redskeeter

As background, I have a 54MZ-3 and just upgraded my 50MZ-5 to the 76MZ-5 so it would work with the ETTL and my new 1Ds Mark II and 1D Mark II bodies. I also had Bogen upgrade my M2 adapter to the M3 version (did it for free) and bought a second M3 unit trying to get the 50MZ-5 to function with the new Canon bodies before finding out it won't work fully with those new bodies. (I traded in a Nikon F5 system and just bought new canera adapters to match the Canons).

 

I could not get the 54MZ-3 to work in either the Tv or P mode and could not get the ETTL to come on at all; however, it did work fine in M (manual setting of everthing) and A modes. I asked METZ/Bogen if I needed to upgrade the 54MZ-3 to the 54MZ-4 to get the new ETTL-II flash metering and get full functionality on the flash in all camera modes. I think their very prompt (1/2 business day) answer will help some of you that was as puzzled as I why I could not get ETTL to show on the flash or the M3 interface unit:

 

Bogen Said (quote):

 

Regarding your inquiry, are you seeing the "ETTL" icon in the flash LCD screen at all? There are several issues which could be affecting using the Tv & P modes. But first, we need to make sure the flash is receiving the information correctly. If you are not seeing the "ETTL" icon, you should do the following:

 

1. Connect the flash to the camera via the hotshoe connection and make sure the module is all the way forward and secure.

2. Turn on the camera

3. Turn on the flash

4. Push to mode button on the flash until you see the "TTL" mode blinking in the LCD

5. While the TTL mode is blinking in the screen, scroll the thumbwheel counter-clockwise (upwards) until you see the "ETTL" icon.

6. If you are unable to get it into ETTL, try sending some information from the Canon camera to the flash by depressing the shutter release on the camera halfway and repeat steps 4 & 5.

 

However, if you are seeing the "ETTL" icon, not just "TTL", but "ETTL", than the issue may be with the metering system in your camera rather than anything wrong with the flash itself. (end quote)

 

They also noted that even though the flash shows ETTL, it IS using ETTL-II with the Mark II bodies.

 

I tried the flash in a variety of situations - fill, full, bounce, diffused - and got very good results and flash compensation worked fine too, so their directions were excellent.

 

CONCLUSION:

Two things I learned: One, Bogen/Metz is responsive to its customers and two, I was guilty of an "ID10T" error. i.e., I forgot the manipulations needed to select the ETTL mode (I stuck a label on the flash so this dummy won't forget next time...)

 

As near as I can tell, there is no difference in functionality between the -3 and -4 versions of the flash from looking at the adapter information so I didn't need to upgrade the unit.

 

Hope this information helps someone else that was as puzzled about the differences in the flash units and ETTL-II.

http://www.grandetours.com/

 

Something no one has recommended is this outfitter in Placida, Florida. They can take you out to the Intercoastal islands where birds roost. They know and like photographers, hosting such notables as NGS photogs and pro's like Art Morris. You have several choices as to boats or kyaks and offer accomodations as well as fishing trips.

 

I went out one evening and it was absolutely terrific. Birds by the zillions flying in to roost with sweet light. I really recommend it. They have a lot of photos on their site. Go, you won't regret it.

 

Oh yes, wait 'til you see the NGS photographers "White Pelican" blind, it's a scream.

 

Good shooting to all.

My recommendations from 4 trips, including Tanzania:

 

Canon 20d, Canon Digital Rebel - Always have 2 bodies, one can go in the tank at any time. Rent a 1d mark II if you can for action.

 

24mm 2.8 - all you will need for wide angle and you won't shoot too much of that.

 

28-135 IS- Leave it at home.

 

Canon 70-200 (2.8) with a 1.4 - pretty good solution but, you'll wish you had more reach.

 

Yashicamat 124g, Leica M6 with 40mm. - Leave both of these at home, you won't need them and they'll be in the way.

 

1 gig compact flash card get at least one more, preferably a 2gb, you will shott 10 zillion times as much in Africa as you ever did anywhere else. Don't run out of space just as things get interesting.

