{"id":59496,"date":"2019-02-02T07:03:12","date_gmt":"2019-02-02T11:03:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/?p=59496"},"modified":"2019-04-07T08:29:12","modified_gmt":"2019-04-07T12:29:12","slug":"heermans-gull-five-ways-the-amazing-and-versatile-sony-fe-100-400mm-f-4-5-5-6-gm-oss-lens-learn-why-it-kills-the-canon-100-400-ii-and-the-nikon-80-400-vr-and-sony-is-garbage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/2019\/02\/02\/heermans-gull-five-ways-the-amazing-and-versatile-sony-fe-100-400mm-f-4-5-5-6-gm-oss-lens-learn-why-it-kills-the-canon-100-400-ii-and-the-nikon-80-400-vr-and-sony-is-garbage\/","title":{"rendered":"Heerman&#8217;s Gull Five Ways: The  Amazing and Versatile Sony FE 100-400mm f\/4.5-5.6 GM OSS Lens. Learn Why it Kills the Canon 100-400 II and the Nikon 80-400 VR. And SONY is Garbage!"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3>What&#8217;s Up?<\/h3>\n<p>My flight home on Thursday was a breeze. I love Southwest&#8217;s Orlando\/San Diego nonstops! Thanks as always to Jim Litzenberg for the airport pickup. We were home at 7:30pm. Friday was spent creating this blog post and catching up on e-mails and business. I ordered my Sony gear and should have it some time next week. <\/p>\n<p>The comments, questions, and replies on the last few SONY blogs posts have been excellent, revealing, and packed with solid information. If you are at all interested in the SONY gear, you might wish to re-visit.  As always, if you decide to purchase the SONY rig that I am unequivocally recommending based on what you have read here on the blog, please consider using my B&#038;H links or getting in touch with Steve Elkins at Bedford Camera. <\/p>\n<h3>Your Favorite?<\/h3>\n<p>As you scroll down to view and learn from the images as many folks do, please do consider these questions and leave a comment: which of the five featured images is your favorite? Why did you make your choice? The blog is designed to be interactive; the more folks who participate the more everyone learns. Including me. <\/p>\n<h3>IPT Updates<\/h3>\n<h2><strong>Unsolicited via e-mail from multiple IPT veteran Donna Bourdon <\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><em>Thank you Artie for another amazing trip! The setting and the access to such spectacular wildlife was more than we could have hoped for. And you, yourself are remarkable.  I am always touched by your selflessness in sharing your professional talent and knowledge. Not many working pros would be willing to share their intellectual property as you do. And the group experience was such fun. It was good to make new friends and enjoy food, fun and fellowship together! I hope to meet up with everyone again soon for another \u201cover the top\u201d adventure.<\/em> with love, Donna<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Unsolicited via e-mail from IPT veteran Eugen Dolan<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><em>Arthur,  Thank you very much for your overwhelming infectious enthusiasm that helped get me up on some mornings. Also, your ability to express yourself- and explain in great detail why you like or may not like an image &#8211; was very helpful in allowing me to better analyze my images.<\/em> Eugen <\/p>\n<p>I have room for two folks on the spoonbill boat and still need three or four folks for the Galapagos trip. If you would like to explore the possibilities, please get in touch via <a href=\"mailto:samandmayasgrandpa@att.net\">e-mail<\/a><\/center>; no reasonable offer will be refused.  <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The 2019 Hooptie Deux\/Roseate Spoonbill Boat 3 1\/2 DAY IPT &#8212; FEB 16 thru 19, 2019: $2599.00. Limit: 5 photographers\/Openings: 2.<\/li>\n<li>The New, Expanded 2019 UK Puffins, Gannets, &#038; Red Kites IPT. Thursday June 27 (from EDI) through Tuesday, July 9, 2019 (on the ground; fly home on Wednesday July 10.): $9,999. Limit 10 photographers\/Openings: 9. This trip needs four to run. Co-leader: Peter Kes.<\/li>\n<li>The GALAPAGOS Photo Cruise of a Lifetime IPT\/The Complete Galapagos Photographic Experience. July 23 to August 6, 2019 on the boat. 13 FULL and two half-days of photography: $14,499. Limit: 12 photographers\/Openings: 4. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><center><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez_banner_container_133_11\" style=\"margin:auto;position:relative;overflow:hidden;\">\n   <script src=\"https:\/\/ajax.googleapis.com\/ajax\/libs\/webfont\/1\/webfont.