What’s Up?
On the flight from Helsinki to JFK I watched three movies. The first was “Patriots Day.” It dealt with the Boston Marathon bombing, the capture of the perpetrators, and Boston Strong. It was good and moving if a bit contrived. I cried a lot especially at the end. The second was “Live By Night” starring Ben Affleck as a tommy-gun-toting, rum-running gangster during prohibition. It held my interest and I cried at the very end. The third, “Hidden Figures” was the best by far. It documented the lives of three Black women who did much of the math for the US space program (while gaining little appreciation at the time). As it was very moving I cried a lot. It is definitely worth a watch. I searched on line to check on the veracity and as it turns out, pretty much everything having to do with the three amazing ladies was spot on accurate. The film took some big hits with the bits of theatric license taken with some of the composite characters. I had not problem with those embellishments.
I will be finalizing the cottage rentals for the UK Puffins and Gannets trip on Monday. After that folks may or may not be able to join us so best to let me know via e-mail asap if you would like to attend.
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. Even the prices on the new 600 II and the 200-400 with Internal Extender have been plummeting. You can see all current listings by clicking here or by clicking on the Used Photo Gear tab on the right side of the yellow-orange menu bar above.
Unsolicited, via e-mail, from Gerry Keshka
Hi Artie, I wanted to share how much I appreciate your Used Gear “service.” You have posted how you help sellers, but the other side of the equations is how much this service helps buyers. I have purchased three lenses (Canon 200-400, 500 f4 II, and 70-200 F2.8) all lovely experiences and I saved almost $5K over retail. Each of the sellers was delightful, willing to help me assess if the purchase was right for me by sharing their experience with the lens. Each lens was in the condition advertised (or better), and typically included several “add-ons” that would have cost several hundred dollars.
Unsolicited, via e-mail, from Sandra Calderbank
Hi Artie, I wanted to take a few minutes to thank you. I have sold two camera bodies on your BAA used gear site. Your friendly expertise and knowledgeable, trustworthy buyers have made this an extremely satisfying experience. Selling on BAA Used Gear page is the best transaction experience I have ever encountered. Thank you for all you do for our photography community. Sincerely, Sandra
Recent Successful Used Gear Sales
Big Ticket Items Continue to Sell Like Hotcakes on the Used Gear Page in April and May!
- Ron Paulk sold a Canon EOS-1D X Professional Digital Camera Body in excellent condition for $2699 and a Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS lens in mid-May before they were listed and is kindly sending me a check for the 2 1/2%.
- Hisham A. sold a Canon EOS 7D Mark II in excellent plus condition for the BAA record low price of $847 in early May.
- John Stuhlmuller sold his Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS Lens with Internal 1.4 Extender in mint condition with lots of extras for a very low $8149 in early May.
- John Stuhlmuller also sold his Canon EOS 5DS R digital camera body in like-new condition with lots of extras for an amazingly low $2799, also in early May.
- Multiple IPT veteran and good friend Doug Holstein sold his Canon 500mm f4/L IS USM Super Telephoto lens and a 1.4X II teleconverter, both in in excellent condition, for the great low price of $3699 in early May, 2017.
- Larry Peavler sold his Canon 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens in near-mint condition for the amazingly low price of $4199 soon after it was listed in late April.
- KW McCulloch sold his Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS lens with Internal 1.4X Extender in excellent plus condition for $8294 in mid-April.
- Stan Hoyt sold his Canon 500mm f4L IS USM Super Telephoto lens in like-new condition (with extras) for the great low price of $3899 soon after it was listed in mid-April.
- Leonard Malkin sold his Canon EF 70-200mm f2/.8 L IS lens excellent condition for $899 in mid-April, 2017.
- Paul Abravaya sold his Canon 400mm f/4 IS DO II lens in excellent condition for $5,799 soon after it was re-listed in mid-April.
New Listings
Canon EOS-1DX Mark II Digital Camera Body
Tom Phillips is offering a lightly used Canon EOS-1DX Mark II (Premium Kit) with extras in near-mint condition (with about 3,000 shutter actuations) for the BAA record-low price of $4499. The sale includes the original box, the strap, all manuals, DVDs, the battery w/end cap, the Canon LC-E19 battery charger, a Sandisk USB 3.0 CFast card reader, a Sandisk 64GB CFast card, in short, everything that came in the box plus two extra Canon LP-E19 batteries (a $338 value), a large eyecup, a RRS L-Bracket, a Lexar 64GB Compact Flash card, and insured ground shipping via major courier to US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
Please contact Tom via e-mail or by phone at 1-214-668-0162 (Central Time Zone).
