Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

What’s Up?

Thursday morning was a Lanceleaf Arrowhead blossom, cranes, and Great Blue Herons. Friday morning — 4 SEPT 2020 — was one of the same great blue and some displaying Boat-tailed Grackles.

I was glad to learn yesterday of these recent sales:

Dennis Bartsch sold his Canon EF 500mm f/4L USM Telephoto lens in near-mint condition for $2399.00 in mid-August 2020.
Jim Babbitt sold his Canon 500 mm f/4L IS II lens in excellent plus condition for the BAA record-low price of $5125.00 (was listed for $5248.00) the first day it was listed in late August 2020.

BIRDS AS ART

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

The BAA Used Gear Page

The BAA Used Gear Page is the place to sell your used photographic equipment. We will help you to get your gear sold quickly for 20 to 60% more than what the big camera stores are offering … Doubt me? Check out the Past Sales list at the bottom of the page.

This image was created on 29 AUGUST 2020. I used the handheld Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens (at 200mm) with the blazingly fast AF king, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital Camera (Body Only). ISO 400. The exposure determined by Zebras with the ISO on the rear wheel: 1/2000 sec. at f/2.8 and confirmed as perfect in RawDigger. AWB at 7:39am on a clear morning. Upper Right Zone Continuous AF was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Head portrait of Sandhill Crane colt hatched May 9 or 10, 2020

The winning comment

The Winning Comment

Congrats to IPT veteran Joel Eade for studying the clues and coming up with the correct answers. With such a smooth, creamy, detail-less background, f/2.8 wide open should have come to mind immediately …

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 had been somewhat depressed, but sales have been brisk for the past few weeks. And over the past year, we have sold several hundred items. Do know that prices of many used 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 … Recently, however, the Canon used gear market has shown some signs of life. Prices on used Nikon gear have also dropped as well. You can see all the current 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.

New Listings

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

IPT veteran Mark Overgaard is offering a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV body in excellent plus condition with Really Right Stuff B5D4-L L-plate for $1479.00. This body recently underwent the 18-point Canon Maintenance Service with Canon Professional Services. The sale includes the body cap, one Canon LP-E6N battery, the LC-E6 charger, the unused Canon camera strap, the English Instruction Manual, the original product box, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Certified bank check or no-fee, near-instant bank transfer with Zelle. Or, PayPal +4%.

Please contact Mark via e-mail or by phone at 831-539-3200 (Pacific 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 Mark’s camera body right now and save a cool $1020.00! artie

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

IPT veteran Mark Overgaard is offering a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV body in excellent plus condition for $1399.00. This body recently underwent the 18-point Canon Maintenance Service with Canon Professional Services. The sale includes the body cap, one LP-E6N battery, the LC-E6 charger, the unused Canon camera strap and USB cable, the English Instruction Manual, the original product box, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Certified bank check or no-fee, near-instant bank transfer with Zelle. Or, PayPal +4%.

Please contact Mark via e-mail or by phone at 831-539-3200 (Pacific 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 Mark’s camera body right now and save a cool $1100.00! artie

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

Sold first day of listing!

IPT veteran Mark Overgaard is offering a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens in excellent condition for $1349.00. This lens recently underwent the 11-point Canon Lens Maintenance Service with Canon Professional Services. The sale includes the front lens cap, the rear cap, the Canon Lens Hood ET-83D, the Canon LZ-1326 case, the original product box, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Certified bank check or no-fee, near-instant bank transfer with Zelle. Or, PayPal +4%. Please contact Mark via e-mail or by phone at 831-539-3200 (Pacific 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 EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM Lens

Sold second day of listing!

IPT veteran Mark Overgaard is offering a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens in excellent plus condition for $799.00. This lens recently underwent the 11-point Canon Lens Maintenance Service with Canon Professional Services. The sale includes the front lens cap, the rear cap, the Canon Lens Hood ET-87, the Canon Tripod Mount Ring B, the Canon LZ-1326 case, the original product box, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Certified bank check or no-fee, near-instant bank transfer with Zelle. Or, PayPal +4%.

Please contact Mark via e-mail or by phone at 831-539-3200 (Pacific time zone).

This sharp, super-fast mid-range telephoto zoom is incredibly versatile and is the favorite zoom lens of many nature, wildlife, and landscape professionals. It kills in point-blank flight situations; I used mine on flying gannets in Scotland, for Bald Eagles at Homer, and with the pelicans at La Jolla, CA. And often for granddaughter Maya’s dance recitals. artie

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM Lens

Sold second day of listing!

IPT veteran Mark Overgaard is offering a Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM lens in excellent plus condition for $549.00. This lens recently underwent the 11-point Canon Lens Maintenance Service with Canon Professional Services. The sale includes the front lens cap, the rear cap, the Canon Tripod Mount Ring A II, the Instruction Manual, the original product box, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Certified bank check or no-fee, near-instant bank transfer with Zelle. Or, PayPal +4%.

Please contact Mark via e-mail or by phone at 831-539-3200 (Pacific time zone).

This sharp, fast mid-range telephoto zoom is incredibly versatile and is the favorite zoom lens of many nature, wildlife, and landscape professionals. One stop slower than the 70-200mm f/2.8s, this one is smaller and lighter making it ideal for travel. Like its heavier, faster, more expensive cousin, it kills in point-blank flight situations; I used mine on flying gannets in Scotland, for Bald Eagles at Homer, and with the pelicans at La Jolla, CA. It sells new now for $1099.00. artie

Canon EF 400mm f/4L DO IS II USM Lens

BIRDS AS ART Record-low Price!

Sold first day of listing!

IPT veteran Mark Overgaard is offering a Canon EF 400mm f/4L DO IS II USM lens in near-mint condition for a BAA record low $3049.00. This lens recently underwent the 11-point Canon Lens Maintenance Service with Canon Professional Services. The sale includes the Canon E-145C Lens Cap, the rear cap, the ET-120W II Lens Hood w/ LensCoat, the Canon Tripod Mount, the installed Really Right Stuff LCF-52 lens foot replacement with built-in dovetail, the Canon Lens Wide Strap, the Instruction Manual, the Canon Lens Case 400D trunk, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Certified bank check or no-fee, near-instant bank transfer with Zelle. Or, PayPal +4%.

Please contact Mark via e-mail or by phone at 831-539-3200 (Pacific 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 on 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

Canon EF 16-35 f/4L IS USM Lens

Sold first day of listing!

IPT veteran Mark Overgaard is offering a Canon EF 16-35 f/4L IS USM lens in near-mint condition for $499.00. This lens recently underwent the 11-point Canon Lens Maintenance Service with Canon Professional Services. The sale includes the front lens cap, the rear cap, the Canon Lens Hood 73B, the Canon Lens Case LP1219, the Instruction Manual, the original product box, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Certified bank check or no-fee, near-instant bank transfer with Zelle. Or, PayPal +4%.

Please contact Mark via e-mail or by phone at 831-539-3200 (Pacific time zone).

Lenses in this focal length range are ideal for serious landscape photographers. artie

Covering a useful wide-angle focal length range, the EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM is a Canon L-series lens distinguished by its constant f/4 maximum aperture, sophisticated optical design, and use of image stabilization to realize sharp imagery. Two ultra-low dispersion elements are used to greatly reduce color fringing and chromatic aberrations throughout the zoom range for high clarity and color accuracy, and a Super Spectra coating has also been applied to suppress flare and ghosting for improved contrast. Complementing the imaging capabilities, this wide-angle zoom also features a four-stop-effective Image Stabilizer system that minimizes the appearance of camera shake for sharper handheld shooting. B&H

Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM Lens

BIRDS AS ART Record-low Price!

IPT veteran Mark Overgaard is offering a Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens in near mint condition for $549.00. This lens recently underwent the 11-point Canon Lens Maintenance Service with Canon Professional Services. The sale includes the front lens cap, the rear cap, the Canon Lens Hood EW-83M, the Canon Lens Case LP1219, the original product box, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Certified bank check or no-fee, near-instant bank transfer with Zelle. Or, PayPal +4%.

Please contact Mark via e-mail or by phone at 831-539-3200 (Pacific time zone).

The original 24-105 was my never-leave-home-without-it all-purpose mid-range zoom lens. I made a zillion sale-able images with mine. The newer version that sells new for $1,099.00 is sharper edge-to-edge with significantly reduced barrel distortion and four-stop-effective Image Stabilization. Save $550.00! artie

Canon 11-24mm f/4L USM Lens

IPT veteran Mark Overgaard is offering a Canon 11-24mm f/4L USM lens in near mint condition for $1599.00. This lens recently underwent the 11-point Canon Lens Maintenance Service with Canon Professional Services. The sale includes the front lens cap, the rear cap, the Canon Lens Case LP1424, the original product box, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Certified bank check or no-fee, near-instant bank transfer with Zelle. Or, PayPal +4%.

Please contact Mark via e-mail or by phone at 831-539-3200 (Pacific time zone).

I owned and used this truly versatile, “big sky,” astoundingly sharp super-wide angle zoom lens; it is perfect for scenic, landscape, and architectural photography. The 11-24 currently sells new for $2,699.00; save a cool $1100.00 by grabbing Mark’s lens. artie

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM Lens

IPT veteran Mark Overgaard is offering a Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM lens in excellent plus condition that is well underpriced at $549.00. This lens recently underwent the 11-point Canon Lens Maintenance Service with Canon Professional Services. The sale includes the front lens cap, the rear cap, the Canon Lens Hood ET-73B, the Canon Tripod Mount Ring C (W II), the Canon LP1424 lens case, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Certified bank check or no-fee, near-instant bank transfer with Zelle. Or, PayPal +4%.

Please contact Mark via e-mail or by phone at 831-539-3200 (Pacific time zone).

This versatile super-sharp L lens is great for travel and general nature. It would be extremely useful at Bosque del Apache. It would make a great starter lens for a beginning nature photographer when paired with a 7D Mark II or an EOS R6. It sells new at B&H for $1349.00. You can save a very handsome $800.00 on this one. artie

This image was created on November 18, 2004 at Titusville, FL. I used the handheld Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens and the EOS-1D Mark II. ISO 400: 1/1250 sec. at f/8 at 10:40am on a cloudy morning. Click on the image to see a larger version. Fish Crow in flight

The Toy Lens

Though I created today’s featured image in 2004, there are a few lessons to be learned:

1- I should have been at 1/2500 sec. at f/5.6 rather than 1/1250 sec. at f/8. Extra depth of field for flight photography is wasted; it is much better to go for the fastest possible shutter speed.

2- As it was cloudy, we know that this image was underexposed at 1/1250 sec. at f/8. Why? 1/2500 sec. at f/8 would have been pretty good for a white bird in full sun … So for a black bird in full sun at ISO 400 1/800 at f/8 would have been close to perfect — five clicks open from bright white. Then add another 3-4 clicks of exposure going from sunny to cloudy.

3- Noise in white skies due to underexposure is never much of a problem.

4- The Canon 400mm f/5.6 — still in production — was and still is a superb flight lens. There is one for you just below at a still low price.

Canon EF 400mm f/5.6 L USM Lens

BAA Record-low Price!
Price reduced $100.00 on 22 AUGUST 2020!

BAA friend Kay Kaylor is also offering a Canon EF 400mm f/5.6 L USM lens in near-mint condition for a very low $549.00 (was $649.00). The sale includes a LensCoat Hoodie, (no front lens cap), the rear lens cap, the zipped lens case, the tripod collar, 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.

Certified bank check or credit card or PayPal +4%.

Please contact artie via e-mail or on his cell at 863-221-2372 before 4pm Eastern time. Please leave a message or text if no answer.