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n   <script type=\"text\/javascript\" charset=\"utf-8\" src=\"https:\/\/mer54715.datafeedfile.com\/ez_banner\/?b=133&#038;v=1.1&#038;aff_num=7226&#038;sid=EZBANNER\"><\/script>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/center><\/p>\n<h3>BIRDS AS ART<\/h3>\n<p>BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. <\/p>\n<h3>Selling Your Used Photo Gear Through BIRDS AS ART<\/h3>\n<p>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%. The minimum item price here is $500 (or less for a $25 fee). If you are interested please scroll down <a href=\"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/2016\/09\/01\/a-man-not-of-his-word-so-whats-the-deal-with-item-4-and-the-complete-items-for-sale-info-e-mail\/\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a> or shoot us an <a href=\"mailto:samandmayasgrandpa@att.net\">e-mail<\/a><\/center> with the words Items for Sale Info Request cut and pasted into the Subject line :). Stuff that is priced fairly &#8212; I offer pricing advice to those who agree to the terms &#8212; usually sells in no time flat. Over the past year, we have sold many dozens of items. Do know that prices on some items like the EOS-1D Mark IV, the old Canon 100-400, the old 500mm, the EOS-7D and 7D Mark II and the original 400mm DO lens have been dropping steadily. Most recently the price of used Canon 600mm f\/L IS II lenses have been dropping like a rock with the introduction of the 600 III.  You can always see the current listings by clicking <a href=\"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/used-photography-gear-for-sale\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a> or on the Used Photo Gear tab on the orange-yellow menu bar near the top of each blog post page.<\/p>\n<h3>Recent Sales<\/h3>\n<p>John Wright sold a Canon 500mm f\/4 IS USM and a Canon EF Extender 1.4X II, both in very good plus condition for $3399.00 in mid-January.<br \/>\nIPT veteran Mark Overgaard sold hisCanon EF 35mm f\/1.4L II USM lens in near-mint condition for $1,299.00 in mid-January.<br \/>\nJohn M Wright sold his Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM lens in excellent to near-mint condition for the BAA record-low price of $6,950.00, his Canon EF 100-400mm f\/4.5-5.6L IS II lens in near-mint condition for the BAA record-low price of 1,299.00, a Canon EF 400mm f\/5.6L lens in excellent condition for the BAA record-low price of $599.00, his Canon EF 16-35mm f\/4L IS lens in near-mint condition for the BAA record-low price of $499.00,<br \/>\nand a Canon Extender (teleconverter) EF 2X III in near-mint condition for $265.00, all within days of their being listed.<br \/>\nRamona Boone sold her Canon 600mm IS II in like-new condition for $7,699.00 (was $8,699.00) while I was in the Falklands<br \/>\nBrooke Miller sold her Canon 5D Mark IV for $2,249.00, her Canon Extender EF 1.4X III and Extender EF 2X III for $299.00 each, her Canon EF 100mm f\/2.8L IS USM Macro lens in near-mint condition for $599.00, and her Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM in excellent plus condition for $7398.00. <\/p>\n<h3>New Listing<\/h3>\n<h2><strong>Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f\/2.8 G VRII N-ED Lens<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Errol Bellon is offering a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f\/2.8 G VRII N-ED Lens lens in new condition for a very fair $1296.95. The sale includes the front &#038; rear lens caps, the lens hood, a Kirk lens plate foot LF-44, the soft lens pouch, and insured ground shipping via United Parcel Service. The lens will not ship until your check has cleared.<\/p>\n<p>Please contact Errol via <a href=\"mailto:errolbellon@gmail.com \">e-mail<\/a> or by phone at 216-272-9031 (Eastern time zone). <\/p>\n<p><em>I owned and used the Canon version of this incredibly versatile lens for birds and wildlife and landscapes and Urbex for many years with both teleconverters. It was great indoors for events like granddaughter Maya\u2019s dance recitals. And Anita North used the Nikon version of this lens often with the TC-E14 to make a slew of great bird photographs in San Diego. This is not the latest version; a copy of the newer version sells for $2,796.95. You can save an amazing $1500.00 by grabbing Errol&#8217;s lens ASAP.<\/em>  artie<\/p>\n<h3>Money Saving Reminder<\/h3>\n<p>If you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&#038;H, would enjoy free overnight shipping, and would like a $50 discount on your first purchase, click <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bedfords.com\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a> 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 <a href=\"mailto:Steve@bedfords.com\">e-mail<\/a> 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 currently has several D850s in stock along with a Nikon 600mm f\/4 VR. He is taking pre-orders for the new Nikon 500 P and the Nikon Z6 mirrorless camera body.