Oh, What a Day/8 Second Pre-dawn Exposure & Used Gear Listings « Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Oh, What a Day/8 Second Pre-dawn Exposure & Used Gear Listings

Did I miss your e-mail?

Obviously, I have been swamped and with my trip to the Southern Oceans beginning this coming Friday, I will continue to be swamped. If I missed an e-mail from you, especially one dealing with the sale of used gear, please shoot me an e-mail and I will try to get to it before I leave. Apologies to those who might be feeling neglected. I have never been this far behind before….

What’s Up?

Oh what a day! The first day of the Canon Destination Workshop was amazing. We enjoyed a red pre-dawn and followed by a white goose blastoff right in our face at the Ed Kranepool. We headed back early and then after our program and a short break, we found the geese at the north end and enjoyed blastoff after blastoff, capped by the largest Bosque blastoff I have ever seen, a triple header from three fields where the flocks wound up intermingling and then coming together as one. I have enjoyed so much great photography at Bosque this year that I am sure that I will not get to share much of it with you until I get back from upcoming my Southern Oceans expedition adventure with Cheesemans’ Ecology Safaris.

Today is Day Two of the workshop. Tomorrow I wake at 2:00 and head to ABQ for my flights home. This blog post took 1 1/2 hours to prepare and was published from my hotel room in Socorro, NM at 4:59am.

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sunrise-at-bosque-_y7o0746-bosque-del-apache-nwr-san-antonio-nm

This image was created at 6:15am on Saturday, DEC 6, 2014 with the Gitzo 3532 LS carbon fiber tripod, Mongoose M3.6 head, the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens (at 70mm) and the Canon EOS-1D X. ISO 100. Evaluative metering -1/3 stop as framed: 8 seconds at f/2.8 in Av mode. White balance: 7000K.

Central sensor Surround/Rear Focus AF on the ridge and release. Click here to see the latest version of the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version.

Red Bosque Sunrise

Images Questions

#1: Why did I set -1/3 stop EC?
#2: Give me two reasons that I went with an 8 second exposure when I could have gone with ISO 400 and a 2 second exposure….

Saturday’s stunner marked four of the last six days with breathtaking sunrises.

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 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 :).

Prices Reduced!

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.

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.

New Listings

Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS USM Lens, the “old six”

An Amazing Package for Someone Young and Strong. Or Old and Strong.

Gerald Barrack is offering a Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS USM lens for the record-low price of $5600, or $5800 with the 1.4X II and 2X II TCs thrown in. The lens is in very good condition with perfect glass and many dings and wear on the painted surface that do not affect function. Photos are available upon request. The lens was given a clean bill of health after a clean and check by Canon in Nov. 2014. The gear will be shipped only after your check clears unless other arrangements are made. The sale includes the lens trunk, the front leather hood, the rear lens cap, 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 old six was my workhorse super-telephoto for too many years….

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Gerald is also offering a used Canon EOS 1D Mark IV body again for a record low price: $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.

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 here cell at 908-625-1589 or by 843-224-7383 James Shadle has used the Nikon mount version of this lens to create many great images. Strong folks can save a bundle as this is a steal at $2,499 below the list price.

Used EOS-7D: cheap!

William Ellison is offering a used Canon EOS-7D in like new condition for $479; less than 5,000 actuations. The sale includes all of the stuff that came with the lens originally including the manual, the CDs, the battery and charger, all connecting wires and cables for USB and HDMI, the strap, the original box, and insured ground shipping to the continental US.

You can contact William by phone at 843-224-7383 or via e-mail

This 1.6 crop factor camera would make a great starter outfit for someone just getting started as a digital nature photography. Folks who have heard bad things about the original 7D should need to check out the “How Dan Cadieux Masters Canon EOS-7D Image Files” blog post here. When you see Dan’s images, all created with the original 7D, you will be amazed.

Existing Listings

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.

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

Mike Stevens is offering a used Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS (Image Stabilizer) USM lens in like-new condition (used just once) for a ridiculously low $4999. 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 old five was at one time the world’s most popular telephoto lens. It still makes great images with both TCs.

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.

Used EOS-1D Mark IV Digital Camera Body

IPT veteran Brent Thompson is offering a used EOS-1D Mark IV digital camera body in excellent condition for $2449. 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.

Used EOS-1D Mark IV Digital Camera Body

Price reduced $299 on 10/30/2014!

Marc Lombardi is offering a used EOS-1D Mark IV digital camera body in excellent condition with 57800 actuations for $2400. The body has one minor cosmetic scratch on top. The sale includes the charger and two batteries, a RRS plate, 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 Marc via e-mail or by phone at 610-585-3500 (Eastern time).

