mlfly

I can't speak for the past 8 months (I moved) but Loxahatchee has been down on numbers for a few years. They began flooding the center of the main square a few years ago, then dried it out and dug the ditches lower (in an effort to attract Sanhill Cranes, a ranger explained - I thought those were central FL plains birds!!!), then back to flooding again. And, they added to the ambiance by placing a noisy pump on the trail. I'm not a biologist so perhaps what they are doing makes sense but pickings have been slim for at least 3 years.

Having said that, I can, however, not remember a time that something wasn't happening and I could not find at least a couple of birds to stick with, making for an interesting morning - go early, the light can get harsh as early as 8 or 8:30 on some days. In fact, if asked for advice, I'd say get there very early and if there's no action, drive a few miles to Wakodahatchee.

Mike

Personally, I'm one of those who believe a 340 will handle a 600 f4. My problem occured with a 1.4x. The sharpness ratio dropped severely and I actually had the system checked! Then, I bought the 1548 and, miraculously, the 600/1.4x combo was producing sharp results every time. Needless to say, I'm sold.

I have owned a 410 and used it with a Pentax 6x7 & 645. Excellent tripod but don't underestimate 2 things: 1) It does get heavy on outings, even ones that aren't so long and, 2) It doesn't pack well - too long.

Another factor is Gitzo resale - it is superb. So, based on your current equipment, I would keep the 3021 (it fits in suitcases and works with a 400!), and get the 340. When your lens appetite makes you do something silly like I did, :), then get the 1548 as it is really the way to go with big lenses. Weight is the same as a 340, btw.

Mike

I ended up buying a pair of Pentax DCF 8x32's. The use is for birds and other wildlife and I also carry them for looking at the sky also when I'm in a dark sky area. 32 is a little small for serious sky viewing but they are sharp and do both sky/nature jobs well. The Svarkovski EL's that I had a chance to use extensively were simply outstanding but the Pentax's are not 4 times worse :) (they cost 1/4 of the EL's). Unless you want to spend big money, check them out.

Mike

I'm nearly finished moving from Fort Lauderdale to Orlando and there

will be time to go find some birds pretty soon. Wekiva State Park and

Orlando Wetlands look like places to start but I am unfamiliar with

this area and any suggestions are welcome. (BTW, I've been to Merritt

Island and I also know plenty of places 2 hours away - my main

interest here is local spots where I can go for a couple of hours

after work or on a busy day).

Thanks,

Mike

<<Use of fire is "a common professional technique of lighting during night photography," Fatali wrote in his community letter>>

I don't know the man and I'm certainly not a pro. However, the next time I'm denied access to someplace I want to explore and photograph, I'll remember this and hope he receives his due punishment.

Mike

Minolta IVF. I replaced it with the Sekonic 508 and it was fine but I missed the IVF, which was less money. The IVF needs the spot attachment to be at its best. I did not leave it on all the time but used it when necessary.

Mike

Most places allow a return if you are not satisfied so long as the equipment has no damage marks. For your first roll of film don't use a holder - simply hold it in place in front of your lens with your hand. A holder is easier and more accurate but at least you'll be able to judge the effect and ensure it's the filter you want without scratching it.

I live in the SE (SE FL) and find the 2 stop soft Singh-Ray most useful. But, that's a very personal opinion.

Mike

I started with a Minolta SRT 102 in the 70's and loved it. Finally, I could afford a Nikon and bought an FM. Loved it. Finances improved and then came an F3, F4 and loved them. A Mamiya TLR made me scoff at 35mm because I loved it. Then, a couple of medium format SLR's came along. You guessed it, I loved them. Suddenly, I needed larger film. I loved 4x5 - Tachihara at first and then a Toyo 45 AX. BTW, so you don't think I'm a complete wacko, this did not all happen in a year's time and some were owned concurrently with others.

Now, I'm using 35mm. No extra meters to carry, no loupes, no film holders, etc., etc. If I want digital images, I get Dale labs to do Pro scans for $8 each and I can print up to 11x14 on a Photo 2000P printer on Archival Matte paper. 70mm dupes satisfy those who don't want prints (my goal isn't to make a living but to pay for my hobby - this advice may differ for someone who has to put food on the table).