The 400 f/5.6 is my beloved “toy lens.” I put it on the map more than 20 years ago when I began using it for birds in flight. Today, it is still a great flight lens and would make a great starter lens for a new bird photographer, especially one with a 7D Mark II. artie

LowePro RoadRunner AW

BAA friend Kay Kaylor is offering a LowePro RoadRunner AW for the might as well be giving it away free price of $79.00. The sale includes the partitions and all or most of the straps and harnesses. I used a Roadrunner AW for about eight years before Think Tank rose to the fore. I would put all the partitions, straps, and harnesses in the trash and was left with a sturdy roll-aboard. Though it was designed to be a combination backpack/rolling bag I never once thought of putting it on my back. And neither should you. Also included is 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.

Certified bank check or credit card or PayPal +4%.

Please contact artie via e-mail or on his cell at 863-221-2372 before 4pm Eastern time. Please leave a message or text if no answer.

This great bag protected my gear on about thirty flights over nearly a decade. An updated version sells new now for $199.95. artie

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 :).

What’s Up?

My streak of making at least one keeper every morning since at least March 22 was in jeopardy on Tuesday Morning … After drenching rains on Sunday and Monday afternoon, I dared not drive off the pavement. There were no cranes near the road and no vultures in the vulture tree. I drove the side streets looking for a new flower to photograph and found nothing. I got home very early on a beautiful still morning and poked around our butterfly garden for a bit. When I was just about ready to give up, I decided to use the Laowa 2X lens to photograph a single Coral Honeysuckle flower. The streak is alive.

I received e-mails of interest for both the Bosque and the Homer Bald Eagle IPTs.

I was glad to learn today that that multiple IPT veteran Larry Master sold his Canon Extension Tube set and his Canon 70 D last week.

Six folks tried yesterday’s quiz, and nobody came within a country mile of the right answers. The $20 is waiting for your correct answer. See the additional clues below and take a shot.

An Interesting Spray and Pray Comment-conversation with Adam Rubinstein

Hi Adam,

Thanks for your excellent comments.

“Spray and pray” is a bit of a pejorative

Had to look that one up — “expressing contempt or disapproval.”

I was about to disagree strongly with you till I looked up spray and pray — “Spray and pray is a derisive term for firing an automatic firearm towards an enemy in long bursts, without making an effort to line up each shot or burst of shots. This is especially prevalent amongst those without benefit of proper training.”

But, we are shooting aren’t we? And when we hold the shutter button down with an action shot it is best to pretty much do so without regards to framing carefully. So let’s call it a push.

and perhaps we should come up with a different term? Press and hold? I’m with you on all points and the greatest challenge now with all of these high FPS bodies is that a short press yields so many images that it becomes laborious to cull them.

The cranes flap took less than one second …

Of the remainder images, none of them really wow me as 70 is the money shot.

Agree.

Gail Bisson’s plover is pretty sweet and not only was she on eye level, had beautiful composition, bokeh, and razor thin DOF, it was a pretty unique image.

It is a wonderful image and I love shorebirds but as two folks pointed out, it is missing one thing …

Since picking up my R5 (through one of Artie’s sponsored dealers),

Everybody who deals with Steve Elkins at Bedford walks away very happy!

I’ve had to modify my “press and hold” technique to short taps. The 20 FPS of the ES rapidly fills the card and can easily saturate the buffer.

From where I sit, photographable action rarely lasts long. You will never see my holding the shutter down haphazardly. If anything, I tend to do the opposite … I have never hit the buffer with my a9, a9 ii, a7r iii, or a7r iv. It’s left-over from film days: “I’m Jewish and every time I press the shutter button it costs me 47 cents!” My brain does not forget …
Like the a9(II), I’ve been simply wowed by the number of in focus images as compared to even the top-flight DSLR’s of yesterday.

That is what I have been saying and that is why Arash switched …

Perhaps one significant advantage of the R5 over the a9(II) is the rapid wake up from sleep mode/image review.

If that is/was a problem then you did not read the big SONY e-Guide carefully enough; we use a setting that makes that a non-issue … The huge advantage of the R5 is the 42MP as compared to the 24MP of the a9 ii.

It’s much faster to the draw that way (I’ve been looking for a timed comparison). For example, yesterday I was walking by a pond and noticed an egret suddenly taking to flight. With my a7riv, it would have woken up sometime after the bird was already downrange and a high percentage of the images would have likely been OOF. The a9(II) would have likely captured a lot more photos and all of them would have been in focus though it would have started later than the R5.

Or not ….

27 images in that short burst and all were in focus.

Great. I am hoping to get my hands on an R5/RF 100-500 asap as a loaner …

with love, a

Sandhill Crane adult and vulture tree

Sandhill Crane Adult and Vulture Tree

Because I see them flying across the canal from the South Peninsula to the South Field, I believe that this bird and its mate — feeding nearby when I made this image — are the parents of the two swimming colts. Both of those young cranes perished when they were fairly large, about two weeks apart. They have been missed.

Win Twenty Dollars!

In yesterday’s Win Twenty Dollars! blog post here, I posted this with regards to the featured head portrait image of the surviving Mother’s Day crane colt:

If you are the first to leave a comment noting the exact focal length and the aperture that I used for this image, you will win a $20 discount on any item in the BAA Online Store. Phone orders only.

Hints

The correct focal length is in multiples of 100mm. And the aperture is a full stop aperture.

Six folks tried, and nobody was even close … So I decided to give three more hints.

Three More Hints …

1-The lens used to create today’s featured image was the same lens used to create the quiz image … That should tell you a lot.

2-The aperture used to create today’s featured image was the same as the aperture that I used when creating yesterday’s quiz image.

3-Both images were made handheld.

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 :).

What’s Up?

I did not have much photographic success on Friday morning but will try again today — Saturday 29 AUGUST 2020. I took the whole day off from exercising yesterday but will be back in the pool and on the StairMaster today. Patrick Sparkman will be reviewing the RawDigger e-Guide this weekend so it should be available for purchase this coming week.

I hope that you and yours are safe and have a great day.

Please Remember

If you enjoy and learn from the blog, please remember to use one of my two affiliate programs when purchasing new gear. Doing so will not cost you a single penny and if you use Bedfords, you will save at least $50.00 on all orders greater than $1000.00. In these crazy times — I am out at least forty to sixty thousand dollars so far due to COVID 19 (with lots more to come) — remembering to use my B&H link or shop at Bedfords will help me out a ton and will be greatly appreciated. Overseas folks who cannot order from the US because of import fees, duties, and taxes can always help out by clicking here if they see fit.

The BAA Used Gear Page

The BAA Used Gear Page is the place to sell your used photographic equipment. We will help you to get your gear sold quickly for 20 to 60% more than what the big guys are offering … Doubt me? Check out the Past Sales list at the bottom of the page.

Two Nikon Super-Telephotos!

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 400mm f/2.8E FL ED VR Lens

BAA Record-low Price!
Price Dropped $300.00 on 8/21!

Angie Birmingham is offering a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 400mm f/2.8E FL ED VR in like-new condition for $7696.95 (was $7,996.95). The sale includes the rear lens cap, the lens trunk, the original tough front lens cover, the lens strap, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only.

Your item will not ship until your payment clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Angie via e-mail or by phone at 1-361-815-8852 (Central time zone).

This, the lightest, latest/greatest version of the Nikon 400mm f/2.8 lenses, is superb for large mammals in low light and birds at close range. It is superbly sharp alone or with the TC-14E III. It offers the world’s sweetest Bokeh. As a new goes for $11,196.95 right, you can save a very smooth $3,500 by grabbing Angie’s lens. artie

This super telephoto prime is designed for FX-format Nikon F-mount cameras; however, it can also be used with DX models where it will provide a 600mm equivalent focal length. Its impressively bright f/2.8 maximum aperture excels in difficult lighting conditions and also enables extensive control over depth of field for isolating subjects using selective focus techniques. Two fluorite and two extra-low dispersion lens elements work to reduce chromatic aberrations, improve overall image sharpness, clarity, and color fidelity; and help to minimize the overall weight of the lens. Vibration Reduction image stabilization helps to reduce the appearance of camera shake by up to four shutter speed stops, benefiting this lens’s use in low-light conditions. Additionally, a designated Sport Mode is well-suited to working in fast-paced conditions and a Tripod Mode helps to suppress subtle ground vibrations when working atop a support system. The Silent Wave Motor affords quick, quiet, and precise autofocus performance along with full-time manual focus override. An internal focusing design is also used, where only the internal lens groups are moved during focusing, to maintain the overall length of the lens during use and to promote faster focusing speeds. Dust- and moisture-resistant magnesium-alloy lens barrel benefits the lens’ use in inclement conditions. A removable tripod collar is included with the lens for well-balanced support when working from a monopod or tripod. The collar ring also incorporates ball bearings for smooth transitions between horizontal and vertical shooting orientations. Specialized electromagnetic aperture mechanism provides greater exposure control stability that is especially beneficial when working with fast continuous shooting rates. This 400 f/2.8 is compatible with optional AF-S Teleconverter TC-14, TC-17, and TC-20 teleconverters. B&H

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4E FL ED VR Lens (with extras)

BAA friend and skilled photographer Dr. Greg Gulbransen is offering a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4E FL ED VR lens in like-new condition (with extras) for a very handsome $9296.95. As the lens was only used six times and Greg take great care of his gear, the front element is immaculate as is the entire lens. This one is a gem. The sale includes the original product box, the lens trunk, the strap, the front cover, the rear lens cap, the original lens foot, a RRS LCF-18 Replacement Foot for NIKON AF-S 500mm & 600mm f/4E FL ED VR lenses (a $120.00 value — installed), 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 Greg via e-mail. Photos are available upon request.

In all systems, the 600 f/4 lenses are the weapons of mass destruction when it comes to birds and wildlife. I loved my Nikon 600 both alone and with the 1.4X teleconverter. If you use Nikon gear and have been dreaming of moving up to the big leagues, do get in touch with Greg ASAP to save #3,000.00; this lens sells new for $12,296.95. artie

BIRDS AS ART

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

SONY e-Guide Discount Program

Purchase a (new) qualifying SONY camera body (a7r iii, a7r iv, a9, a9 ii) from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a $40 discount on the SONY e-guide. Purchase a (new) SONY 200-600mm G lens from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a $25 discount on the SONY e-guide. Purchase a (new) SONY 600mm f/4 GM lens from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a free SONY e-guide with one or two videos.

Please send your Bedford’s or B&H receipts to me via e-mail to receive your discount and your ordering instructions. Folks purchasing from Bedfords and using the BIRDSASART code will save $50. Folks sending their B&H receipts may need to wait a few days to have their purchases confirmed. Folks using Bedfords will have their purchases confirmed immediately.

107 sold to rave reviews. The SONY e-Guide by Patrick Sparkman and Arthur Morris

The Sony Camera User’s e-Guide (and Videos)

Click here to purchase the guide with one Camera Set-up Video. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here to specify your camera body so that we can send you a link for the correct video.

Click here to purchase the guide with two Camera Set-up Videos. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here to specify your two camera bodies so that we can send you links for the correct videos.

Click here to learn more about the SONY e-Guide.

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 of more than $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.

This image was created on Thursday 27 August 2020 at Indian Lake Estates. Working from my SUV, I used the Levered Clamp FlexShooter Pro/Induro/GIT 204-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 1.4x teleconverter, and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital Camera Body. ISO 400. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/800 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. The exposure was confirmed as perfect by RawDigger. ABW at 7:59:53am on a mostly sunny morning. Upper Right Zone Continuous AF was active at the moment of exposure and performed miraculously well. Click on the composite to see a larger version. A seven-frame sequence in the same second: Sandhill Crane adult flapping rapidly in place

Spray and Pray!