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

Used Canon EF 100-400 f 4.5-5.6 L IS Lens

Multiple IPT veteran Jack Panzeca is offering a used Canon EF 100-400 f 4.5-5.6 L IS lens in very good + condition for $999 including insured shipping via UPS Ground to US addresses only. The tripod collar has one small scratch. The sale includes the original tough fabric case, the original box, the front and rear caps, the lens hood, and the strap. Your gear will be shipped only after your check clears.

Please contact Jack via e-mail or by phone at 817 819 1756. Central 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. Jack’s 100-400 is priced to sell.

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

Price reduced $350 on 10/17/2014!

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 $5150. B&H is offering a virtually identical used “old 500” for $6,299.95; you can save more than $1000 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.

Used Canon TS-E 90mm f/2.8 Tilt-Shift Manual Focus Lens

Price reduced $100 on 10/17/2014

Multiple IPT veteran Shelly Goldstein is offering a used Canon TS-E 90mm f/2.8 Tilt-Shift Manual Focus lens in excellent condition for the ridiculously low price of $799. The lens sells new for $1,399.00. The sale includes the front lens cap, the lens shade, the rear dust cap, and insured shipping via Fed Ex Ground to US addresses only. The lens was cleaned and checked by Canon in September 2014.

You can contact Shelly via e-mail or by phone at 646-423-0392 (EST). Your lens will be shipped only after your check clears.

The 90 Tilt Shift is a specialized lens that enable precise control of depth of field along with perspective control. It is useful for portrait, product, and landscape photography. George Lepp loves it for flower field and macro photography, using it often with the 2X III teleconverter.

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

IPT veteran Stuart Hahn is offering a used original owner Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS (Image Stabilizer) USM lens in excellent condition with clean glass for $5250. B&H is offering a virtually identical used “old 500” for $6,299.95; you can save more than $1000 by grabbing Stu’s lens asap. The sale includes the front leather lens hood, the rear dust cap, a used RRS B-91 Flash Bracket, the original case with keys, and insured shipping via UPS Ground to US addresses only. Your lens will be shipped only after your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Stu via e-mail or by phone (after October 3) at 916-485-1630 (Pacific time).

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10 comments to Oh, What a Day/8 Second Pre-dawn Exposure & Used Gear Listings

  • avatar James Saxon

    Why -1/3? To saturate the colors the in the sky and let the deepen the blacks. The 8 sec. exposure was to create the silky water and allow the clouds to blur which showing movement. Love this image with just enough detail in the whites on the water and the illusion of movement in the sky. Thanks for posting.

  • avatar Warren Robb

    #2: To minimize capture of objects moving in or through the foreground.

    I know you like a temperature setting of 8000K for sunrises and assume you didn’t use that here or you would have said so. Was that a trade you made for the longer exposure time?

    Thanks again for all the great Bosque learning opportunities and best of luck on your next adventure!

  • avatar Jackie Schuknecht

    Regardless of the technical reasons, this shot is a beauty! Love it!

  • avatar David Policansky

    Artie: Bon voyage and thanks for your as always wonderful images and instruction. On #1, I think again it was the yellow sky just above the mountains that you wanted to preserve. On #2, I guess there were little ripples on the water surface that you wanted to blur, and perhaps you wanted to avoid recording the image of any small bird that might have happened to fly by, but I’m much less confident about the second reason.

    • avatar Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

      Thanks David. It was the yellow strip that I was initially worried about but the light blue strip was actually lighter and more susceptible to over-exposure. My main reason for staying with 8 seconds rather than going to a faster exposure was to blur the water; there was a bit of a breeze. The other reason–you hinted at it in the second part of your answer–was to lessen or eliminate the effect of those on the deck who might have taken a step or two during the exposure.

      So all in all you did quite well. artie

  • avatar Jim Amato

    Avoid any overexposure due to the 8 second timing. Keep saturation at a workable level.
    ISO 400 would open image to more noise.
    2 seconds may not capture enough richness of tones and colors.
    You are using a tripod to stabilize the camera, small chance for any shake , rattle and roll.

    • avatar Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

      I do not believe that exposure changes with long exposures with digital as it does with film. Nor due saturation or noise or the richness of of tones and colors. Thanks for chiming in. artie

  • avatar Bob Allen

    #1: Why did I set -1/3 stop EC?
    – To hold back the bright spot in the sky & its reflection on the water from burning out

    #2: Give me two reasons that I went with an 8 second exposure when I could have gone with ISO 400 and a 2 second exposure….
    – To allow the moving clouds to blur slightly while the stationary emergent plants and ridgeline remained sharp.
    – To record more of the sky color changes over 8 seconds
    – You really like the number “8” ;7)

    • avatar Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

      Bug Bob. Not bad. You missed a few important points with #2 but you are surely in the neighborhood. artie