bob_mauceli

<p>We were just on a 3-week birding tour to Alaska in June 2011 -- Anchorage area, St. Paul Island, Denali area, Nome area, Kenai Peninsula (including a 9-hour pelagic trip to the glaciers in Aialik Bay), and Barrow. I brought a 40D and 30D body; EF300mm f/4L IS, EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS, EF24-70 f/2.8L and EF16-35mm f/2.8 lenses; 1.4x & 2.0x convertors; and polarizing filters. <br>

I ended up using the 300mm f/4 with 1.4x convertor handheld for birds and wildlife, the 70-200mm f/2.8 for most landscapes, the 24-70mm f/2.8 for a few 'vistas' and close landscapes and polarizing filters for snow/mountains in sun. I didn't use the 16-35mm at all and probably could have left the 24-70mm and 2.0x convertor home.<br>

Another person on the trip had the Nikon equivalent of what I did and used a tripod for most shots--I couldn't do that as I also carried a tripod and spotting scope for birding...she was only doing photography, not birding. I don't think there was a huge amount of difference in the photographs we both took.<br>

It's beautiful country -- the mountains in Cook's Inlet, Kenai and Denali will knock your socks off.</p>

<p>In their ratings, CR usually state that any difference in overall score of performance and quality that is LESS than 5 points is immaterial -- the 60D is rated at 75, the 7D at 73, a difference of only 2 points. <br>

CR also say in this article that for closely rated products the buyer should make his or her choice based his or her need for the features and willingness to pay for those features, and on the overall reliability of the model and the brand. <br>

Based on that, I guess I'd say that CR are NOT saying that the 60D is 'ahead' of the 7D, but that both are about equal in overall performance and quality...given what each do. <br>

I think CR ARE saying that the products ARE different...as several have pointed out in this forum. If you can use the feature set offered by the 60D, CR are saying you're getting a top product in the performance and quality it provides. If, however, you need/want the 7D feature set, and are willing to pay a premium of perhaps as much as $600 to get it, then CR would say you're getting an EQUALLY good product, in terms of performance and quality, for what IT provides. <br>

I think where the magazine's value judgement come in is that they believe most of their target audience would be satisfied with the 60D feature set and would prefer to pay the lower price for that model.</p>

I have my 70-200 on a Canon 20D with a BG-E2 battery grip (and often a 1.4 or 2x teleconverter, as I shoot birds in the field)-- I carry this over-the-shoulder using an Op-Tech Pro Loop strap. I'm out in the field with this rig for 4-8 hours at a time. I also mount this rig (without the battery grip)on a Stock Pod gunstock shoulder mount and carry that over-the-shoulder with the Op-Tech Pro Loop strap. I've used Op-Tech straps with cameras and binoculars for years -- they're the most comfortable when you're carrying that stuff in the field for hours on end.

I have used this combination with an EOS IIe and 10D and have never had an exposure problem -- taking pictures of flowers and birds in flight or on the ground with truly satisfactory exposure results and extraordinary sharpness. I agree with Bob Atkins; it sounds like there's a problem that needs to be fixed.

I'd like to thank all of you for your kind and thoughtful responses -- which were quite helpful. It's probably time to make the shift to AF so, based on your advice, I think my first choice will be to search for AF equipment I can afford -- probably built around a 300mm f/4. My fallback will be to buy the Sigma 150-500 f/5.6 for my present MF cameras. Thanks again for your help.

 

Bob Mauceli

I'd like some help, but please don't start laughing when you read

this. I own two Minolta SRT-101's that I've used for more than 20

years with a Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f/2.8-4.0 macro zoom for both

wildflower and (with a 2.0x tele-extender) bird pictures. This rig

takes outstanding wildflower pictures, but only good bird pictures at

the feeders at home.

 

We're now about to take a birding tour to Costa Rica for three weeks

and I'm looking for something more powerful. The question is should I

buy something like the Tokina MF 150-500mm f/5.6 AT-X 150 (for about

$1100) to use with the SRT-101's, or should I bag the whole thing and

go for a (not-so-pricey�about $1500, if there is such a thing) AF

solution? Any recommendations?

 

Bob Mauceli