In Avian Moderator Gail Bisson’s BPN Semipalmated Plover preening post here, she wrote, I love this particular pose and always “spray and pray” when I see them do this. She got a wonderful frame with the bird preening a tiny feather in its tiny bill. It is a fine image and well worth a click.

Her spray and pray comment got me thinking. I have written here often that when unexpected action occurs, folks should press and hold the shutter button. Spray and pray is pretty much the same idea. With both Gail’s image and my image there was no time to decide which is the best pose when you are in the moment. The human eye cannot see the individual poses and even if we could discern the ideal pose, our reaction-time is so slow that we would miss it be a mile every time. So the best option is to press the shutter button and hold it down while hoping that you get lucky with a great pose (assuming sharp focus and a perfect exposure) …

Learning from the Composite

I was creating some simple vertical head and shoulders portraits. The first frame in the sequence, 5466 suffers because the bird’s head is turned ever-so-slightly away from us. When the bird began to flap I fired off seven quick frames. The key was to trust the AF system and press and hold the shutter button down until the bird quit flapping. I adjust the silver knob on my a href=”https://birdsasart-shop.com/levered-clamp-flexshooter-pro/” rel=”noopener noreferrer” target=”_blank”>Levered Clamp FlexShooter Pro so that I am able to move the lens fairly easily to re-compose as needed. Part of the beauty of the FlexShooter Pro heads is that because of the counter-balanced spring tension, you can do without having to worry about the big lens flopping down; it stays where you point it. But despite the ease of re-framing, note that the last three frames in the sequence — 5471, 5472, and 5473 were mis-framed with the back of the bird’s head and neck cut off by the frame-edge.

Amazingly, the eye was sharp in every single image. You gotta love a9 ii autofocus.

Which of the other frames would you keep? Why?

This image was created on Thursday 27 August 2020 at Indian Lake Estates. Working from my SUV, I used the Levered Clamp FlexShooter Pro/Induro/GIT 204-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 1.4x teleconverter, and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital Camera Body. ISO 400. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/800 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. The exposure was confirmed as perfect by RawDigger. ABW at 7:59am on a mostly sunny morning. Upper Right Zone Continuous AF was active at the moment of exposure and performed miraculously well. Sandhill Crane adult flapping rapidly in place

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

As fate would have it, frame 5470, which featured the perfect orchestra-conductor pose, was the Family Jewel of the series. I wouldn’t change a single pixel and I even love the degree of blurring in the flapping wings. Note: the image as presented above is full frame. Again, it is important to understand that it would not have been possible to pre-visualize or even imagine the pose that would result in the winning image. In the same vein it would have been close to impossible to think that the autofocus system would have ignored those flapping wings and stay glued to the crane’s eye. Upper Right Zone Continuous AF was the key! Those who use SONY and own and have studied The Sony Camera User’s e-Guide (and Video for one body) will be well versed as to which SONY AF Area Modes to activate and use in this or that situation. Those who do not own the guide might be amazed to learn at how Patrick Sparkman and I set Animal Eye AF with both our a9 and a7r series bodies for bird photography …

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 regularly visit 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 :).

What’s Up?

On Wednesday morning it dawned still and cloudy so I started off photographing flowers in our butterfly garden. I was planning on working for only a few minutes and then heading down to the lake to check out the birds. But I wound up staying for more than an hour. By the time I got down to the lake there were few birds and the light was strong, so I headed home early and got in the pool. I’ve been swimming every morning before my first meal.

Please Remember

If you enjoy and learn from the blog, please remember to use one of my two affiliate programs when purchasing new gear. Doing so will not cost you a single penny and if you use Bedfords, you will save at least $50.00 on all orders greater than $1000.00. In these crazy times — I am out at least forty to sixty thousand dollars so far due to COVID 19 (with lots more to come) — remembering to use my B&H link or shop at Bedfords will help me out a ton and will be greatly appreciated. Overseas folks who cannot order from the US because of import fees, duties, and taxes can always help out by clicking here if they see fit.

The BAA Used Gear Page

The BAA Used Gear Page is the place to sell your used photographic equipment. We will help you to get your gear sold quickly for 20 to 60% more than what the big guys are offering … Doubt me? Check out the Past Sales list at the bottom of the page.

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SONY e-Guide Discount Program

Purchase a (new) qualifying SONY camera body (a7r iii, a7r iv, a9, a9 ii) from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a $40 discount on the SONY e-guide. Purchase a (new) SONY 200-600mm G lens from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a $25 discount on the SONY e-guide. Purchase a (new) SONY 600mm f/4 GM lens from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a free SONY e-guide with one or two videos.

Please send your Bedford’s or B&H receipts to me via e-mail to receive your discount and your ordering instructions. Folks purchasing from Bedfords and using the BIRDSASART code will save $50. Folks sending their B&H receipts may need to wait a few days to have their purchases confirmed. Folks using Bedfords will have their purchases confirmed immediately.

107 sold to rave reviews. The SONY e-Guide by Patrick Sparkman and Arthur Morris

The Sony Camera User’s e-Guide (and Videos)

Click here to purchase the guide with one Camera Set-up Video. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here to specify your camera body so that we can send you a link for the correct video.

Click here to purchase the guide with two Camera Set-up Videos. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here to specify your two camera bodies so that we can send you links for the correct videos.

Click here to learn more about the SONY e-Guide.

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 of more than $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.

Photo Mechanic Screen Capture for today’s featured image

Lying Down (backwards) on the Job

I wanted to get low to improve the background. Getting on my belly was too low as I wound up with mostly a sky background. So I simply reclined and turned the lens to vertical. The first time that I saw my friend Anita North use the lying down backward technique I thought that she was nuts. Getting the image anywhere near level is a challenge. I do not like having the level active in the Finder as it takes up the center of the screen and is distracting. But after creating so many images on Monday with the horizon badly skewed, I activated the level in the Finder with my a9 ii. The good news is that you can toggle it on and off so that it is available when needed.

The Problems with this Image

• The horizon is not level.
• The bush in the background right above the cranes head in the center of the frame wrecks the compositional balance.
• The Great Egret on top of the bush is a huge distraction.
• With the subject looking to our left, the bird should be more toward our right in of the frame; in other words, the bird is too centered and there is too much room behind the bird.

But with the elegant pose, I decided to work the image to come up with something pleasing.

This image was created at Indian Lake Estates, FL on Monday 24 AUGUST 2020. I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 430mm) and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO 400: 1/400 sec. at f/8. The exposure was confirmed as perfect by RawDigger. ABW at 8:01am on a clear morning. Upper Center Zone Continuous AF was active at the moment of exposure and performed to perfection. Sandhill Crane colt (hatched May 9 or 10) finishing wingstretch

The Image Optimization

After converting the RAW file in Capture One Pro 20, I brought the image into Photoshop and leveled it: R for the Ruler Tool and then Command + forward slash for Image > Rotate > Arbitrary. Then I expanded canvas a bit above and left (using the technique detailed in the last blog post here), and cropped the image from below and the right (all to improve the placement of the subject in the frame). Next I needed to move the bush to our right. First I eliminated the Great Egret using the Clone Stamp Tool at zero hardness. Then I created a Quick Mask (Q) of the bush. I made sure to include lots of the sky and the lake to the left so that when I moved the bush to the right hand of the frame with the Move Tool (V), the bush in its original position was covered.

The result was a far more pleasing image design.

Note the crop-a-bility of sharp 9 ii image files. Note also the perfect head angle in relation to the sun as I was working about 30 degrees off sun angle.

The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II). You can order your copy from the BAA Online Store here, by sending a PayPal for $40 here, or by calling Jim or Jennifer weekdays at 863-692-0906 with your credit card in hand. Be sure to specify Digital Basics II.

The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II)

All of the techniques mentioned above — including and especially the use of Quick Masks — and tons more (with the exception of Capture One RAW Conversions) — along with all of my personalized Keyboard Shortcuts — are covered in detail in the BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II), an instructional PDF that is sent via e-mail. Learn more and check out the free excerpt in the blog post here. While the new e-Guide reflects my MacBook Pro/Photo Mechanic/DPP 4/Photoshop workflow, folks using a PC and/or BreezeBrowser will also benefit greatly by studying the material on DB II. Note: folks working on a PC and/or those who do not want to miss anything Photoshop may wish to purchase the original Digital Basics along with DB II while saving $15 by clicking here to buy the DB Bundle.

Folks who learn well by following along rather than by reading can check out the complete collection of MP 4 Photoshop Tutorial Videos by clicking here. Note: all of the videos are now priced at an amazingly low $5.00 each.

You can learn how and why I converted all of my Canon digital RAW files in DPP 4 in the DPP 4 RAW Conversion Guide here. More recently, I became proficient at converting my Nikon RAW (NEF) files in Adobe Camera Raw. About two years ago I began converting my Nikon and Sony RAW files in Capture One Pro 12 and continue to do so today.

To purchase Capture One, please use this link. Then you can learn more about Capture One in the Capture One Pro 12 Simplified MP4 Video here. The next step would be to get a copy of Arash Hazeghi’s “The Nikon Photographers’ Guide to Phase One Capture One Pro e-Guide” in the blog post here.

You can learn advanced Quick Masking and advanced Layer Masking techniques in APTATS I & II. You can save $15 by purchasing the pair. Folks can learn sophisticated sharpening and (NeatImage) Noise Reduction techniques in The Professional Post Processing Guide by Arash Hazeghi and edited by yours truly. Please use this link to purchase NeatImage.

To introduce folks to our MP.4 videos and the basics involved in applying more NeatImage noise reduction to the background and less on the subject, I’d be glad to send you a free copy of the Free Noise Reduction Basics MP.4 Video. Click to shoot me an e-mail to get your free copy.

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 regularly visit 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 :).

What’s Up?

I spent some quality time with the Mother’s Day colt and its folks this morning, again being sure to stay on the road. I am almost finished with the RawDigger e-Guide.

I was glad to see that almost all of the price-slashed items sold within a day or two including and especially Anita North’s Nikon 600 VR and Dennis Westover’s Nikon D5. I used that combination with the TC-E14 to create today’s featured image. There is a lesson there that I will be sharing with y’all here soon …

Gem #1

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4E FL ED VR Lens (with extras)

BAA friend and skilled photographer Dr. Greg Gulbransen is offering a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4E FL ED VR lens in like-new condition (with extras) for a very handsome $9296.95. As the lens was only used six times and Greg take great care of his gear, the front element is immaculate as is the entire lens. This one is a gem. The sale includes the original product box, the lens trunk, the strap, the front cover, the rear lens cap, the original lens foot, a RRS LCF-18 Replacement Foot for NIKON AF-S 500mm & 600mm f/4E FL ED VR lenses (a $120.00 value — installed), 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 Greg via e-mail. Photos are available upon request.

In all systems, the 600 f/4 lenses are the weapons of mass destruction when it comes to birds and wildlife. I loved my Nikon 600 both alone and with the 1.4X teleconverter. If you use Nikon gear and have been dreaming of moving up to the big leagues, do get in touch with Greg ASAP to save #3,000.00; this lens sells new for $12,296.95. artie

This image was created (by me) on the morning of February 18, 2018 on the spoonbill boat with the Induro GIT 304L/Mongoose M3.6-mounted Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4E FL ED VR lens, the Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E III, and the Nikon D5 DSLR Camera (Body Only, Dual XQD Slots). ISO 400. Matrix metering +2/3 stop off the blue sky: 1/2500 sec. at f/7.1. AWB at 7:50am on a clear day. Center Group (grp) Shutter Button AF. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #1: Roseate Spoonbill taking flight

Gem #2

This is my favorite-ever D5 image. If you are looking for a great buy on a Nikon 600 VR, scroll up and grab Greg Gulbransen’s like-new copy with extras …

What’s Up?