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Bedford&#8217;s Special<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Purchase a NIKKOR 180-400 super-telephoto zoom lens and choose either a GITZO GT2542LS SYSTEMATIC TRIPOD (a $930 value) or the WIMBERLEY GIMBAL\/WH-200 w\/ custom plate (a $694 value) at no charge when you purchase the 180-400!<\/p>\n<p><center><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez_banner_container_141_10\" style=\"margin:auto;position:relative;overflow:hidden;\">\n   <script src=\"https:\/\/ajax.googleapis.com\/ajax\/libs\/webfont\/1\/webfont.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n   <script type=\"text\/javascript\" charset=\"utf-8\" src=\"https:\/\/mer54715.datafeedfile.com\/ez_banner\/?b=141&#038;v=1.0&#038;aff_num=7226&#038;sid=EZBANNER\"><\/script>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/center><\/p>\n<h3>Gear Questions and Advice<\/h3>\n<p>Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on <a href=\"http:\/\/www.birdphotographers.net\/forums\/content.php?s=52d51423c223b39bdca1765c6839ffc2\" target=\"_blank\">BPN<\/a>, are&#8211;out of ignorance&#8211;using the wrong gear especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads&#8230; Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via <a href=\"mailto:samandmayasgrandpa@att.net\">e-mail<\/a>. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and\/or lens choices and decisions.<\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><center>ngg_shortcode_0_placeholder<\/center><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>This image was created on January 30, day 5 with the SONY gear. I used the hand held <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/1333230-REG\/sony_sel100400gm_fe_100_400mm_f_4_5_5_6_gm.html\/BI\/6633\/KBID\/7226\/kw\/SO100400GM\/DFF\/d10-v2-t1-xSO100400GM\" target=\"_blank\">Sony FE 100-400mm f\/4.5-5.6 GM OSS lens<\/a> (at 194mm) and the beyond remarkable <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/1333228-REG\/sony_ilce_9_b_alpha_a9_mirrorless_digital.html\/BI\/6633\/KBID\/7226\/kw\/SOA9B\/DFF\/d10-v2-t1-xSOA9B\" target=\"_blank\">Sony Alpha a9 Mirrorless Digital Camera.<\/a> ISO 400: 1\/5000 sec. at f\/6.3 in Manual mode. The exposure was determined using the Zebra feature. AWB at 9:53am on a sunny day. <\/p>\n<h2><strong>Image #1: Heerman&#8217;s Gull kiting, baited with whole wheat bread<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"468\" scrolling=\"no\" height=\"60\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"border:none;\" border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/mer54715.datafeedfile.com\/widget\/aff_widget_prdt_generate-2.0.php?aff_num=7226&#038;aff_net=1&#038;size=468x60&#038;mode=m&#038;bucket_num=9190&#038;link_target=y&#038;sid=\" marginheight=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\"><\/p>\n<p>Your browser does not support iFrame.<\/p>\n<p><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<h3>The Amazing and Versatile Sony FE 100-400mm f\/4.5-5.6 GM OSS Lens<\/h3>\n<p>A quick glance at the images featured in this blog post will give you a good idea of the versatility of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/1333230-REG\/sony_sel100400gm_fe_100_400mm_f_4_5_5_6_gm.html\/BI\/6633\/KBID\/7226\/kw\/SO100400GM\/DFF\/d10-v2-t1-xSO100400GM\" target=\"_blank\">Sony FE 100-400mm f\/4.5-5.6 GM OSS Lens<\/a>. Fast, accurate AF <strong><em>with both TCs<\/em><\/strong> covering an unprecedented 93% of the image area. And the close focus matches that of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/1092632-REG\/canon_9524b002_ef_100_400mm_f_4_5_5_6l_is.html\/BI\/6633\/KBID\/7226\/kw\/CA1004002LIS\/DFF\/d10-v2-t1-xCA1004002LIS\" target=\"_blank\">Canon EF 100-400mm f\/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens.<\/a> <\/p>\n<p>I had been doing the gulls and Royal Terns in flight with the 1.4X TC in place and had been more than happy with the results. But on the last day I tried flight photography in that same situation with the lens alone and was totally blown away by both the lighting fast speed of initial focusing acquisition, the lightning fast frame rate, the seamless and accurate tracking, and the sharpness of the resulting images. <\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><center>ngg_shortcode_1_placeholder<\/center><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>This image was also created on January 30, day 5 with the SONY gear. I used the hand held <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/1333230-REG\/sony_sel100400gm_fe_100_400mm_f_4_5_5_6_gm.html\/BI\/6633\/KBID\/7226\/kw\/SO100400GM\/DFF\/d10-v2-t1-xSO100400GM\" target=\"_blank\">Sony FE 100-400mm f\/4.5-5.6 GM OSS lens<\/a>,  the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/1222778-REG\/sony_sel20tc_fe_2x_teleconverter.html\/BI\/6633\/KBID\/7226\/kw\/SOTC2\/DFF\/d10-v2-t1-xSOTC2\" target=\"_blank\">Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter<\/a> (at 752mm) and the beyond remarkable <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/1333228-REG\/sony_ilce_9_b_alpha_a9_mirrorless_digital.html\/BI\/6633\/KBID\/7226\/kw\/SOA9B\/DFF\/d10-v2-t1-xSOA9B\" target=\"_blank\">Sony Alpha a9 Mirrorless Digital Camera.