The 1DX II is currently Canon’s rugged, blazingly fast, flagship professional digital camera body. I own and use mine for birds in flight and action. artie
Canon 400mm f/4 IS DO II USM Lens
Tom Phillips is also offering a Canon 400mm f/4 IS DO II USM lens in like-new condition for the BAA record-low price of $5,798. The sale includes the original box, the front leather hood, the rear cap, the lens strap, the lens trunk, the Canon shipping box, a Don Zeck lens cap, a RRS LC-52 low foot (attached), the original Canon lens foot, and insured ground shipping via major courier to US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
Please contact Tom via e-mail or by phone at 1-214-668-0162 (Central Time Zone).
I own and use my 400 DO II with and without both teleconverters for a variety of bird photography situations. It makes a great walk-around hand holdable lens with a one full stop advantage over the 100-400 II. It is imminently hand holdable for most folks. It is super-sharp at 400, 560, and 800mm. Tom’s like new-lens will save you exactly $1,101! artie
Canon 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM Lens
Tom Phillips is also offering a Canon 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens in like-new condition for a very attractive $4,199. The sale includes the original box, the front leather hood, the rear cap, the lens strap, the lens trunk, the Canon shipping box, and insured ground shipping via major courier to US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
Please contact Tom via e-mail or by phone at 1-214-668-0162 (Central Time Zone).
The 300 f/2.8 autofocus lenses have long been the first choice for the world’s best hawks in flight photographers with and without a 1.4X TC. With both TCs it makes a great hand holdable walk-around lens. Tom’s like new-lens will save you an incredible $1,999! I owned and used several versions of the 300 f/2.8 lens for many years until finally replacing the 300 f/2.8 II with the 400 DO II about a year ago. artie
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Lens
Ron Paulk is offering a Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Lens in excellent condition for $999. The sale includes the lens pouch, the front and rear lens caps, and insured shipping to US addresses via FED-EX Ground. Your lens will ship after your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
Please contact Ron by e-mail or by phone at 360-391-2090 PDT.
The 16-35 II is a superb landscape lens that can be used on occasion to create some stunning bird-scapes as well. Purchase Ron’s lens and save an even $500 on the cost of a new Series II model. artie
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 II USM Zoom Lens
Ron Paulk is also offering a Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 II USM zoom lens, also in excellent condition, for $1199. The sale includes the original product box, the lens pouch, the front and rear lens caps, and insured shipping to US addresses via FED-EX Ground. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
Please contact Ron by e-mail or by phone at 360-391-2090 PDT.
The 24-70 II is an another superb landscape lens, faster and sharper than the both the 16-35 and the 24-105 (where their focal length ranges overlap). Purchase Ron’s lens and save an even $500 on the cost of a new one. artie
Canon EF 100mm Macro f/2.8L IS USM Lens
Ron Paulk is also offering a Canon EF 100mm Macro f/2.8L IS USM lens in excellent condition for $549. The sale includes the lens pouch, the front and rear lens caps, and insured shipping to US addresses via FED-EX Ground. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
Please contact Ron by e-mail or by phone at 360-391-2090 PDT.
I own, use, and love the 100 IS macro lens both hand held and on a tripod for much of my flower photography. (The lens mount requires a separate purchase.) One the tripod, I use it often with the 1.4X III TC. It is super sharp and at f/2.8, superbly fast. Purchase Ron’s lens and save an even $200 on the cost of a new one. artie
Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT & Canon ST-E3-RT Transmitter
Ron Paulk is also offering a Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT & ST-E3-RT Transmitter, both in excellent condition for $425. The sale includes the original box for flash, the leather case for the flash, and insured shipping to US addresses via FED-EX Ground. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
Please contact Ron by e-mail or by phone at 360-391-2090 PDT.
I own and use the Speedlite 600EX-RT whenever I use flash. artie
Wimberley V-2 Tripod Head
$260 in extras added!
Hisham A. is offering a Wimberley WH-200 Tripod Head in excellent condition for $449. The sale includes insured ground shipping to US addresses via major courier. On May 13 he added the following to sweeten the deal: the Wimberley F-9 flash bracket and the Canon off-camera shoe cord (OC-E3).
Please contact Hisham via e-mail or by phone at 720 771 2693 (Eastern time).
Gitzo GT 4542LS
Price reduced $100 on May 13, 2017.
Hisham A. is also offering a Gitzo Series 4 Systematic 4 Section Long Tripod GT4542LS in excellent condition for $649 (was $749). The sale includes insured ground shipping to US addresses via major courier.
Please contact Hisham via e-mail or by phone at 720 771 2693 (Eastern time).
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Images and card design copyright: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART. Click on the card to enjoy a spectacular larger version. |
2017 UK Puffins and Gannets IPT. Monday July 3 through Wednesday July 12, 2017: $5999 + $1499: Limit 10 photographers — Openings: 5).