Friday was the worst morning for photography at ILE since I began self-isolating here on 22 MARCH. I photographed flower clusters on a sumac bush and made a very few not-too-good crane images. Blooming flowers are scarce. I will leave at about 6:30am today — Saturday 22 AUGUST 2020, head over to Tiger Creek Preserve, make a stop at the Ridge Audubon Center, and then stop in Lake Wales to do some food shopping. I have not been in Publix for more than a month as Jim as been doing the shopping for us.

I learned yesterday that the sale of Denis Westover’s Nikon D5 is pending.

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 had been somewhat depressed, but sales have been brisk for the past few weeks. And over the past year, we have sold many many hundreds of items. Do know that prices of many used 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 … Recently, however, the Canon used gear market has shown some signs of life. Prices on used Nikon gear have also dropped as well. You can see all the current 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 (including some that I missed)

Dennis Westover sold his Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR lens in excellent-plus condition for a BAA record-low $944.95 the first day it was listed in late July 2020.
John Bowden sold a Canon EOS 5D Mark 4 in near-mint condition for $1499.00 (was $1,699.00) in mid-July 2020.
BAA friend, California botany expert Bob “BugBob” Allen, sold a Canon Extension Tube Set, the EF 12 II and EF 25 II, in excellent plus condition for $124.90 in ealry August 2020.
IPT veteran Matt Schramer sold his Canon EOS 7D Mk II camera body in near-mint condition for a very low $597.00, his Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM lens in near-mint condition for $5,249.00, and a Canon EF 1.4X III teleconverter in like-new condition for $229.00 all within a day or two of being listed in mid-July 2020.
BAA friend, California botany expert Bob “BugBob” Allen, sold his Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 IS II USM in near-mint condition for $1399.00 soon after it was listed in late JULY 2020.
John Buswell sold his Canon EOS 7D Mark II in near-mint condition for a very low $598.00 in mid-July 2020.
Charlie Curry sold his Canon 11-24mm f/4 L lens in like-new condition for a BAA record low $1499.00 the first day it was listed in late July 2020.
BAA friend, California botany expert Bob “BugBob” Allen, sold his Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM Telephoto lens in near-mint condition for a BAA record-low $2300.00 (was $2348.00), a Canon EF Extender 1.4X III in near-mint condition for a very low $229.00, and a second Canon EF Extender 1.4X III, this one in excellent condition, for a very low $199.00, all within a day or two of listing in late July 2020.
Anita North sold a Nikon D850 dSLR in excellent plus condition with a shutter count of 222,223for the silly low price of $1298.95 (was $1398.95), another D850 dSLR in very good condition with a shutter count 410,710 for the silly low price of $998.95 (was $1098.95), a Nikon TC-E20 III (2X teleconverter) in like-new condition for a very low $196.95 (was $246.95), and her Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR lens in like-new condition for a BAA record-low $945.95 (was $1,095.95), all in early to mid-July 2020.
Long-ago IPT veteran Art Leyenberger sold his Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM Telephoto lens in near-mint condition for a BAA record-low $2349.00 and a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM zoom lens in near-mint condition for a BIRDS AS ART record low $449.00 both soon after listing them in mid-July.
Jamie Baker was offering a Nikon AF-S Nikkor 500mm f/4D ED-IF lens in excellent condition for $2500.00 (was $2750.00) but decided to withdraw the listing and kindly offered to send me a check for 4% of the orginal asking price as detailed in the Items for Sale Info e-mail. Multiple IPT veteran Patricia Fishburne sold a Canon EF Extender 2X II (teleconverter) in near-mint condition for a very low $129.00 and another Canon EF Extender 2X II (teleconverter), this one in excellent condition, for a BAA record-low $99.00, both on the first day of listing in early JULY 2020.
Long-time friend Alan Levine — Alan and Sara knew Elaine! — sold their Canon Macro EF 180mm f/3.5L USM Macro Lens in like-new condition for the BAA record-low price of $799.00 in early July 2020.
Anita North sold her Nikon TC-E17 II (1.7X teleconverter) in like-new condition for a very low $146.95 (was $196.95) in early JULY 2020.
Gatorland In-the-Field veteran Ron Owen sold his Canon 200-400 f/4L IS lens with internal 1.4X Extender (with extras!) in excellent plus condition for the BAA record-low price of $4900.00 in JUNE 2020.

Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM Lens

Jim Babbitt is offering a Canon 500 mm f/4L IS II lens in excellent plus condition for the BAA record-low price of $5248.00. The lens was serviced regularly by Canon with the last service in February 2020. The sale includes the lens hood, the rear cap, the heavy-duty front lens cover, an Aquatech Silicone front cover, the lens trunk, the lens strap, the manual, both feet, a tired but functional LensCoat, 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 Jim via e-mail or by phone at 1-760 626 6435 (Pacific time zone).

The 500 f/4 super-telephoto lenses have long been the world’s most popular for birds, nature, wildlife, and sports for many decades. Canon’s Series II version is light, fast, super-sharp, and produces amazing images with both the 1.4X and 2X III TCs. The 500 II is relatively small, easily hand-holdable for some folks, and is much easier to travel with, focuses closer than, and costs a lot less than the 600 II. Lastly, and you might find this amazing, the magnification for the 500 II is the same as it is for the 600 II: .15X. How is that possible? Magnification is calculated at the minimum focusing distance of the lens — 12.14 feet (3.7 meters) for the 500 II and 14.77 feet (4.5 meters) for the 600 II. Simply put, the 500 II focuses more than two feet closer than the 600 II. The seller for the last one that sold here had five calls the first day; the first four folks quibbled on price. The fifth one jumped right on it … Please do not tarry if you are seriously interested in Jim’s lens as it too should sell almost instantly. Or not 🙂 As the 500 II goes for $8999 new you will be getting a pretty much new lens while saving $3751.00. I loved my 500 II 🙂
artie

Canon EOS-1D X Professional Digital Camera Body/with Extras!

Price dropped $300 on 14 FEB 2020!
Price dropped $400 on 26 JUNE 2020!
Price dropped $200 on 21 AUGUST 2020!

Joe Randle is also offering a used EOS 1D-X camera body in excellent condition for only $1,299.00 (was $2,199.00). The sale includes an extra LP-E4M battery, three Delkin Devices CF1000X UDMA 7 64GB cards, 4 Delkin Devices CF1000X UDMA 7 32 GB cards (all in a nice Pelican CF card case), the lens trunk, the front cap, the lens strap, the interface and stereo AV cables with cable protector, the EOS Digital Solution Disk and Software, instructions Manuals. Insured ground shipping via major courier lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Joe via e-mail or by phone at 1-620.353.8398 (Central time zone).

Two fast, rugged 1D X bodies served as my workhorse cameras for more than four years. I used them to create hundreds of family-jewels-type images. I actually liked the 1D X more than I liked my 1D X IIs … artie

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 400mm f/2.8E FL ED VR Lens

BAA Record-low Price!
Price Dropped $300.00 on 8/21!

Angie Birmingham is offering a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 400mm f/2.8E FL ED VR in like-new condition for $7696.95 (was $7,996.95). The sale includes the rear lens cap, the lens trunk, the original tough front lens cover, the lens strap, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only.

Your item will not ship until your payment clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Angie via e-mail or by phone at 1-361-815-8852 (Central time zone).

This, the lightest, latest/greatest version of the Nikon 400mm f/2.8 lenses, is superb for large mammals in low light and birds at close range. It is superbly sharp alone or with the TC-14E III. It offers the world’s sweetest Bokeh. As a new goes for $11,196.95 right, you can save a very smooth $3,500 by grabbing Angie’s lens. artie

This super telephoto prime is designed for FX-format Nikon F-mount cameras, however, it can also be used with DX models where it will provide a 600mm equivalent focal length. Its impressively bright f/2.8 maximum aperture excels in difficult lighting conditions and also enables extensive control over depth of field for isolating subjects using selective focus techniques. Two fluorite and two extra-low dispersion lens elements work to reduce chromatic aberrations, improve overall image sharpness, clarity, and color fidelity; and help to minimize the overall weight of the lens. Vibration Reduction image stabilization helps to reduce the appearance of camera shake by up to four shutter speed stops, benefiting this lens’s use in low-light conditions. Additionally, a designated Sport Mode is well-suited to working in fast-paced conditions and a Tripod Mode helps to suppress subtle ground vibrations when working atop a support system. The Silent Wave Motor affords quick, quiet, and precise autofocus performance along with full-time manual focus override. An internal focusing design is also used, where only the internal lens groups are moved during focusing, to maintain the overall length of the lens during use and to promote faster focusing speeds. Dust- and moisture-resistant magnesium-alloy lens barrel benefits the lens’ use in inclement conditions. A removable tripod collar is included with the lens for well-balanced support when working from a monopod or tripod. The collar ring also incorporates ball bearings for smooth transitions between horizontal and vertical shooting orientations. Specialized electromagnetic aperture mechanism provides greater exposure control stability that is especially beneficial when working with fast continuous shooting rates. This 400 f/2.8 is compatible with optional AF-S Teleconverter TC-14, TC-17, and TC-20 teleconverters. B&H

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4E FL ED VR Lens

BAA Record-low Price!
Price reduced $200.00 on 5-28-20
Price reduced $100.00 on 6-13-20
Price Reduced $100.00 on 2 JULY 2020
Price Reduced $100.00 on 29 JULY 2020
Price Reduced $500.00 on 21 AUGUST 2020

Anita North is offering a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4E FL ED VR lens in excellent condition for a BAA record-low $8265.95 (was $9265.95). The front element is immaculate, the finish on the hood is dinged up pretty good but is functionally perfect, and the body of the lens is excellent plus. The sale includes the lens trunk, the strap, the front cover, the rear lens cap, 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 artie via e-mail or on his cell at 863-221-2372 before 4pm Eastern time. Please leave a message or text if no answer.

In all systems, the 600 f/4 lenses are the weapons of mass destruction when it comes to birds and wildlife. I loved my Nikon 600 both alone and with the 1.4X teleconverter. If you use Nikon gear and have been dreaming of moving up to the big leagues, do get in touch with me ASAP to save $3,531.00. This lens sells new for $12,296.95. artie

Nikon Battery Grip & Charger Kit w/two extra batteries!

Price Reduced $150.00 on 2 JULY 2020
Price Reduced $100.00 on 2 JULY 2020
Price Reduced $100.00 on 21 AUGUST 2020

Anita North is offering this virtually impossible-to-find-in-stock kit for a ridiculously low $798.00 (was $1148.00). Some folks have been on waiting lists for more than one year. The sale includes the Nikon MB-D18 Multi-Power Battery Pack with EN-EL18c Battery Kit, a Nikon BL-5 Battery Chamber Cover for MB Battery Packs, the Nikon MH-26aAK Adapter Kit (that includes a BT-A10 adapter and an MH-26a dual battery charger), and two extra N-EL18b Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Batteries. Everything is in new condition. The sale includes the original boxes for the Battery Grip & the Charger and insured ground shipping via major courier (to lower-48 US addresses only). Your item will not ship until your check has cleared the bank unless other arrangements are made. (PayPal +4% is fine with same-day shipping).

These items sell new right now for approximately $1488.00 (but only if you are super-lucky enough to find these items in stock) …

Please contact artie via e-mail or on his cell at 863-221-2372 before 4pm Eastern time. Please leave a message or text if no answer.