 

30 gig ipod photo with photo transfer hardware. May work OK, be sure it captures RAW images, I don't know if you shoot raw, but be sure the IPOD will capture and display it if you do. 30 gb seems too little unless you are going to do a lot of editing.

 

Handy tip: Go to REI or some outdoor store and buy a water resistant stuff sack that will cover you camera and lens; when you are traveling in a lorry, cram your camera and lens in the sack and close the end. This handy trick keeps about 95% of the dust off and out of your camera and ultimately, your sensor.

 

I'd rent the 100-400 IS, you could leave the 80-200 at home and do better, in my opinion anyway. This plus the 24mm would be an ideal rig.

 

And be sure to get the biggest beanbag you can find; a near ideal solution is the "Molar" beanbag offered by the McDonalds on their web site,see it here: http://www.hoothollow.com/Question-October-November%202004.html

 

You are going on a "once in a lifetime" trip, don't screw around and not have backup for stuff that won't work.

 

And, be cautious, but not paranoid; I've had only one thing get filched in 4 trips and that happened from inside a locked room in J'burg SA. Leave it out, watch it dissapear, put it in a locked suitcase and you should be fine. Out in the bush, you should not have any problem at all.

 

The birds. Whoever said you may change your mind when you see them is right, African birds are amazing, you'll want to shoot them once you see them.

 

Good luck and shooting, you are going to have a terrific time!

Cleaning you sensor with eclipse fluid and a spatula is the only solution over time, it's easy and you can do it without a problem. Here is everything you need to know:

 

http://www.pbase.com/copperhill/ccd_cleaning

 

I have been cleaing a 1Ds and a 1Ds II without problems, so have many others. Don't be scared, just do it using these proven methods, you will do fine.

 

www.wildstate.com

Wow, Vandit, some good stuff there. The Kalahari is next on my Africa list. Did you go with anyone as a group or go solo?

 

What vehicle did you rent and how were the rates?

 

By the way, that Jackal Buzzard was great. 1D II is great for that sort of thing. Don't know if you have seen his site, but you may want to visit Art Morris www.birdsasart.com for his terrific pix of birds (good guy to take a trip with too, by the way).

 

I understand the Roller over the Lion... African birds were definitely first in line when God was handing out the clothes!

 

If you like these images, try www.wildstate.com for some more Africa images.

Thanks, everyone. Replies have helped a lot. Will use the 100-400 on bus handheld and 600 off bus with tripod, canning the beanbags. I'm taking the BIG backpack so everything will fit. 8)

 

One quick question: Can you get off the Wonder Lake bus and hop the shuttles or is that different? No info I could find on the official site on this.

 

Thanks again to all!

Going to Denali in Mid Sept. Looked at the other posts and have two

questions I could not find answers to:

 

1. On the bus to Wonder Lake, should I take the tripod or just a

beanbag or should I take both?

2. Would you take a 600mm on the bus or just the 100-400 IS?

 

Any other suggestions and locations within a day's drive would be

mucho appreciated! Thank you all in advance for the advice!

I had the 1Ds and replaced it with the II. The original version was a nightmare to clean, it would take 5 or more swabs to clean the sensor using eclipse and pec pads. The II has been a snap, gets far less contamination and is easily cleaned with only one or two passes of the cleaning kit. I don't know if there is any technical difference or if the first body was just a dirt magnet.

 

My advice is to do what Art Morris, Canon's sponsored bird photographer, http://www.birdsasart.com/bn134.htm does, use eclipse and the pec pads on a spatula.. The link is to his excellent article on the subject.

 

If he does it this way, shoots almost every day, and makes a great living off it, it must work better than anything eles. Otherwise, kowing Artie, he'd find a simpler, faster and easier way to do it.

 

Hope this helps.

Hawk Talk, Inc., a 501©3 non proofit licensed raptor

rehabilitation center is offering local nature photographers an

opportunity to photograph some of their birds of prey.