All who register will be required to join the (really cheap) two-day Gannet/Bass Rock Add-on. See below for details.
Here are the plans: take a red eye from the east coast of the US on July 2 and arrive in Edinburgh, Scotland on the morning of Monday July 3 no later than 10am (or simply meet us then at the Edinburgh Airport–EDI, or later in the day at our cottages if you are driving your own vehicle either from the UK or from somewhere in Europe). Stay 7 nights in one of three gorgeous modern country cottages.
There are five days of planned puffin/seabird trips and one morning of gannet photography, all weather permitting of course. In three years we have yet to miss an entire day because of weather… In addition, we will enjoy several sessions of photographing nesting Black-legged Kittiwakes at eye level.
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Images and card design copyright: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART. Click on the card to enjoy a spectacular larger version. |
The Details
We will get to photograph Atlantic Puffin, Common Murre, Razorbill, Shag, and Northern Gannet; Arctic, Sandwich, and Common Terns, the former with chicks of all sizes; Black-headed, Lesser-Black-backed, and Herring Gulls, many chasing puffins with fish; Black-legged Kittiwake with chicks. We will be staying in upscale country-side lodging that are beyond lovely with large living areas and lots of open space for the informal image sharing and Photoshop sessions. The shared rooms are decent-sized, each with a private bathroom. See the limited single supplement info below.
All breakfasts, lunches and dinners are included. All 5 puffins boat lunches will need to be prepared by you in advance, taken with, and consumed at your leisure. I usually eat mine on the short boat trip from one island to the other. Also included is a restaurant lunch on the gannet boat day.
If you wish to fly home on the morning of Monday July 10 we will get you to the airport. Please, however, consider the following tentative plans: enjoy a second Gannet boat trip on the afternoon of Monday July 10 and book your hotel room in Dunbar. If all goes as planned, those who stay on for the two extra days will make a morning landing at Bass Rock, one of the world’s largest gannetries. We will get everyone to the airport on the morning of Wednesday July 12.
Great News on the UK Puffins and Gannets/Bass Rock Extension
On the morning of Jul 10, 2017, we will sleep late and head up to Dunbar Harbor for lunch and an afternoon Gannet boat chumming trip: flight photography until you cannot lift your camera. One gannet boat trip is included in the IPT but everyone always wants more.
Then, as a possible mega bonus — we are scheduled to make a Bass Rock landing on the morning of Tuesday July 12, 2017. I am hoping to go two for two! If not, we do another chumming trip for flying gannets.
Included will be two nights lodging at the wonderful Dunsmuir hotel, two fine dining meals there, any additional meals, all boat, guide, and landing fees, and all transportation including the early morning transfer to the Edinburg Airport on the morning of WED July 12.
So far all five sign-ups are maximizing their travel dollars by signing up for the extension in part because I priced it so cheaply at $1499 despite my greatly increased costs.
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Images and card design copyright: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART. Click on the card to enjoy a spectacular larger version. Scroll down to join us in the UK in 2016. |
Deposit Info
If you are good to go sharing a room–couples of course are more than welcome–please send your non-refundable $2,000/person deposit check now to save a spot. Please be sure to check your schedule carefully before committing to the trip and see the travel insurance info below. Your balance will be due on March 29, 2017. Please make your check out to “Arthur Morris” and send it to Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART, PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL, 33855. 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 shoot me an e-mail if you are good to go or if you have any questions.
Single Supplement Deposit Info
Single supplement rooms are available on a limited basis. To ensure yours, please register early. The single supplement fee is $1575. If you would like your own room, please request it when making your deposit and include payment in full for the single supplement; your single supplement deposit check should be for $3,575. As we will need to commit to renting the extra space, single supplement deposits are non-refundable so please be sure that check your schedule carefully before committing to the trip and see the travel insurance info below.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance for big international trips is highly recommended as we never know what life has in store for us. I strongly recommend that you purchase quality insurance. Travel Insurance Services offers a variety of plans and options. Included with the Elite Option or available as an upgrade to the Basic & Plus Options you can also purchase Cancel for Any Reason Coverage that expands the list of reasons for your canceling to include things such as sudden work or family obligation and even a simple change of mind. My family and I use and depend on the great policies offered by TIS whenever we travel. You can learn more here: Travel Insurance Services. Do note that many plans require that you purchase your travel insurance within 14 days of our cashing your deposit check of running your credit card. Whenever purchasing travel insurance be sure to read the fine print careful even when dealing with reputable firms like TSI.
Please Remember to use my 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 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 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.
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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 :).