Helping you achieve the most from your D850 DSLR, the Nikon MB-D18 Multi-Power Battery Pack with EN-EL18c Battery Kit from B&H includes the accessories needed to achieve a 9-fps continuous shooting rate, as well as extended battery life with up to 5140 shots per charge. This kit comprises the dedicated MB-D18 battery grip for the D850, an EN-EL18c rechargeable lithium-ion battery, a BL-5 Battery Chamber Cover, and the MH-26aAK Adapter Kit and Battery Charger. The Nikon MH-26aAK Adapter Kit includes a BT-A10 adapter and an MH-26a dual battery charger and allows you to charge two of the large batteries at the same time. artie & B&H

Sony a7r iii Mirrorless Digital Camera Body

BAA Record-low By-Far Price!
Price Reduced $200.00 on 21 AUGUST 2020

Anita North is offering a Sony a7 r iii Mirrorless Digital Camera body in excellent plus condition (but for a single nick on the lower-left corner of the rear monitor) for the BAA record-low-by-far price of $998.00 (was 1198.00). The sale includes an a74 iv original box, the battery charger (but not the battery), the front body cover, the strap, and insured ground shipping via major courier (to lower-48 US addresses only). The camera has the above-mentioned nick on the rear monitor, no battery, and no eye-cup.. The camera is, however, in perfect operating condition. Your item will not ship until your check has cleared the bank unless other arrangements are made. (Paypal +4% is fine with same-day shipping).

Please contact artie via e-mail or on his cell at 863-221-2372 before 4pm Eastern time. Please leave a message or text if no answer.

A SONY a7r iii served me well as my workhorse camera body on the last Galapagos trip. It would make a perfect starter camera for folks looking to get started with SONY. The a7r iii sells new for $2,498.00 at B&H so you can save a ridiculous $1300.00 by grabbing Anita’s camera body now. artie

The Last of artie’s Nikon Gear

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/4G ED VR Lens

BAA Record-low Price!
Price reduced $50.00 on 5-28-20
Price reduced $50.00 on 6-13-20
Price reduced $50.00 on 7-29-20
Price reduced $50.00 on 21 AUGUST 2020

Arthur Morris is offering a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/4G ED VR lens in like-new condition for a BAA record-low $596.95 (was $796.95). The sale includes the front and rear caps, the original box and lens bag, 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 artie via e-mail or on his cell at 863-221-2372 before 4pm Eastern time. Please leave a message or text if no answer.

This lens is smaller and lighter and costs a lot less than the f/2.8 version. It is relatively fast, very sharp, and extremely versatile. It kills for flight with close birds. And it pairs well with the TC-14E. It sells new right now for $1,396.95. Grab it now to save $800.00 artie

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4 VR Lens

BAA Record-low Price!
Price reduced $50.00 on 5-28-20
Price reduced $10.00 on 5-28-20
Price reduced $10.00 on 7-29-20
Price Reduced $50.00 on 21 AUGUST 2020
Sold 22 AUGUST 2020!

Arthur Morris is also offering a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4 VR lens in like-new condition for a BAA record-low $426.95 (was $546.95). The sale includes the front and rear caps, the original box and 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 artie via e-mail or on his cell at 863-221-2372 before 4pm Eastern time. Please leave a message or text if no answer.

I have always loved the lenses in this class. The Nikon version was a lot sharper than the Canon 24-105. It is a versatile multi-purpose lens with a thousand uses. I keep my SONY 24-105 on the front seat of my SUV every day and use it often. The 24-120 sells new right now for $1,096.95. Grab Artie’s pretty much new lens to save a cool $620.00! artie

Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM Telephoto Lens

BAA Record-low Price!
Price reduced $200.00 on 22 AUGUST 2020!
Sold 27 AUGUST 2020!

BAA friend Kay Kaylor is offering a Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM Telephoto lens in like-new condition for a BAA record-low $2147.00 (was $2347.00). There are no dings, dents, cracks, scratches, blemishes, or signs of wear and the glass is immaculate. The sale includes the front lens cover, the rear lens cap, the lens trunk, a LensCoat neoprene lens cover on the hood only, , and insured ground shipping via UPS Ground to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Certified bank check or credit card or PayPal +4%.

Please contact artie via e-mail or on his cell at 863-221-2372 before 4pm Eastern time. Please leave a message or text if no answer.

The 500mm f/4 lenses have been the world’s most popular telephoto lenses for birds, nature, wildlife, and sports for many decades. I owned and used and loved my “old five” for many years. If you use Canon and don’t have the cash for a 500 II and can handle the additional 1 1/2 pounds, then this is your best super-telephoto option. Most everyone can produce sharp images with this lens and a 1.4X TC. Folks with good to excellent sharpness techniques can do the same with a 2X TC. A new 500 II sells right now for $8,999.00 so you can save an amazing $6,652.00 by grabbing Kay’s original version 500mm f/4 IS lens (the “old five”) right now. artie

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

BAA Record-low Price!
Price reduced $50.00 on 22 AUGUST 2020!
Sold 22 AUGUST 2020!

BAA friend Kay Kaylor is also offering a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM Zoom lens in near-mint condition for a BIRDS AS ART record low $387.00 (was $447.00). The sale includes the both lens caps, the lens hood, the LZ1324 Lens Case, 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.

Certified bank check or credit card or PayPal +4%.

Please contact artie via e-mail or on his cell at 863-221-2372 before 4pm Eastern time. Please leave a message or text if no answer.

The original 100-400 is a sharp, amazingly versatile telephoto zoom lens. When I used Canon, I made hundreds of great and sale-able images with this lens (including the front cover of Scott Weidensaul’s book, “Return to Wild America!)” Denise Ippolito loved hers also. Kay’s lens would make a great starter lens for a beginning bird or nature photographer, especially when paired with her 20D (see below). artie

Canon EF 400mm f/5.6 L USM Lens

BAA Record-low Price!
Price reduced $100.00 on 22 AUGUST 2020!

BAA friend Kay Kaylor is also offering a Canon EF 400mm f/5.6 L USM lens in near-mint condition for a very low $549.00 (was $649.00). The sale includes a LensCoat Hoodie, (no front lens cap), the rear lens cap, the zipped lens case, the tripod collar, 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.

Certified bank check or credit card or PayPal +4%.

Please contact artie via e-mail or on his cell at 863-221-2372 before 4pm Eastern time. Please leave a message or text if no answer.

The 400 f/5.6 is my beloved “toy lens.” I put it on the map more than 20 years ago when I began using it for birds in flight. Today, it is still a great flight lens and would make a great starter lens for a new bird photographer, especially one with a 7D Mark II. artie

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS (Zoom) Lens

BAA Record-low Price!
Price reduced $10.00 on 22 AUGUST 2020!
Sold 27 AUGUST 2020!

BAA friend Kay Kaylor is also offering a Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS (zoom) lens in near-mint condition for the you-might-as-well-give-it-away-free price of &88.00 (was $98.00). The sale includes the front and rear lens caps 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.

Certified bank check or credit card or PayPal +4%.

Please contact artie via e-mail or on his cell at 863-221-2372 before 4pm Eastern time. Please leave a message or text if no answer.

Don’t laugh; I used this excellent lens for ten years when I shot Canon. The predecessor to both 24-105s, it is an excellent, do-everything, B-roll, don’t-leave-home-without-it lens. Super-cheap!. artie

Canon EF Extender 1.4X II teleconverter

Price reduced $20.00 on 22 AUGUST 2020!
Sold 27 AUGUST 2020!

BAA friend Kay Kaylor is also offering a Canon EF Extender 1.4X II teleconverter in near-mint condition for the BAA silly record-low price of $119.00 (was $139.00.) The sale includes the front and rear lens caps, the leather pouch, and insured UPS Ground shipping to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Certified bank check or credit card or PayPal +4%.

Please contact artie via e-mail or on his cell at 863-221-2372 before 4pm Eastern time. Please leave a message or text if no answer.

Regular readers know that I have long depended on both teleconverters for much of my bird photography. The series III TCs were designed for the series II super-telephoto lenses but if you have an older lens (like any of Kay’s lenses above, the series II TCs will perform perfectly well for you. artie

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Sold 22 AUGUST 2020

BAA friend Kay Kaylor is also offering a Canon EOS-1D Mark II in near-mint condition for a silly low $149.00 (was $174.00). The sale includes the front body cap, the strap, the manual, three NP_E3 batteries, the dual charger, and insured UPS Ground shipping to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Certified bank check or credit card or PayPal +4%.

Please contact artie via e-mail or on his cell at 863-221-2372 before 4pm Eastern time. Please leave a message or text if no answer.

It is hard to believe that you can own a like-new Canon professional dSLR for less than $200.00. I used this body with great success for several years. artie

Canon EOS 20D dSLR

Price reduced $10.00 on 22 AUGUST 2020!

BAA friend Kay Kaylor is also offering a Canon EOS 20D dSLR in near-mint condition for a silly low $64.00 (was $74.00). The sale includes the front body cap, the strap, the manual, two BP-51 batteries, and insured UPS Ground shipping to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Certified bank check or credit card or PayPal +4%.

Please contact artie via e-mail or on his cell at 863-221-2372 before 4pm Eastern time. Please leave a message or text if no answer.

The 20D was an early Canon dSLR. I owned and used one successfully for nearly three years. Kay’s body would make an excellent starter dSLR for a youngster or a beginning bird photographer, especially paired with either the “old 100-400” or the 400 f/5.6 listed above. artie

What’s Up?

Me early as usual. I am pretty sure that I will not finish this blog post before my morning photo session, swim, and brunch as I have been working on it for five hours already and still have lots to do … It is 6:30 now and Just realized that I have several hours more work to do … That said, if you opt to invest in Canon Mirrorless based on what you learn below, please, please, pretty please remember to use my B&H links or get in touch with Steve Elkins at Bedford. It will not cost you a penny more — heck, using Bedford will save you at least $50.00, and will go a long way to ensure that I do not become a greeter at Walmart … Using the BAA links will therefore be greatly appreciated.

It is just before noon here at ILE on Wednesday 19 AUGUST 2020. I photographed some tall skinny pine trees and the Mother’s Day crane colt, swam my 72 lengths, and ate a healthy breakfast before finishing and publishing today’s offering.

Via e-Mail from IPT veteran Layton Parham

Thank You Artie. I got my Canon R5 from Steve Elkins at Bedford Camera two weeks ago! Using the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout save me $50.00 off on this hot item. And you gotta love overnite free shipping! You are always right: Steve is the man for the latest/greatest hard to get cameras and accessories. And he will be sending me an RF 100-500 lens soon too! I thank you so much for all that you do. And thanks again for jumpstarting my path into the amazing world of bird photography in 2006 on the St Augustine Alligator Farm IPT! Layton Parham Palm Bay, FL

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 of more than $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.

The Canon RF Lens Mount

Canon RF Lens Mount

The Canon RF lens mount is an interchangeable-lens mount developed by Canon for its full-frame mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras, and featured first by the EOS R, and the inexpensive EOS RP. Those were followed recently by the EOS R5 and the EOS R6. The RF mount was announced in September 2018. For complete information on the RF Lens Mount see the superb article here on The-Digital-Picture.com website.

The RF mount allows for the use of Canon EF and EF-S mount lenses using one of three Canon-made lens adapters.

Canon EOS R Adapters

To use your EF (and EF-S) lenses with an R-series camera body, you will need one of the three EOS R Adapters:

Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R

On the surface, the Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R would seem to be the best and least expensive option for most folks.

Canon Control Ring Mount Adapter EF-EOS R

The more sophisticated Canon Control Ring Mount Adapter EF-EOS R incorporates a customizable Control Ring, the same as on native RF-mount lenses> this ring allows for intuitively adjusting exposure settings, such as ISO, aperture, and exposure compensation. While that seems pretty neat, it does not seem to be worth the additional $100.00 to me. If you are using this model and beg to differ, please leave a comment.

