to register asap as both programs have begun filling nicely.

Using Teleconverters with Intermediate and Super Telephotos Lenses: 1:00 to 2:30pm

The word on the street is that you simply cannot make sharp images with teleconverters (TCs) especially with the doublers. Nothing could be further from the truth. With some practice and good sharpness techniques you can learn to use TCs effectively to photograph small, distant, or shy subjects.

Teleconverters or multipliers come in a variety of strengths, most usually 1.4X and 2X. Nikon also offers a 1.7X TCE. Each will multiply your effective focal length by the factor in its name. A 1.4X TC will make your 400mm lens into a 640mm lens. A doubler, aka a 2X TC, will enable your 600mm lens to give you 1200mm of reach.

In this program, Arthur Morris, internationally noted bird photographer and educator, will share the tips, techniques, and secrets that he has developed and used for more than three decades so that you too can use teleconverters to improve your photography. This program will be illustrated with Artie’s spectacular images of birds, wildlife, flowers, and even a few unexpected subjects.

Learn more or register here.

Putting Art into Your Nature Photography: 3:00 to 4:30pm

With today’s amazing photographic gear that includes camera bodies with surreal autofocus that can routinely produce superb image files in the right hands and fast, sharp lenses (including and especially the amazing super-telephotos) creating images of various birds, animals, flowers, and landscapes, is pretty much child’s play. Anyone can do it. In this program, Arthur Morris, internationally noted bird photographer and educator, will teach you to take your images to the next level. You will learn to identify good situations, to create pleasing backgrounds, to photograph action and behavior, to choose the best perspective, to read and use the light, when and how to create pleasing blurs, and how to consistently create dramatic, evocative images with contest-winning potential.

This program will be illustrated with several hundred of Artie’s spectacular images, many published around the world above his most fitting credit line: BIRDS AS ART.

Learn more or register here.

This in-camera Art Vivid image was created on the last afternoon of the second Palouse IPT with the Induro GIT 304L/Induro ballhead-mounted Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM lens (at 8mm) and the mega mega-pixel Canon EOS 5DS R . ISO 400. Evaluative metering +/-3 stops around a base exposure of -1 stop with a base exposure of 1/250 sec. at f/5.6 in Av mode. WB = 5500K. Live View with 2-second timer. Center AF point/AI Servo Expand/Rear Focus AF as framed was active at the moment of exposure (as is 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. Old, small garage in the Palouse

28 Inches Would Have Been a Lot Better…

In the How Boredom Led me to Photograph a Small Garage from 26 inches away and include the whole building… blog post here, I asked:

How would moving the tripod back 2 inches have helped me to create a better image?

Most folks were 100% grasping at straws. Only multiple IPT veteran Bill Lloyd (WTlloyd) came close when he left the following comment:

Stepping back would have allowed you to crop away the lens vignette, particularly noticeable in the sky.

Actually, I am pretty sure that the problem along the edge of the sky is the chromatic aberration (CA) that is part of the package that you often get when using the circle lens. And yes, moving back two inches would have allowed me to crop out the CA while winding up with the same framing.

Please Remember to use our Affiliate Links and to Visit the New 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 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 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, 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. Tanks a stack!

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 🙂