{"id":87019,"date":"2023-07-30T09:15:51","date_gmt":"2023-07-30T13:15:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/?p=87019"},"modified":"2025-03-07T11:15:18","modified_gmt":"2025-03-07T15:15:18","slug":"the-sony-1200mm-puffin-head-advantage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/2023\/07\/30\/the-sony-1200mm-puffin-head-advantage\/","title":{"rendered":"The Sony 1200mm Puffin Head Advantage"},"content":{"rendered":"

What’s Up?<\/h3>\n

Photography at Grimsey Island, Iceland continues to be fantastic. On Friday the highlight was a long flight session with fulmars and kittiwakes On a very windy Saturday afternoon, we had dozens of puffins lying straight at us. On Sunday morning, we worked the Black Guillemots perched with Butterfish and in flight; I created 1957 images of that species. Then it was more fulmars and kittiwakes in flight, perched puffin head portraits, flying puffins, and a young Snow Bunting getting fed. All in all, I created 4698 images during today’s morning session.<\/p>\n

If you would like info on Greg Downing’s 2024 and\/or the 2025 Grimsey Island puffin trips, please shoot me an e-mail by clicking here.<\/A> <\/p>\n

Speaking of today, it is Sunday 30 July 2023. Right now, it is 1:11pm in Iceland, 9:11am on the east coast. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. I need a long nap; it will begin one minute after I hit Publish.<\/p>\n

Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT<\/a>. You will be amazed at how much you will learn! <\/p>\n

You can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange\/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.<\/p>\n

If an item \u2014 a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head \u2014 for example, that is available from B&H and\/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and\/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.<\/p>\n

The Fact$ of Life<\/h3>\n

The market for editorial sales of natural history images has virtually disappeared. The incomes of the world’s top stock photographers are down by at least 90%. Like me, many depend on income from photo trips, the sale of educational materials, and income from this or that affiliate program. <\/p>\n

In 2001, BAA sold the publication rights to images for nearly one-quarter million US dollars. That amount dropped to about $20,000 by 2011, and in 2017, to slightly more than $2,000.00. We’ve stopped counting. IPTs used to fill within days. Now I am happy to go with one or two folks, but I’d much rather have you along. And so it goes. In 2009, I turned to creating educational blog posts, now to the tune of 4060! Yes, 4060 educational blog posts. Please, therefore, remember to use either my B&H or Bedfords affiliate links for your major purposes. It will not cost you one cent to do either. <\/p>\n

B&H<\/h3>\n

Many folks have written recently stating that they purchased a Sony a1 from B&H and would like their free membership in the Sony 1 Info and Updates Group, a $150.00 value. When I check my affiliate account, their orders have not been there. When I let them know that they get credit for B&H purchases only if they use one of the many B&H affiliate links on the blog <\/em><\/strong> or begin their searches with this link<\/a>, they are always disappointed. If in doubt, please contact me via e-mail<\/a> and request a BH link. I am always glad to help and to guide you to the right gear.<\/p>\n

B&H Simplified<\/h3>\n

To ensure that I get credit for your B&H purchases, you can always click here.<\/a> The tracking is invisible but greatly appreciated. And, you can use your PayBoo card. You must use the website to order. Thanking me for the past 4000 educational blog posts could not be any easier and will not cost you one penny. Please shoot me your B&H receipt for major purchases. <\/p>\n

Bedfords Simplified<\/h3>\n

Click here<\/a> to start your search. Choose standard shipping, and when you get to the payment page, enter BIRDSASART in the discount code box and hit apply. You will automatically be upgraded to free second day air Fed-Ex and receive 3% cash back on your credit card once your order ships. Either is greatly appreciated by yours truly.<\/p>\n

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Money Saving Reminder<\/h3>\n

Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would like to enjoy getting 3% back on your credit card along with free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex Air shipping, your best bet is to click here<\/a>, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail<\/a> or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Central time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and check the box for Free Shipping. That will automatically upgrade to free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The waitlists at the big stores can be a year or longer for the hard-to-get items. Steve will surely get you your gear long before that. For the past year, he has been helping BAA Blog folks get their hands on items like the SONY a 1, the SONY 200-600 G OSS lens, the Canon EOS R5, the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is personable, helpful, and eager to please. <\/p>\n

Important Note<\/strong><\/h2>\n

As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small percentage when you purchase from Amazon after using any of the Amazon links on the blog (including the logo-link on the right side of each blog post page). My affiliate link works fine with Amazon Prime and using it will not cost you a single cent. Huge thanks, BTW \ud83d\ude42 <\/p>\n


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Gear Questions and Advice<\/h3>\n

Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN<\/a>, are — out of ignorance — using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often save you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail.<\/a> If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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This image was also created on 26 July 2023 at Grimsey Island, Iceland. Standing at full height, I used the Robus RC-5558-3 Vantage Series 3 Carbon Fiber Tripod<\/a>)\/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro<\/a>-mounted Sony FE 600mm f\/4 GM OSS lens<\/a>, the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter<\/a>, and the Sony a7R IV (Now replaced by The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera<\/a>). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the thumb dial. ISO 1250. 1\/125 sec. at f\/9 (stopped down 1\/3-stop) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger,<\/a> the raw file brightness was determined to be dead-solid perfect. AWB at 6:58:13 am on a cloudy afternoon. <\/p>\n

Tracking: Expand Spot\/AF-C performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. <\/p>\n

Image #1: Atlantic Puffin with fish for chick\/warmer version with slightly looser crop\n