Canon Drop-In Filter Mount Adapter EF-EOS R with Variable ND Filter

The Canon Drop-In Filter Mount Adapter EF-EOS R with Variable ND Filter would seem to be ideal for folks like me who enjoy creating pleasing blurs even on sunny days. As with the two previous adapters, the Canon Drop-In Filter Mount Adapter EF-EOS R is a unique lens adapter designed for attaching any EF or EF-S-mount lens to the EOS R mirrorless digital camera. But this sophisticated adapter affords compatibility with select A-type drop-in filters. The best news here is that your purchase includes a variable neutral density filter that will most often be used to achieve the slow shutter speeds needed to create pleasing blurs.

The adapter’s design retains full autofocus and image stabilization capabilities of the mounted lens and is dust- and water-resistant, making it suitable for use in harsh weather conditions.

Drop-In Variable Neutral Density Filter A

Designed for use (and included) with the Canon Drop-In Filter Mount Adapter EF-EOS R, the Drop-In Variable Neutral Density Filter A offers an intuitive and sleek way to use a variable neutral density filter in conjunction with an adapted lens (including those lacking traditional filter threads). This variable ND filter is permanently installed into a drop-in holder and has an integrated wheel for adjusting the rotation position to alter the ND effect.

The variable ND filter offers from 1.5 to 9 stops of adjustment and creates a darkening of the entire image for photographing with a wider aperture or slower shutter speed than normally required. The degree of density is easily controlled by rotating the filter, helping you to predetermine the additional exposure length required. By increasing your aperture or slowing your exposure time, you are able to control depth of field and convey movement more easily.

Kudos to Canon for coming up with this. It would seem to be a must-have accessory for Canon mirrorless folks visiting Bosque del Apache NWR!

The huge problem right now is that because of supply shortage and a delay in manufacturing it is impossible to purchase any of the Canon EOS R Adapters. Best would be to pre-order now with either B&H or Steve Elkins at Bedford.

From multiple IPT veteran Muhammad Arif via e-mail:

FYI, there is a third and yet more expensive RF to EF adapter that accepts a drop-in filter. In my opinion, this is much more useful than the one with the ring, the Canon Control Ring Mount Adapter EF-EOS R. While the 500 and 600mm f/4 (and other super-telephoto lenses) offer drop-in filters, the 100-400s and most EF lenses do not. This adapter gives folks a “one ND filter fits all” option. Another cool feature of all three of these adapters is the capability of accepting EF-S lenses (i.e. crop sensor lenses). Previously, it was impossible to use an EF-S lens on a Canon full-frame body. While this is probably not useful for bird photographers, I can see many others going Canon mirrorless who will be glad to be able to use their EF-S lenses.

Adapted from an e-mail from Canon Top Tech-Rep Rudy Winston (in response to my question):

There is no calibrated scale on the small, geared thumb wheel for the Drop-in Filter Lens Mount Adapter EF-EOS R. You can, of course, see the impact in the electronic viewfinder (or on the LCD screen), but there is no analog scale on the wheel itself or in the viewfinder that indicates the stops of darkening.

One question that comes up for the Drop-in Filter Mount Adapter is “what do you do if/when you don’t want the effect of the variable ND filter?” The adapter is engineered to always have the filter in place and there is no zero setting; if a photographer simply removes the filter, it changes the actual optical path and can lead to a slight reduction in lens sharpness. Canon Drop-In Clear Filter A (purchased separately) needs to be put in-place in those situations. We don’t recommend shooting without a filter as noted above. In addition, there is no way to seal the opening from dust, moisture, etc.

The Canon Mount Adapters can be used with **any** Canon EF, EF-S, TS-E, or MP-E lens on the full-frame EOS R series cameras. Remarkably, there is essentially no reduction in AF performance or speed, and all exposure modes and features continue to remain fully available when these lenses are used in conjunction with the Canon Lens Mount Adapter(s) EF-EOS R. (Bold-facing mine.)

The Bottom Line

In short, you cannot use the Canon Drop-In Filter Mount Adapter EF-EOS R with Variable ND Filter as a straight-up adapter for your EF lenses as you will always have 1 1/2 stops of darkening in place unless you remove the variable ND filter and insert the Canon Drop-In Clear Filter A (purchased separately for $129.95 and of course, currently back-ordered). Still, if I were shooting Canon Mirrorless and headed for Bosque, I would be sure to have this adapter in my kit …

One of the Two New Canon Mirrorless Bodies

EOS R5

It seems that the Canon EOS R5 Mirrorless Digital Camera (Body Only) has finally gotten Canon successfully into the Birds-in-Flight AF Wars. This body offers a 45MP full-frame sensor, ISOs from 100 to 51,200 (102,400 extended), RAW burst mode up to 180 frames, 8K video at 30 fps (RAW 12-bit), a 5.76 million dot viewfinder, a Secondary LCD screen, and dual card slots: one CFExpress and one SD/SDHC/SDXC.

EOS R6

The slightly heavier Canon EOS R6 Mirrorless Digital Camera (Body Only) offers a 20.1-megapixel full-frame sensor, ISOs from 100 to 102,400 (204,800 extended), RAW burst mode up to 240 frames, 4K video at 60 fps (10-bit), a 3.69 million dot viewfinder, and dual SD card slots. Both cameras offer up to 12 fps with the mechanical shutter and up to 20 fps with the electronic shutter.

This image was created by multiple IPT veteran Lou Newman with the hand held Canon RF 800mm f/11 IS STM lens and the Canon EOS R5 Mirrorless digital camera body.. It seems the Canon finally has an AF system capable of creating a high percentage of sharp image of birds in flight … Red Knots taking flight

Best for You?

Both cameras offer up to 12 fps with the mechanical shutter and up to 20 fps with the electronic shutter. And from what I am hearing and seeing, the AF system is superb, very close to being on par with the SONY a9 ii. Both bodies feature In-body Image Stabilization (IBIS). According to Canon, the R5’s IBIS system is capable of up to 8 stops of image stabilization depending on the lens used (mostly with shorter focal length lenses ???). For bird photography, I would absolutely opt for the 45MP EOS R5. Folks on a budget might prefer the EOS R6.

Before you purchase, you might want to do a search for Canon R5 & R6 rolling shutter and overheating issues. I followed many of the links and they all pretty much seemed to lead to the typical and undocumented the-sky-is-falling nonsense in the form of comments and videos. It seems clear that both problems occur with video capture only.

For a fairly balanced comparison of the two bodies, see the article here on the DigitalTrends website. See also the R5 review on the ImagingResource site here. Check out the R6 video by Canon Explorer of Light Rick Sammon here. Also, you can see EoL George Lepp’s Trumpeter Swam EOS R5 images on his FB page here.

From my extensive internet searches, one thing does seem clear: neither body was created as a professional video camera. Learn more about the video overheating problems in the DPReview article here .

Canon RF Super-Telephoto and Telephoto Zoom Lenses

Canon is offering three new big lenses to team with their mirrorless camera bodies.

This image was created by multiple IPT veteran Lou Newman with the hand held Canon RF 800mm f/11 IS STM lens and the Canon EOS R5 Mirrorless digital camera body.. Snowy Plover chick

Canon RF 600mm f/11 IS STM & RF 800mm f/11 IS STM Lenses

When I first heard about the Canon RF 600mm f/11 IS STM lens and the Canon RF 800mm f/11 IS STM lens, I was quick to dismiss them as too slow. But when I saw some of Lou Newman’s images, I quit laughing … These inexpensive super-telephotos are relatively small light and easily hand-holdable for most folks. The RF 600mm weighs only 2.05 lbs. and the RF 800mm tips the scales at only 2.77 lbs. With the great variety of outstanding noise reduction options available today, either of these budget-priced lenses might be perfect for you, especially if you work around tame birds.

From Lou Newman via e-Mail

I am loving the RF 800mm f/11 IS/EOS/EOS R5 rig. Until I purchased the R5 and the 800mm lens I was shooting with the 1DX Mark III with the 600mm lens on a tripod if I did not have to hike too far. Otherwise I go with the 1DX Mark III and the 100-400mm II zoom lens or the 400mm f/4IS DO lens (both with and without the 1.4X III teleconverter. The R5 with the 800mm lens is lighter and easier to carry than both of those rigs. What’s more the R5 is faster to acquire focus, locks on better, and results in more tack-sharp images. I once dreamed of being able to hand-hold a 600mm lens. Who would have thought I would wind up with a handhold-able 800mm? Sometimes it is too much lens. I can’t wait for the RF 100-500mm IS lens.

The Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM lens looks like a real winner!

Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM Lens

The Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM lens sounds like a mega-winner. It incorporates the incredible versatility of the 100-400II with an extra 100mm and amazingly, even closer focusing! The minimum focusing distance of the 1-5 is 2.95 feet or (90 cm)! If I were using Canon mirrorless I would have been first one on line for this lens.

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.

What’s Up?

Bird photography in the mornings at ILE has been a struggle for the last two days. Today, Monday 17 AUGUST 2020 I spent an hour working from my SUV with a flock of White Ibis feeding in the grass near the base of the pier …

Most folks preferred Image #2 in yesterday’s Backing Up for Vulturine Tree-scapes blog post here. And so did I, so I posted it here on BPN. Click on the link to see what others had to say. Crack Avian Forum Moderator and skilled photographer Daniel Cadieux pointed out a big screw-up in the processing …

Canon Mirrorless Help Requested

If you have a few great images made with an EOS R5 or and EOS R6, please shoot me no more than 3 of your very best via e-mail to be considered for use in the next blog post. So yes, please hurry. Please attach the images as JPEGs 1200 pixels wide or tall and less than 395KB. thanks with love, a

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 of more than $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.

The Promaster Replacement Rear Cap

If You’re Anything Like Me …

If you’re like me, you are constantly losing or misplacing front or rear lens caps or camera body caps. When I was using Canon I hated that the caps got loose with wear. And the off-brand replacement capes were no better. I used to line the inside of my Canon caps with small strips of duct tape so that they would not fall off. My Nikon caps were fine but I did lose a few. And the same is true with SONY. Part of the problem with me is that the rear compartment of my SUVs are always a big mess. The further problem is that SONY caps are both super-expensive and almost impossible to get.

I was, therefore, thrilled to learn from Steve Elkins at Bedford that he carries both the rear lens caps and the body caps for SONY. These relatively inexpensive accessories are made by Promaster as follows:

Promaster Body Cap/Sony NEX

Promaster Rear Cap/Sony NEX

The good news is that the fit is snugly. The Body Cap is for your SONY bodies, the Rear Cap is for your lenses. The bad news is that Promaster does not yet make the front teleconverter covers. Best not to lose one of those! I ordered three of each just so that I do not have to spend too long looking for a cap when I need it.

BIRDS AS ART

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

SONY e-Guide Discount Program

Purchase a (new) qualifying SONY camera body (a7r iii, a7r iv, a9, a9 ii) from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a $40 discount on the SONY e-guide. Purchase a (new) SONY 200-600mm G lens from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a $25 discount on the SONY e-guide. Purchase a (new) SONY 600mm f/4 GM lens from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a free SONY e-guide with one or two videos.

Please send your Bedford’s or B&H receipts to me via e-mail to receive your discount and your ordering instructions. Folks purchasing from Bedfords and using the BIRDSASART code will save $50. Folks sending their B&H receipts may need to wait a few days to have their purchases confirmed. Folks using Bedfords will have their purchases confirmed immediately.