<\/a> ISO 400: 1\/800 sec. at f\/14 in Manual mode. Again, the exposure was determined using the Zebra feature. AWB at 9:27am on a sunny day. <\/p>\n<h2><strong>Image #2: Heerman&#8217;s Gull, near-field guide portrait<strong<\/h2>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"728\" scrolling=\"no\" height=\"90\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"border:none;\" border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/mer54715.datafeedfile.com\/widget\/aff_widget_prdt_generate-2.0.php?aff_num=7226&#038;aff_net=1&#038;size=728x90&#038;mode=m&#038;bucket_num=9737&#038;link_target=y&#038;sid=\" marginheight=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\"><\/p>\n<p>Your browser does not support iFrame.<\/p>\n<p><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<h3>With the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter!<\/h3>\n<p>With image #2 (and with #3 below), I used the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter. AF performance with the 2X TC &#8212; the A9 focuses to f\/11! &#8212; is fast and accurate and thus totally amazing. Imagine walking around with a 200-800mm zoom lens that offers great AF over 93% of the frame and weighs only five pounds. Though I have done great with the SONY 100-400\/1.4X TC\/A9 for flight photography, the jury, however, is still out on flight photography with the SONY 100-400\/2X TC\/A9 combination. <\/p>\n<p>Important Note: while I could have gotten closer and switched to the 100-400\/1.4X TC\/A9 combination the reach of the SONY 100-400\/2X TC\/A9 combo allowed me to stay well back, to get the pacific background that I wanted, and to work with a narrower angle of view.<\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><center>ngg_shortcode_2_placeholder<\/center><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>This image was also created on January 30, day 5 with the SONY gear. Again I used the hand held <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/1333230-REG\/sony_sel100400gm_fe_100_400mm_f_4_5_5_6_gm.html\/BI\/6633\/KBID\/7226\/kw\/SO100400GM\/DFF\/d10-v2-t1-xSO100400GM\" target=\"_blank\">Sony FE 100-400mm f\/4.5-5.6 GM OSS lens<\/a>,  the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/1222778-REG\/sony_sel20tc_fe_2x_teleconverter.html\/BI\/6633\/KBID\/7226\/kw\/SOTC2\/DFF\/d10-v2-t1-xSOTC2\" target=\"_blank\">Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter<\/a> (at 740mm) and the beyond remarkable <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/1333228-REG\/sony_ilce_9_b_alpha_a9_mirrorless_digital.html\/BI\/6633\/KBID\/7226\/kw\/SOA9B\/DFF\/d10-v2-t1-xSOA9B\" target=\"_blank\">Sony Alpha a9 Mirrorless Digital Camera.<\/a> ISO 400: 1\/640 sec. at f\/16 in Manual mode. Again, the exposure was determined using the Zebra feature. AWB at 9:31am on a sunny day. <\/p>\n<h2><strong>Image #3: Heerman&#8217;s Gull, tight head portrait<strong<\/h2>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"728\" scrolling=\"no\" height=\"90\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"border:none;\" border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/mer54715.datafeedfile.com\/widget\/aff_widget_prdt_generate-2.0.php?aff_num=7226&#038;aff_net=1&#038;size=728x90&#038;mode=m&#038;bucket_num=9737&#038;link_target=y&#038;sid=\" marginheight=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\"><\/p>\n<p>Your browser does not support iFrame.<\/p>\n<p><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<h3>What About Image Quality and Sharpness with the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter?<\/h3>\n<p>In a word, excellent. See the 100% crop below. <\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><center>ngg_shortcode_3_placeholder<\/center><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<h2><strong>Image #3A: An Unsharpened 100% crop of Heerman&#8217;s Gull, tight head portrait<strong<\/h2>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"728\" scrolling=\"no\" height=\"90\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"border:none;\" border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/mer54715.datafeedfile.com\/widget\/aff_widget_prdt_generate-2.0.php?aff_num=7226&#038;aff_net=1&#038;size=728x90&#038;mode=m&#038;bucket_num=9737&#038;link_target=y&#038;sid=\" marginheight=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\"><\/p>\n<p>Your browser does not support iFrame.