I had to laugh knowingly at Kevin's post - I've been on a similar path at about the same times with the same equipment.

The only thing I miss is a viable way to do top quality B&W prints. The 2000P cannot do that at this time. I hope someone figures that out one day and I hope it's HP because their software is the best.

My point is, if you have the luxury of doing this for fun, use what is fun for you to use :) Oh, and shoot excellent images. Then, the market will accept your equipment in most cases.

Mike

Since you are buying your first flash, buy the latest and greatest. You never know when a new feature might come in handy. But if you had a 540, I wouldn't upgrade - the 540 works just fine. It's more important to understand the equipment in question. When it's an old friend you will appreciate its effectiveness and be reluctant to trade it in for a new model!

Mike

I can verify the yellow shift of the Sigma APO 400 f5.6 compared to my 600 Canon. Not only is it yellow but it is a slightly blown out yellow - IOW, it seems like a hot spot at normal exposure. I use and love the 400 Sigma but it ain't perfect. For 12x the cost you can get a perfect lens and it's big too :)

I use the 100 macro or the 70-200 with a 500D. Best of both worlds, IMHO.

Mike

I use the angle finder B extensively with macro and it's great when a low angle is desired (a lot). I have not seen the need for extra magnification even though I don't argue with it's usefulness.

Mike

Only consider the two element lenses by Canon or Nikon. If the Nikon sizes fit, the 5T is the one to buy. The 6T is equally fine but may be too close, depending on the lens you use. I've use them with an 80-200 zoom and with Bronica 645 medium format equipment (150mm lens). Results are outstanding and you should not consider other brands besides Nikon or Canon unless budget is an issue.

Mike

Last Sunday the ranger said they may begin lowering the water starting this week. One can only hope so. The high water kept birds away so far this season. It was tauted as being raised to kill the non-native plant species. Also, it was mentioned that the ultimate goal would be to bring in the more native Sandhill Cranes. I am not a biologist but the pair of Sandhills there in the fall are long gone and all the ShC's I've seen are plains birds, not marsh birds.

Hopefully, in the long run this will enhance Lox. For this year it has had the opposite effect.

Even so, I have found excellent subject matter each week of the last year either with birds or macro subjects. It's a great place.

Mike

Your friend can see most of the wading birds in Florida at Loxahatchee and should have some luck at Wakodahatchee also. Both are off the Turnpike on Atlantic Avenue (Delray Beach) and not far south of Palm Beach. Most visitors to FL like to see the 'gators. You will see some at both places in varying sizes.

For seeing "wild" FL but possibly not much wildlife, rent a canoe and go down the Loxahatchee River in Jupiter. Beautiful tropical canopy and a peaceful time.

Blowing Rocks in Jupiter is worth seeing and the wife can get some beach time in also. Again, no wildlife but interesting - try to time it with incoming tide and the water will spew out of the crevices in the rocks.

Mike<div></div>

I vote for a Gitzo 320 with short column and a Bogen 3047 pan/tilt head. This is a solid set-up and for landscapes/macro, will last you the rest of your life.

Mike

Actually, Clyde Butcher's "front yard" at the gallery is a good place to start. It features a great pond with Cypress trees.

But first, I would start in Everglades National Park, going to sites mentioned in other posts. Then when exiting ENP, go to US 41 and westbound. You should see some places worth stopping at but, if not, then go to Butcher's.

From there I would venture to Loop Road, just west a bit and go to the first culvert (several miles down - 4 or 5?). There are some landscapes there, particularly if you get close and isolate features.

Then, back to the main road and go west further, stopping at a small picnic park on the left. Walk it first to see if anything excites you and, if not, continue west to Turner River Road. Drive Turner slowly and use your imagination - there are great landscapes there but you must get out of the car and walk to them - just a bit into the fields or occasionally on a little side path (road). Expect mosquitoes and lots of them once you get off the road.

Mike

Anhinga trail has been great for nearly 3 weeks (I can vouch for one weekend and have reports on others). Loxahatchee has been disappointing but it's beginning to dry out and that will help (They flooded it a couple of months ago and wading birds have been scarce). Wakodahatchee is still good. Haven't been to Shark Valley lately.

I was in Merritt Island NWR over New Year's and I still don't get that place. Not many birds, the one's you do see are far away and when you do find a close one, better plan on a window mount - they scram when the door opens.