SONY e-Guide Revision Sent Today via e-Mail

Today, I sent 106 e-mails with links to a revised version of the comprehensive SONY e-Guide. I discovered an error dealing with a misconception that I had with Enlarge Initial Position feature. If you own the guide and did not receive the link for the revision, please get in touch via e-mail.

106 sold to rave reviews. The SONY e-Guide by Patrick Sparkman and Arthur Morris

The Sony Camera User’s e-Guide (and Videos)

Click here to purchase the guide with one Camera Set-up Video. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here to specify your camera body so that we can send you a link for the correct video.

Click here to purchase the guide with two Camera Set-up Videos. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here to specify your two camera bodies so that we can send you links for the correct videos.

Click here to learn more about the SONY e-Guide.

The BAA Used Gear Page

The BAA Used Gear Page is the place to sell your used photographic equipment. We will help you to get your gear sold quickly for 20 to 60% more than what the big guys are offering … Doubt me? Check out the Past Sales list at the bottom of the page. Note: I had to archive four plus years of sales because the page was too long for Word Press!

Sony FE 2.8/16‑35mm GM Wide Angle Zoom Lens

Multiple IPT veteran and good friend William Schneider is offering a Sony FE 2.8/16‑35 GM wide angle zoom lens in like-new condition for the very low price of $1498.00. The sale includes the original box and everything that came in it along with insured shipping via Fed Ex Ground. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Bill via e-mail e-mail or by phone at 1-(262) 269-8628 (Eastern time zone).

This super-fast wide angle zoom is a landscape shooter’s dream lens. It sells new right now for $2,098.00 AT B&H so you can save a cool $600.00 by grabbing his virtually new lens asap. artie

A fast and flexible wide-angle zoom, the FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM Lens from Sony is a wide-angle zoom designed for full-frame E-mount mirrorless cameras. Distinguished by its constant f/2.8 maximum aperture, this lens offers consistent performance throughout the zoom range and benefits working in low-light conditions. The optical design incorporates two extra-low dispersion elements to reduce chromatic aberrations along with two XA elements and three aspherical elements, which significantly controls spherical aberrations for a high degree of image sharpness and clarity. Additionally, a Nano AR coating has been applied to limit ghosting and lens flare for increased contrast and color fidelity when working in strong lighting conditions.

Complementing the optical assets, this lens is also notable for its inclusion of an 11-blade circular diaphragm to produce smooth, soft-edged bokeh with selective focus imagery. For controlling focus, two Direct Drive SSM AF groups are employed that are quick and quiet, and also lend more responsive control for manual focus operation. The lens also sports a dust- and moisture-sealed design to support shooting in inclement conditions and a dedicated focus hold button and AF/MF switch. As part of Sony’s esteemed G Master series, this lens is designed to achieve notably high resolution and sharpness through the correction of a wide variety of spherical and chromatic aberrations. Additionally, these lenses feature robust and intuitive-to-handle physical designs to benefit both photography and cine applications. B&H

Canon EOS-1DX Mark II

BAA Record-low Price!

Multiple IPT veteran Larry Master is offering a Canon EOS-1DX Mark II in near-mint condition for the BAA record-low price of $2797.00. The sale includes an extra battery, the original product box and everything that came in it including the front body cap, the strap, 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 Larry via e-mail or by phone at 1-518-645-1545 EDT.

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 $2302.00 on this great deal. artie

Canon EF Extension Tube Set

BAA Record-low Price!

Multiple IPT veteran Larry Master is also offering a Canon Extension Tube Set, the EF 12 II and EF 25 II, in excellent plus condition for the BAA record-low price of $122.90. The sale includes the front and rear lens caps 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 Larry via e-mail or by phone at 1-518-645-1545 EDT.

As regular readers know, I used extension tubes often to reduce the minimum focusing distances of my two Canon 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 $101.00 by grabbing the pair. artie

Canon EF 500mm f/4L USM Telephoto Lens

Dennis Bartsch is offering a Canon EF 500mm f/4L USM Telephoto lens in near-mint condition for $2399.00. There are no signs of wear or blemishes and the glass is immaculate. The sale includes the rear lens cap, the lens trunk, the original tough front lens cover, the lens strap, an Arca Swiss compatible lens plate, a LensCoat, 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 Dennis Bartsch via e-mail or by phone at 1-267-625-3144) Eastern time zone.

The 500mm f/4 lenses have been the world’s most popular telephoto lenses for birds, nature, wildlife, and sports for many decades. I owned and used and loved my “old five” for many years. If you use Canon and don’t have the cash for a 500 II and can handle the additional 1 1/2 pounds, then this is your best super-telephoto option. Most everyone can produce sharp images with this lens and a 1.4X TC. Folks with good to excellent sharpness techniques can do the same with a 2X TC. A new 500 II sells right now for $8,999.00 so you can save an amazing $6,600.00 by grabbing Dennis’s original version 500mm f/4 IS lens (the “old five”) right now. artie

What’s Up?

I headed down to the lake early today — Friday 14 AUGUST 2020 — determined to photograph a few birds from my new SUV but I had not realized how long and hard it had rained late on the previous day. I dared not drive on the fields in fear of getting stuck. There were a few vultures in the dead tree at the south end of the South Field so I got out of my vehicle, set up the tripod, and had fun with the 600 GM and the a9 ii.

If you missed yesterday’s ISO 10,000 Bobcat image and story, it is worth a visit. Thanks to all who commented.

Canon is making a comeback with the EOS R 5 and the EOS R 6 (more on those here soon). To that end we offer a slew of Used Canon gear old and new 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 had been somewhat depressed, but sales have been brisk for the past few weeks. And over the past year, we have sold many many hundreds of items. Do know that prices of many used 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 … Recently, however, the Canon used gear market has shown some signs of life. Prices on used Nikon gear have also dropped as well. You can see all the current 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.

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

Sale Pending first day of listing

Ben Clemens is offering a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 IS II USM in near-mint condition for $1449.00. The sale includes the rear lens cap, the front lens cover, the LZ1324 zippered Lens Case, the ET-83-D lens hood, two P&J Photo 77mm star filters (one 4-point — brand new, and one 8-point — like-new), and insured UPS Ground shipping to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Ben via e-mail or by phone at 1-585-545-5165 Eastern time zone.

This incredibly versatile zoom lens — with its .98 meter close focus — was my favorite Canon telephoto lens. By far. It sells new for $2,199.00 so you can save a very nice $750.00 by being the first to grab Ben’s lens. artie

Nikon D5 dSLR (XQD version) with extras!

BAA Record-low Price!
Price Reduced $300.00 on 14 AUGUST 2020

Dennis Westover is also offering a Nikon D5 dSLR (XQD version) in excellent-plus condition for a BAA record-low $3396.95 (was $3696.95). The body has only 22,208 shutter actuations. (NIKON rates the d5 shutter for 400,000 actuations). The camera was recently cleaned and check by Glazer’s Camera in Seattle. The sale includes the one EN-EL18 battery (the original battery), the NIKON dual battery charger, one Lexar 64GB 2933x XQD card, the Really Right Stuff L bracket, 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 Dennis via e-mail.

The D5 is Nikon’s vaunted professional digital camera body. It is fast and features Nikon’s best AF system. I used mine with success with all of my Nikon lenses including and especially the 80-400, the 200-500, the 500 PF, and the 600 f/4 VR. The D5 sells for $5,496.95 new right now so you can save a handsome $2,100 on this bargain-priced dSLR. With extras! artie

Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM Telephoto Lens

BIRDS AS ART Record-low Price!

BAA friend Kay Kaylor is offering a Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM Telephoto lens in like-new condition for a BAA record-low $2347.00. There are no dings, dents, cracks, scratches, blemishes, or signs of wear and the glass is immaculate. The sale includes the front lens cover, the rear lens cap, the lens trunk, a LensCoat neoprene lens cover on the hood only, , and insured ground shipping via UPS Ground to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Certified bank check or credit card or PayPal +4%.

Please contact artie via e-mail or on his cell at 863-221-2372 before 4pm Eastern time. Please leave a message or text if no answer.

The 500mm f/4 lenses have been the world’s most popular telephoto lenses for birds, nature, wildlife, and sports for many decades. I owned and used and loved my “old five” for many years. If you use Canon and don’t have the cash for a 500 II and can handle the additional 1 1/2 pounds, then this is your best super-telephoto option. Most everyone can produce sharp images with this lens and a 1.4X TC. Folks with good to excellent sharpness techniques can do the same with a 2X TC. A new 500 II sells right now for $8,999.00 so you can save an amazing $6,652.00 by grabbing Kay’s original version 500mm f/4 IS lens (the “old five”) right now. artie

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

BAA friend Kay Kaylor is also offering a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM Zoom lens in near-mint condition for a BIRDS AS ART record low $447.00. The sale includes the both lens caps, the lens hood, the LZ1324 Lens Case, 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.

Certified bank check or credit card or PayPal +4%.

Please contact artie via e-mail or on his cell at 863-221-2372 before 4pm Eastern time. Please leave a message or text if no answer.

The original 100-400 is a sharp, amazingly versatile telephoto zoom lens. When I used Canon, I made hundreds of great and sale-able images with this lens (including the front cover of Scott Weidensaul’s book, “Return to Wild America!)” Denise Ippolito loved hers also. Kay’s lens would make a great starter lens for a beginning bird or nature photographer, especially when paired with her 20D (see below). artie

Canon EF 400mm f/5.6 L USM Lens

BAA friend Kay Kaylor is also offering a Canon EF 400mm f/5.6 L USM lens in near-mint condition for a very low $649.00. The sale includes a LensCoat Hoodie, (no front lens cap), the rear lens cap, the zipped lens case, the tripod collar, 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.

Certified bank check or credit card or PayPal +4%.

Please contact artie via e-mail or on his cell at 863-221-2372 before 4pm Eastern time. Please leave a message or text if no answer.

The 400 f/5.6 is my beloved “toy lens.” I put it on the map more than 20 years ago when I began using it for birds in flight. Today, it is still a great flight lens and would make a great starter lens for a new bird photographer, especially one with a 7D Mark II. artie

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM Zoom Lens

Sold first day of listing

BAA friend Kay Kaylor is also offering a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM Zoom lens (the original non-IS version) in excellent plus condition for the BAA silly record-low price of $249.00. The sale includes an off-brand front lens cap, the tripod collar, (no hood, no lens case) and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only.

Certified bank check or credit card or PayPal +4%.

Please contact artie via e-mail or on his cell at 863-221-2372 before 4pm Eastern time. Please leave a message or text if no answer.

The original 70-200 f/2.8L is a super-sharp and very versatile telephoto zoom lens. When I used Canon, I used this lens often to create a great variety of images that sold well. artie

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS (Zoom) Lens

BIRDS AS ART Record-low Price!

BAA friend Kay Kaylor is also offering a Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS (zoom) lens in near-mint condition for the you-might-as-well-give-it-away-free price of $98.00. The sale includes the front and rear lens caps 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.

Certified bank check or credit card or PayPal +4%.

Please contact artie via e-mail or on his cell at 863-221-2372 before 4pm Eastern time. Please leave a message or text if no answer.

Don’t laugh; I used this excellent lens for ten years when I shot Canon. The predecessor to both 24-105s, it is an excellent, do-everything, B-roll, don’t-leave-home-without-it lens. Super-cheap!. artie

Canon EF Extension Tube Set

Sold first day of listing

BAA friend Kay Kaylor is also offering a Canon Extension Tube Set, the EF 12 II and EF 25 II, in excellent plus condition for the BAA record-low price of $123.90. The sale includes the front and rear lens caps and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only.

Certified bank check or credit card or PayPal +4%.

Please contact artie via e-mail or on his cell at 863-221-2372 before 4pm Eastern time. Please leave a message or text if no answer.