<\/p>\n<p><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<h3>The Unsharpened 100% Crop of Image #3<\/h3>\n<p>Again, as with the incoming Brandt&#8217;s 100% crop, this looks more than fine to me and the optimized TIFF file takes my breath away. <\/p>\n<h3>SONY is Garbage!<\/h3>\n<p>I just found an e-mail from good friend BPN Avian moderator Arash Hazeghi in the Apple Mail Bulk mail folder. He wrote, and I quote:<\/p>\n<p><em>Ha Ha! Sony is Garbage.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>I have always respected Arash&#8217;s incredible technical knowledge and in addition, I&#8217;ve been amazed by his skill at hand holding 600mm f\/4 lenses for photographing birds in flight. I replied asking him for clarification and inquiring as to whether he had ever use an A9. More on his thoughts soon.<\/p>\n<p>I wanted to let folks know that there are two sides to every story. Patrick Sparkman and I humbly disagree. <\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><center>ngg_shortcode_4_placeholder<\/center><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>This image was also created on January 30, day 5 with the SONY gear. Again I used the hand held <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/1333230-REG\/sony_sel100400gm_fe_100_400mm_f_4_5_5_6_gm.html\/BI\/6633\/KBID\/7226\/kw\/SO100400GM\/DFF\/d10-v2-t1-xSO100400GM\" target=\"_blank\">Sony FE 100-400mm f\/4.5-5.6 GM OSS lens<\/a> (at 192mm) and the beyond remarkable <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/1333228-REG\/sony_ilce_9_b_alpha_a9_mirrorless_digital.html\/BI\/6633\/KBID\/7226\/kw\/SOA9B\/DFF\/d10-v2-t1-xSOA9B\" target=\"_blank\">Sony Alpha a9 Mirrorless Digital Camera.<\/a> ISO 400: 1\/5000 sec. at f\/6.3 in Manual mode. The exposure was determined using the Zebra feature. AWB at 9:53am on a sunny day. <\/p>\n<h2><strong>Image #4: Bird-scape: Heerman&#8217;s Gull on seaweed-covered rock<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"468\" scrolling=\"no\" height=\"60\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"border:none;\" border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/mer54715.datafeedfile.com\/widget\/aff_widget_prdt_generate-2.0.php?aff_num=7226&#038;aff_net=1&#038;size=468x60&#038;mode=m&#038;bucket_num=9190&#038;link_target=y&#038;sid=\" marginheight=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\"><\/p>\n<p>Your browser does not support iFrame.<\/p>\n<p><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<h3>Going Wide<\/h3>\n<p>Intermediate telephoto zoom lenses give you the ability to go wide and to create smaller in the frame images of birds that feature lots of habitat. Creating this image with a long super-telephoto lens would have been pretty much impossible unless I moved back to Arizona &#8230; I like this one for a variety of reasons including the diagonal placement of the rock, the green of the seaweed, and the breaking wave that frames the bird. In the original <a href=\"http:\/\/birdsasart-shop.com\/the-art-of-bird-photography-soft-cover\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The Art of Bird Photography<\/a> I wrote something to this effect: <em>add green whenever possible.<\/em> <\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><center>ngg_shortcode_5_placeholder<\/center><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>This image was created on January 28, 2019, day 3 with the SONY gear.  I used the hand held <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/1333230-REG\/sony_sel100400gm_fe_100_400mm_f_4_5_5_6_gm.html\/BI\/6633\/KBID\/7226\/kw\/SO100400GM\/DFF\/d10-v2-t1-xSO100400GM\" target=\"_blank\">Sony FE 100-400mm f\/4.5-5.6 GM OSS lens<\/a>, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/1222777-REG\/sony_sel14tc_fe_1_4x_teleconverter.html\/BI\/6633\/KBID\/7226\/kw\/SOTC14\/DFF\/d10-v2-t1-xSOTC14\" target=\"_blank\">Sony FE 1.4x teleconverter<\/a> (at 218mm), and the beyond remarkable <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/1333228-REG\/sony_ilce_9_b_alpha_a9_mirrorless_digital.html\/BI\/6633\/KBID\/7226\/kw\/SOA9B\/DFF\/d10-v2-t1-xSOA9B\" target=\"_blank\">Sony Alpha a9 Mirrorless Digital Camera.