The weather has been beautiful except for the past few days - no bugs and ranging from perfect to cool/cold. By mid Feb it is spring and will warm up and some bugs may be present.

Mike

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Mamiya makes some excellent equipment. It's attractive pricing has resulted in lots sold and, so, there's plenty of used gear for sale. However, there are some differences in bodies and lenses. Certain older bodies use inserts and not interchangable backs. Meters are more versatile on later models. Interchangable prisms with or without meters can be had for versions before the new AF model. It would pay for you to pick up a book explaining the differences before deciding. In general, however, a Super or Pro 645 would be about the oldest I'd consider unless on a strict budget. So long as lenses are multi-coated, you should be okay with those - It seems to me that from 1974 and on, Mamiya lenses are "modern" (computer designed, multi-coated, etc.). But that's from memory - you should verify.

So far as expense is concerned, I found the joy of medium format to be in a contemplative approach - sort of like large format. I'd compose carefully, level, meter precisely and trip the shutter with mirror locked up on a solid tripod/head combination. I found a great deal of peace in such an approach and began to enjoy photography again. As a result, I might shoot 1 or two rolls where 4-8 would have been used in 35mm. So, I didn't notice the increase in film costs. Interestingly enough, now that I'm back into 35mm, I shoot far less than I used to, waiting for the precise moment I want to capture (obviously not so for some ast-moving wildlife/bird situations).

In short, it may well help your photography and not only from the increased negative size. Assuming you are not making giant prints or, if so, are willing to pay the increased price in complexity & $$$, 35mm can produce results that are stunning. Now that I'm exploiting this format and nothing larger (for the moment), I wish I had found a way to slow down, improve results, enjoy the outing more and maximize my skills before moving to a different format. My advice is make sure you are doing the best work you can before making a change - IOW, make sure the format is holding you back and not something else. A bad shot in 35mm isn't any worse than a bad shot on a larger piece of film :)

Mike

I photographed the same juvenile Black-Crowned Night-Heron at Loxahatchee. There is also an early adult one hanging around Wakodahatchee Wetlands. I watched it attempt to eat a small Soft-shell turtle in early October.

Mike

I like late January, early February. During those periods, I can always go out and find something interesting. Also, the weather's great. You might get a cold front through with a day or two of rain but it'll pass and you'll still have plenty of vacation left. December CAN be rainy and cold but isn't always so. I'd rather take my chances from Jan thru Mar but I would not avoid Nov-May if I had no choice.

Even in times of slim pickin's, however, there are smaller birds and lots of macro subjects so if you don't see something big, look for smaller things. To me summer is better for landscapes. Heavy incoming clouds and lots of greeen are the reasons. It can get a little dry in the early to mid winter.

Mike

My wife does exactly what you are trying to do. She's happy with a 400 f5.6 Sigma APO Macro. The close focusing capability is important to her and she can get a reasonable sized flower, butterfly or whatever in addition to birds. While they might not be saleable photographs, they give her the detail she needs.

The Canon 300 f4 IS is getting her attention as she would really like to carry a tripod less. I'm hoping she rents it first to make sure it'll make her happy.

Mike

FYI, you were all right about the lens autofocusing just fine. I also found several circumstances over the weekend where the 25 extension tube was handy.

Thanks again.

Mike

Vitaly,

The Sigma 400 APO Macro is a great lens. On those occasions where close-focusing is important, it might be the best option out there.

But, it is not as sharp as Canon's 600 f4.

It makes for a nice complement to the 600 f4. I've not have a 500 for comparison, but the 600 is sharp, it gets tight on the birds and it accepts a 1.4x converter with little loss of quality.

Carrying it is a matter of balance. Padding for the tripod legs and experimenting with carrying technique help a lot.

Mike

Very strange. I owned the older one for 5 years or so and have had the current (new style) B1 for a year or so. Neither have ever locked up and I take no special precautions in storage or travel.

The only differences I see are the ability to remove the platform and the thumbscrew will not loosen to the point that it falls out. I have had the latter happen on the earlier B1 a few times and feel that alone is worth having the new style.

Mike

Thanks for your responses. I'll put it on tonight and try it out, assuming I'm not putting up hurricane shutters.

Mike