 

Barn Owls, Red Tail Hawks, Tawny Owls, Screech Owls, even exotics

like Africa Augur Buzzards are some of the opportunities.

 

I went out last week and shot some and convince them to let the club

members arrange special one or two person private shoots. Cost is

$150.00 for 1 1/2 hours; that's about all the time you will need and

the birds do not tolerate it any longer anyway.

 

Hawk Talk is located in the Near Cumming, GA; to arrange your

shoot:Go to www.hawlktalk.org or email monteen@hawlktalk.org

or call 770-720-1847. Monteen McCord runs the center and holds

multiple licenses in raptor care, rehab and education. Tell her

that "Chris" referred you.

 

You can see some of the pix I took at "www.wildstate.com".

 

You'll love it if you shoot nature and birds!

Well, since no one ever went, I guess it is up to me to provide the report since I went Feb 5&6, 2005. Here is the scoop:

1. Yes there are 65,000 ducks and geese, including snoweys there

2. Yes, there is a large variety of ducks

3. Yes, you can get close in the visitor observation building...

Now, the BUT... part:

1. You can't get in until 9:00 pm. Late to the party.

2. You have to shoot through double pane glass that wipes out any hope for good pictures.

3. You can not get within 250 yards of the ducks, they see anything man made or even close as deadly since they are regularly blasted out of the sky by the locals that hunt all around the edge of the WMA.

4. Morning only, afternoon is a waste. Morning sun angle is barely acceptable from the observation center.

 

A few things that were good: The staff were great, fun and knowledgeable, personable, particularly "Ms. Mallard." One of the best exhibit dioramas I have seen. Thanks to a staff that was friendly.

 

A few suggestions to the NWR folks:

1. I know you don't want to staff for a few photographers but maybe you could arrange for permits and special access fees on certain weekends.

2. In your observation building, two things would be a big help:

a. Put a black out curtain behind the west facing windows, the birds see movement inside and hight tail it out about 75 yards.

b. Put in some "recessed portholes" that photographers can open and shoot through with their 600mm canons. The glass just ruins what would be some excellent photography.

 

Wheeler could be a real destination for many wildlife photographers if we can get the NWR folks to help make this facility more accessible. Our photos and credits help let people know what is available in their NWR. Write the Wheeler NWR and let them know you'd like a "mini Bosque" you could go to on the east coast.

 

Good shooting to all.

Red

Was there over Xmass; Great Blue Herons Nesting close to boardwalk, great flight shots. Plenty of birds although the water was a little low.

 

Go.....

Can anyone provide information on this NWR and:

a) Is it worth going to for close up or flight photography?

b) Do you have any 'insider tips' for what time, where to photograph?

Planning on going next weekend. WMA sounds like a good place but

haven't seen much at all on it. Thanks.

An update on these locations, Merritt Island had spoonbills, wood

storks, white and glossy ibis in good numbers; ducks all over the

place including hooded merganzers, mottled ducks, northern shovelers

and the usual two billion coots and a far number of egrets and

herons.

 

DU Ducks Unlimited has been putting money into the refuge to improve

the sites and that seems to help. Good place for the AM, too bad

the dikes mostly run so the sun is in your face. Maybe the refuge

staff could figure out other dikes that would put the sun at your

back in the mornings and open them.

 

Ft. Desoto was one of my favorites but after the hurricane, the best

pool, in my experience, got pretty much filled in so it was no where

as good as it was. Lots of birds around the area but they are all a

mile out in the water on sandbars. Maybe someone local will clue

us in on where to go in the area where the sun angles and birds all

come together.

 

By the way, if you get near Venice, FL, do not miss the chance to

drop in Clyde Bucher's gallery, he is the Ansel Adams of Florida.

You'll see some of the finest BW landscape work of Florida (as well

as the biggest prints you ever saw) in his gallery. It is in

downtown venice in a sort of industirial area.

 

Good luck, good shooting!

In the debate, let us not forget that not all of us are the prime physical specimens we once were.