<\/a> ISO 400: 1\/1250 sec. at f\/11 in Manual mode. AWB at 9:21am on a clear day. <\/p>\n<h2><strong>Image #5: Heerman&#8217;s Gull poop<strong<\/h2>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"728\" scrolling=\"no\" height=\"90\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"border:none;\" border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/mer54715.datafeedfile.com\/widget\/aff_widget_prdt_generate-2.0.php?aff_num=7226&#038;aff_net=1&#038;size=728x90&#038;mode=m&#038;bucket_num=9112&#038;link_target=y&#038;sid=\" marginheight=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\"><\/p>\n<p>Your browser does not support iFrame.<\/p>\n<p><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<h3>Close Focus with the Sony FE 100-400mm f\/4.5-5.6 GM OSS <\/h3>\n<p>Why publish an image of bird poop? To illustrate the great close focusing ability of the SONY 100-400. The minimum focusing distance of the SONY lens (.98 meters or 3.2 feet) matches the MFD of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/1092632-REG\/canon_9524b002_ef_100_400mm_f_4_5_5_6l_is.html\/BI\/6633\/KBID\/7226\/kw\/CA1004002LIS\/DFF\/d10-v2-t1-xCA1004002LIS\" target=\"_blank\">Canon EF 100-400mm f\/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens.<\/a> While standing erect you can focus on your own toes (if you are tall enough &#8230;) The close focusing allows you to use your 100-400 as a quasi-macro lens. It is the feature that I missed the most when I switched from Canon to Nikon. <\/p>\n<h3>Why the SONY 100-400 (with the A9) kills the Canon 100-400 II and the Nikon 80-400 VR <\/h3>\n<h2><strong>The SONY 100-400 as compared to the Canon 100-400 II<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Obviously the focal length range and the MFD are a tie, but with the SONY 100-400 you have fast, accurate AF across 93% of the frame with the 2X TC. <\/p>\n<h2><strong>The SONY 100-400 as compared to the Nikon 8-400 VR<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Here the focal length range advantage is with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/936121-REG\/nikon_80_400mm_f_4_5_5_6g_ed_vr.html\/BI\/6633\/KBID\/7226\/kw\/NI8040045GED\/DFF\/d10-v2-t1-xNI8040045GED\" target=\"_blank\">Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm<\/a> but that is trumped by the huge close focusing advantage of the SONY lens, .98 meters (3.2 feet) as as compared to 1.75 meters (5.7 feet), the AF at f\/11 with the 2X TC advantage, and the huge AF performance advantage with the SONY FE 1.4x teleconverter. In other words, game over, no contest. <\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><center>ngg_shortcode_6_placeholder<\/center><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>From left to to right clockwise back to the center: Brown Pelican, Roseate Spoonbill downstroke, Brown Pelican sunrise silhouette, Double-crested Cormorant pre-dawn blur, Roseate Spoonbill flapping after bath, Brown Pelican taking flight, Roseate Spoonbill taking flight, Reddish Egret white morph breeding plumage in flight, and Reddish Egret dark morph breeding plumage in flight.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>All images on this card were created by me on the Hooptie Deux at Alafia Banks on the February 2018 trip.<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>You can click on each card to enjoy a larger version.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<p><center><\/p>\n<h3>2019 Hooptie Deux\/Roseate Spoonbill Boat 3 1\/2 DAY IPT &#8212; FEB 16 thru 19, 2019: $2599.00.  Limit: 5 photographers\/Openings: 1.<\/h3>\n<h2><strong>3 1\/2 days on the boat including four morning photo sessions and three afternoon sessions via customized pontoon boat.<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><font color=red><strong>Price per day Reduced from the 2018 rates! Please <a href=\"mailto:samandmayasgrandpa@att.net\">e-mail<\/a> for details on IPT veteran and couples&#8217; discounts. Pro-rated options may be available &#8230;<\/strong><\/font> <\/center><\/p>\n<p>We will be leaving the dock very early for the morning sessions (weather permitting) in hopes of photographing the pre-dawn American Crow and White Ibis blast-offs. All sessions are planned for the Alafia Banks Roseate Spoonbill Rookery. We might consider other options in the unlikely event of horrific weather. There will be lots of opportunities for flight photography of several species including and especially Roseate Spoonbill. Also likely for flight photography are nesting Brown Pelican, both morphs of Reddish Egret, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, White and Glossy Ibises, and Double Crested Cormorant. We should have some good chances with birds carrying nesting material. This IPT includes all boat and guide fees, in the field instruction, chest waders (feel free to bring your own of course to assure a perfect fit), and  three working lunches on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.  