As regular readers know, I used extension tubes often to reduce the minimum focusing distances of my two Canon 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

Canon EF Extender 1.4X II teleconverter

BAA friend Kay Kaylor is also offering a Canon EF Extender 1.4X II teleconverter in near-mint condition for the BAA silly record-low price of $139.00 The sale includes the front and rear lens caps, the leather pouch, and insured UPS Ground shipping to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Certified bank check or credit card or PayPal +4%.

Please contact artie via e-mail or on his cell at 863-221-2372 before 4pm Eastern time. Please leave a message or text if no answer.

Regular readers know that I have long depended on both teleconverters for much of my bird photography. The series III TCs were designed for the series II super-telephoto lenses but if you have an older lens (like any of Kay’s lenses above, the series II TCs will perform perfectly well for you. artie

Canon EF Extender 2X II teleconverter

Sold first day of listing

BAA friend Kay Kaylor is also offering a Canon EF Extender 2X II teleconverter in near-mint condition for the BAA silly record-low price of $129.00 The sale includes the front and rear lens caps, the leather pouch, and insured UPS Ground shipping to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Certified bank check or credit card or PayPal +4%.

Please contact artie via e-mail or on his cell at 863-221-2372 before 4pm Eastern time. Please leave a message or text if no answer.

Regular readers know that I have long depended on both teleconverters for much of my bird photography. The series III TCs were designed for the series II super-telephoto lenses but if you have an older lens (like any of Kay’s lenses above, the series II TCs will perform perfectly well for you. artie

Wimberley WH-101 Gimbal Head w/QR C-30 Clamp

Sold first day of listing

BAA friend Kay Kaylor is also offering a Wimberley WH-101 Gimbal Head w/QR C-30 Clamp for the amazingly low price of $249.00. The sale includes insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Certified bank check or credit card or PayPal +4%. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Certified bank check or credit card or PayPal +4%.

Please contact artie via e-mail or on his cell at 863-221-2372 before 4pm Eastern time. Please leave a message or text if no answer.

I loved the original Wimberley head especially when I needed to get taller. I kept mine and used it often in three-hatch vehicles in East Africa where the extra height was a huge advantage. In addition, the longer swimg arm made it more stable than the newer V2.This rig is perfect for folks with big lenses who neeed mega stabilty while not moving around much in the field. And you will never-ever beat the price. artie

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Sale pending 8/23

BAA friend Kay Kaylor is also offering a Canon EOS-1D Mark II in near-mint condition for a silly low $179.00. The sale includes the front body cap, the strap, the manual, three NP_E3 batteries, the dual charger, and insured UPS Ground shipping to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Certified bank check or credit card or PayPal +4%.

Please contact artie via e-mail or on his cell at 863-221-2372 before 4pm Eastern time. Please leave a message or text if no answer.

It is hard to believe that you can own a like-new Canon professional dSLR for less than $200.00. I used this body with great success for several years. artie

Canon EOS 20D dSLR

BAA friend Kay Kaylor is also offering a Canon EOS 20D dSLR in near-mint condition for a silly low $74.00. The sale includes the front body cap, the strap, the manual, two BP-51 batteries, and insured UPS Ground shipping to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Certified bank check or credit card or PayPal +4%.

Please contact artie via e-mail or on his cell at 863-221-2372 before 4pm Eastern time. Please leave a message or text if no answer.

The 20D was an early Canon dSLR. I owned and used one successfully for nearly three years. Kay’s body would make an excellent starter dSLR for a youngster or a beginning bird photographer, especially paired with either the “old 100-400” or the 400 f/5.6 listed above. artie

What’s Up?

I have been alternating between birds and flowers on my morning photo sessions. On Monday I began with a nice adult Crested Caracara hanging around the base of the pier and then did some of the Mother’s Day crane family — two adults and the large, surviving colt. I am loving swimming in my now-cool pool so much that on Sunday I did a full mile (88 lengths). I am blessed in many ways.

The weather for today — Tuesday 11 AUGUST 2020 — is for hot and sunny yielding to hot and cloudy with scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. In other words, par for the course. I will be heading out with all of my SONY gear at about 7am.

If you have a moment, please leave a comment and let us know which of today’s featured images you like best and why.

Please Remember

If you enjoy and learn from the blog, please remember to use one of my two affiliate programs when purchasing new gear. Doing so will not cost you a single penny and if you use Bedfords, you will save at least $50.00 on all orders greater than $1000.00. In these crazy times — I am out at least forty to sixty thousand dollars so far due to COVID 19 (with lots more to come) — remembering to use my B&H link or shop at Bedfords will help me out a ton and will be greatly appreciated. Overseas folks who cannot order from the US because of import fees, duties, and taxes can always help out by clicking here if they see fit.

BIRDS AS ART

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

The BAA Used Gear Page

The BAA Used Gear Page is the place to sell your used photographic equipment. We will help you to get your gear sold quickly for 20 to 60% more than what the big guys are offering … Doubt me? Check out the Past Sales list at the bottom of the page.

SONY e-Guide Discount Program

Purchase a (new) qualifying SONY camera body (a7r iii, a7r iv, a9, a9 ii) from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a $40 discount on the SONY e-guide. Purchase a (new) SONY 200-600mm G lens from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a $25 discount on the SONY e-guide. Purchase a (new) SONY 600mm f/4 GM lens from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a free SONY e-guide with one or two videos.

Please send your Bedford’s or B&H receipts to me via e-mail to receive your discount and your ordering instructions. Folks purchasing from Bedfords and using the BIRDSASART code will save $50. Folks sending their B&H receipts may need to wait a few days to have their purchases confirmed. Folks using Bedfords will have their purchases confirmed immediately.

106 sold to rave reviews. The SONY e-Guide by Patrick Sparkman and Arthur Morris

The Sony Camera User’s e-Guide (and Videos)

Click here to purchase the guide with one Camera Set-up Video. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here to specify your camera body so that we can send you a link for the correct video.

Click here to purchase the guide with two Camera Set-up Videos. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here to specify your two camera bodies so that we can send you links for the correct videos.

Click here to learn more about the SONY e-Guide.

The BAA Used Gear Page

The BAA Used Gear Page is the place to sell your used photographic equipment. We will help you to get your gear sold quickly for 20 to 60% more than what the big guys are offering … Doubt me? Check out the Past Sales list at the bottom of the page.

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 of more than $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.

This image was created on the morning of 7 AUGUST 2020 near the waterlily spot at Alba and Orange. I used the Induro GIT 404L/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Canon EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM lens with the Metabones Canon EF/EF-S Lens to Sony E Mount T Smart Adapter (Fifth Generation) and the 61MP monster, the Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital camera body ISO 800. Multi metering +2 stops: 1/15 sec. at f/16 in Av mode. This exposure was confirmed as perfect by RawDigger from a series of bracketed images. AWB at 8:45am on a still, mostly cloudy morning. Manual focus using the combination of Manual Focus Toggle and Focus Magnifier tips from the SONY e-guide along with the 2-second timer. The flower was picked from a roadside that is mowed regularly and then Plamped. In fact, the day after I spotted a nice patch of these flowers, I returned only to find that they had all been dead-headed by the big mowing machine … I returned a week later and was glad to have the chance to photograph them. Click on the image to enjoy a larger version. Image #1: Pitted Stripeseed (Piriqueta cistoides subsp. caroliniana)

Av Mode for Macro

Once I got the Canon EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM lens and the Metabones Canon EF/EF-S Lens to Sony E Mount T Smart Adapter (Fifth Generation) I was able to see the aperture in the EXIF and in addition, Zebras worked (both as opposed to what happens with the Venus Optics Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO Lens for Sony E where Zebras do not work and where the aperture is not recorded in the EXIF.

Now, when photographing a long series of flowers with different exposures, it only made sense to begin working in Av mode instead of Manual so that I would be able to note the Exposure Compensation (EC) after the fact. When editing a series of flower images in Capture One (C-1) I first pick the best exposures using RawDigger and then check for sharpness and image design back in C-1. Then, when I review the keepers in Photo Mechanic, I can note the ECs and see which one wound up being best. I note the lighting conditions (sun or shade), the tonality and size in the frame of the subject, and the tonality of the background. The more of that you do the more proficient you will become at nailing the exposures.

I should have mentioned before that since I began using RawDigger and have learned to mega-expose to the right (m-ETTR), I have not needed to run post-conversion noise reduction on a single image (regardless of the ISO!)

Thanks John Bradford!

Whatever I have done in my life, I have always used the same strategy to improve: find someone who knows what they are talking about and keep asking questions until they tell me to take a hike.

Thanks to John Bradford — my new best friend, for confirming the identification of this new-to-me wildflower. I met John on Facebook and messaged him asking that he e-mail me. He has been very generous with his time while helping me to improve my flower and plant identification skills. When we spoke on the phone, John began by asking if I was the Arthur Morris, the bird photographer. Talk about friends for life 🙂

John is an avid naturalist, amateur taxonomist, field trip leader, educator, and photographer. He co-writes an incredibly educational blog entitled Treasure Coast Natives with George Rogers and Dee Staley. When it comes to natural history and plants, these folks know a lot about a lot. The posts are varied and interesting; when I try to figure out how they figured out what they figured out, my brain hurts.

John was born in Nashville, TN in 1941. Adopted, he grew up in Arlington, VA. He credits his adoptive father for instilling in him the values that shaped his life. He likes to say that he flunked out of two very snazzy colleges, Johns Hopkins and George Washington. (Heck, I flunked out of Brooklyn Polytechnic.)

John worked in carpentry and construction, fabricated race cars in the Cayman Islands, and was technical writer for the space program. When John was younger, he did lots of scuba diving. John and his mentor, George Rogers, a brilliant biologist and horticultural taxonomist, collaborated on several books including Guide to the Native Plants of Florida’s Treasure Coast.

John fits well into ordinary folks, extraordinary lives category. And so far, he has not told me to take a hike!

This image was created on the morning of 9 AUGUST 2020 in the southeast corner of Indian Lake Estates. Again, I used the Induro GIT 404L/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Canon EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM lens with the Metabones Canon EF/EF-S Lens to Sony E Mount T Smart Adapter (Fifth Generation) and the 61MP monster, the Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital camera body ISO 1600. Multi metering +1 2/3 stops: 1/30 sec. at f/16 in Av mode. This exposure was confirmed as perfect in RawDigger … See more on the exposure below. AWB at 8:34am on a still sunny morning. Manual focus using the combination of Manual Focus Toggle and Focus Magnifier tips from the SONY e-guide along with the 2-second timer. The stalk with what turned out to be a very cooperative spider on it was again picked from a roadside that is mowed regularly and then Plamped. By positioning the Plamp so that the clamp jaws were perpendicular to the ground, I was able to rotate the Plamp (and thus the stalk) when the spider moved to the opposite side of the stalk. Click on the image to enjoy a larger version. Image #2: Green Lynx Spider

The Spider Exposure

Shooting a long series of images of the spider with eight or ten different exposures would not make sense with a living subject that might change position at any moment. Having been working extensively with RawDigger, I knew that I needed to see some Zebras on the bright joints of the spider’s legs and on the background as well; that required +1.7 or +2 stops of EC. Both of those exposures worked out quite well. Live and learn with RawDigger. I am pretty sure that at least nine out of ten folks would have underexposed this one …

Click on the image to enjoy a larger version. Image #3: An unsharpened 100% crop of Image #2: Green Lynx Spider

The Unsharpened 100% Crop

The incredible sharpness and detail here are the result of the combination of a7r iv image quality, perfect technique, and a bit of luck — the latter in the form of the absolutely totally still conditions as a slight breeze came and went … This was the sharpest image of a fairly short series.

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