 

I used to be one of those guys that would walk miles but now, a 'few' years later, arthritis makes it impossible to hike. Not something being fit fixes like loosing weight would cure (although that helps). So, before we all grandstand about lazy photographers, out of shape ones, remember there are others that can't do what you do.

 

Our national parks are geared for access by 20 somethings; it seems the park services have lost sight of the change in demographics going on in the country. As we age, and we all will, accommodations for those not so vigorous or healthy will need to be made or have the parks become the playground of only the healthiest of us.

 

The transfer of permits to operators in the Denali case is probably more about the bucks than the overuse by a few hundred photographers. Money talks, photographers walk.

 

A fine question would be to the Superintendent of the park would be:

 

"OK, now that you have restricted the ability of professionals and semi pros, even avid point and shooters to go do serious photography, would it not be prudent to require one of the operators to offer 10% of the trips for photographers only? That way, would not more of us be able to enjoy serious photography with its unique demands for equipment, patience, etc, while the tour busses thunder back and forth looking for the next critter?"

Get the "Field Guide to the Birds of East Africa: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi" from Amazon; it costs about $27.00 here, $40 over there. It is THE guide to birds for the area you are going to visit. I used it all the time and it is excellent and very complete.

 

Great trip, enjoy!

 

www.wildstate.com

If it isn't in your hands, it's probably already stolen. I have carried everyting but the tripod with me through J'burglar and so far, have made it OK on several trips.

Until the airlines get stuck with the cost of theft, there is no incentive for them to find workable solutions. "Hey! Your problem is YOUR problem!" Seems to be their motto.

My advice is travel light, carry all you can with you, including the tripod head with you.

As to shipping ahead, "fergitabout" the cost is astronomical by fedex from the US to J'burglar. I looked at shipping some film and figured I'd do just as well to buy another seat on the plane, it was almost cheaper...

Don't let the possibility of theft bother you, look at your homeowner policy, many cover this loss if you have separate camera coverage, mine covered a $700 loss on filters that were ripped off out of a hotel room. You may not need separate coverage.

 

Also, find out if the trip you plan needs a tripod, most of the time, you'll find a bean bag works better, at least for nature photography. Oh, yea, and the thieves won't work for beans :)

 

www.wildstate.com

You might try a strategy that kept my gear so clean that I almost had no work to do when returning from one of those dusty safari drives. I picked up two stuff sacks that were coated with a moisture repellant, not waterproof but you could not blow through them.

 

I put my cameras in the bag with the lens on. To use, all that I needed to do was pull it out, shoot put back in and pull the flap up and drawstring tight. Presto, no dust. Fast and easy to use. Just be sure to get one big enough so you don't have to putz around trying to put the gear in or take it out.

 

Remember, shoot 'em with a camera, they are easier to clean...

 

Gallery at: www.wildstate.com

I use an F5 and the 500mm F4 with the Metz 50MZ-5 using the Wimberly Sidekick and Flash arms with some minor modifications. It went with me to Africa for 3 weeks and the power really did help a lot on some night drives. But, it was bulky, but workable. I added a Metz 54MZ to the mix and it is great, almost as powerful and a lot easier to carry. You can use the P-50 power pack with either unit (different pack to flash cords needed) for fast recycling and a gazillion flashes. Plus, I added the slave SCA unit to the 54 and use it with the 50 in a linked TTL mode. Really a great combo. I tried my FX-2 with the 54MZ and it was a loose as heck fit. Ordered a Fx-1 to cure the floppies. Metz has been a great unit for me but the Nikons are good too. I went for the power and the flexibility of being able to swap SCA adapters for different camera makes. Good luck.<div></div>

Nick,

I use a Nikon 500mm F4 with an Arca Swiss ball head and bought the Wimberly Sidekick, this thing is great. Took it to Africa for 3 weeks and shot a lot at Ding Darling, too. With big glass, it is the only way to go. You get the versatility of a ball head and the convenience of the Wimberly for handling heavy glass.