For the most part we will be standing in mid-calf to knee high water behind our tripods. We help you get in and out of the boat with your gear. This is likely not the best trip for folks with mobility or balance problems. Note however that some folks opt to stay on the boat to photograph. They usually have lots of chances for flight photography of spoonbills and other species but are almost always pretty far away from the spoonbills that land. <\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><center>ngg_shortcode_7_placeholder<\/center><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<h2><strong>All images on this card were created by me on the Hooptie Deux at Alafia Banks<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<h3>The Timing and Tides are Perfect!<\/h3>\n<p>I recently saw a similar trip advertised two months too late for breeding plumage spoonbills &#8230; The 2019 Hooptie Deux\/Roseate Spoonbill Boat 3 1\/2 DAY IPT represents an incredible opportunity to photograph Florida&#8217;s most wanted species. I do hope that you can join us. There will be a meet and greet at 7:00pm sharp on the evening of Friday February 15, 2019. All of the images on the card were made on the Hooptie Duex during the last two weeks of February, prime time for the spoonies in mega-breeding plumage. Many folks have written expressing interest so please do not tarry.<\/p>\n<p>Please <a href=\"mailto:samandmayasgrandpa@att.net\">e-mail<\/a> to hold your spot. Then you may either secure your spot by calling Jim or Jennifer at the office at 863-692-0906 and leaving the $500 deposit on credit card or sending your check for payment in full to us as follows with the check made out to:<\/p>\n<p>BIRDS AS ART and sent here via US mail:<\/p>\n<p>BIRDS AS ART<br \/>\nPO BOX 7245<br \/>\nIndian Lake Estates, FL 33855<\/p>\n<p>If you call to leave your deposit you will be asked to mail your check for the balance asap. <\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-content\/gallery\/general\/hooptie-card-shadle-aa.jpg\" class='shutterset'><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"ngg-singlepic ngg-center\" src=\"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-content\/gallery\/general\/hooptie-card-shadle-aa.jpg\" alt=\"hooptie-card-shadle-aa\" title=\"hooptie-card-shadle-aa\" width=800 \/><\/a>  <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Images courtesy of our guide; copyright 2017 Captain James Shadle (aka Froggie).  All of the images here were created at Alafia Banks. Card creation and design by Arthur Morris\/BIRDS AS ART. <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<h3>Everybody Loves Spoonbills!<\/h3>\n<p>Roseate Spoonbill is one of if not the most sought after avian photographic subjects in Florida.  They are generally hard to find and somewhat difficult to approach.  They are relatively easy to find at Alafia Banks\u2014heck, you can\u2019t miss seeing them, but even there they can on some days be somewhat difficult to approach. On some days we may be able to get ridiculously close to them. The huge incentive to get out to Alafia Banks in mid-February is the chance to photograph this species at the height of its spectacular breeding plumage&#8230;.  with long telephoto lenses. A 500 or 600 with a 1.4X TC is perfect for this trip. <\/p>\n<p>Mornings to Alafia Banks for spoonbills and Brown Pelicans (with lots of flight photography often with the birds likely carrying nesting material), Double-crested Cormorants, ibises (both Glossy and White) in breeding plumage.  Some of the White Ibises may be sporting their spectacular, distended, red, naked (un-feathered) throat pouches\u2014typically larger in the females. In addition we may get to photograph egrets including Great and Reddish, both in full breeding plumage, shorebirds, and more. There will be lots of flight photography opportunities.  Afternoon trips will most likely be back to Alafia Banks for the spoonbills with an option to visit a more sheltered inland rookery location for a variety of nesting birds. In the event of horrific weather artie will either take the group to Fort DeSoto or will conduct an extensive image review\/Photoshop session. This IPT includes lunches on the full days with small group image sharing and review and some over-the-shoulder Photoshop instruction.  <\/p>\n<p><center><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/cm?o=1&#038;p=12&#038;l=ur1&#038;category=amazonhomepage_2017&#038;f=ifr&#038;linkID=0c7fef03053dd77e48962ef7b0b832a5&#038;t=biasar0c-20&#038;tracking_id=biasar0c-20\" width=\"300\" height=\"250\" scrolling=\"no\" border=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" style=\"border:none;\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/center><\/p>\n<h3>Help Support the Blog<\/h3>\n<p>Please help support my efforts here on the blog by remembering to click on the logo link above each time that you shop Amazon. That would be greatly appreciated. There is no problem using your Prime account; just click on the link and log into your Prime account. With love, artie<\/p>\n<h3>If In Doubt &#8230;<\/h3>\n<p>If in doubt about using the BAA B&#038;H affiliate link correctly, you can always start your search by clicking <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/?BI\/6633\/KBID\/7226\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a>. Please note that the tracking is invisible. Web orders only. Please, however, remember to shoot me your receipt via <a href=\"mailto:samandmayasgrandpa@att.net\">e-mail<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p><center><A href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/buy\/Nikon\/ci\/9811\/N\/4288586282+4291315846\/view\/GRID?BI=6633&#038;KW=&#038;KBID=7226&#038;img=bh_nikon_14-728x90.jpg\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/images\/affiliateimages\/bh_nikon_14-728x90.jpg\" border=\"0\"><\/a><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/affiliates.bhphotovideo.com\/showban.asp?id=7226&#038;img=bh_nikon_14-728x90.jpg\" border=0><\/center><\/p>\n<p><center><A href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/promotion\/12352\/canon-rebates.html?BI=6633&#038;KW=&#038;KBID=7226&#038;img=CanonSaveBig-728x90.jpg\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/images\/affiliateimages\/CanonSaveBig-728x90.jpg\" border=\"0\"><\/a><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/affiliates.bhphotovideo.com\/showban.asp?id=7226&#038;img=CanonSaveBig-728x90.jpg\" border=0><\/center><\/p>\n<h3>Please Remember to use my Affiliate Links and to Visit the New BAA Online Store \ud83d\ude42<\/h3>\n<p>To show your appreciation for my continuing efforts here, we ask, as always, that you get in the habit of using my B&#038;H affiliate links on the right side of the blog for all of your photo and electronics purchases. Please check the availability of all photographic accessories in the <a href=\"http:\/\/birdsasart-shop.com\/\">New BIRDS AS ART Online Store<\/a>, especially the <a href=\"http:\/\/birdsasart-shop.com\/mongoose-action-head\/\">Mongoose M3.6 tripod head<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/birdsasart-shop.com\/plates-and-replacement-feet\/wimberley-arca-swiss-style-lens-plates\/\">Wimberley lens plates<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/birdsasart-shop.com\/digital-media\/\">Delkin flash cards and accessories<\/a>, and <a href=\"http:\/\/birdsasart-shop.com\/lenscoat-covers\/\">LensCoat stuff<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>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 <a href=\"mailto:samandmayasgrandpa@att.net\">e-mail<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>I would of course appreciate your using our B&#038;H affiliate links for all of your major gear, video, and electronic purchases. <font color=red><strong>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. <\/strong><\/font> Here is a huge thank you to the many who have been using our links on a regular basis and those who will be visiting the <a href=\"http:\/\/birdsasart-shop.com\/\">New BIRDS AS ART Online Store<\/a> as well.<\/p>\n<h3>Facebook<\/h3>\n<p>Be sure to like and follow BAA on Facebook by clicking on the logo link upper right. Tanks a stack.<\/p>\n<h3>Typos<\/h3>\n<p>In all blog posts and Bulletins, feel free to <a href=\"mailto:samandmayasgrandpa@att.net\">e-mail<\/a><\/center> or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors. Just be right :).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What&#8217;s Up? <\/p>\n<p>My flight home on Thursday was a breeze. I love Southwest&#8217;s Orlando\/San Diego nonstops! Thanks as always to Jim Litzenberg for the airport pickup. We were home at 7:30pm. Friday was spent creating this blog post and catching up on e-mails and business. I ordered my Sony gear and should have it some [&#8230;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[628],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-59496","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-628","odd"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59496","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=59496"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59496\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=59496"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=59496"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=59496"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}