e.j.

Sounds like a lot of overeaction. Any magazine bill, whether it comes from the publisher or an agency such as the case here need only be marked CANCELLED on it and the problem goes away.

The bloom is on in most of the usual spots!

The white color was originally added on Canon L-series lenses that contain Fluorite glass as it is not as tolerant of high temperatures as other glass. This is documented in several Canon technical articles. It is now as much for that reason as it is for branding reasons but the advantage of a white lens in hot temperatures is still a benefit as it reflects a much higher percentage of the sun's rays than a black lens will and therefore allow the lens to stay somewhat cooler.

I live in the Phoenix area and drove out to the Superstitions on Sunday to scout wildflower activity since we had a lot of rain in the last few weeks. There wasn't anything blooming yet but a lot of growth so there is still a possibility! I will be checking again this weekend.

I love the Sekonic L358 - its great because you can configure it for aperture or shutter priority. In other words you can select the desired shutter speed and it gives you the aperture or the desired aperture and it gives you the correct shutter speed. Many meters can't be switched back and forth like this.

I photograph Sedona often and would definitely opt for October as there will be leaves on the trees while in March many will be defoliated. If you can extend into mid November, the cottonwoods and other trees around Oak Creek get their peak fall colors between 11/15 and Thanksgiving.

Be careful, one of the owner/editors of that site is under contract with Tokina. That being said, I doubt you would find a real world difference in photo quality between the two but the Sigma does have the silent Hypersonic motor and the Tokina does not.

Bob, while you have the right to express your opinion, having not used the particular lens that the individual asked about (and he specifically asked for comments from people that have the particular lens), your answer is unprofessional and uneccesary. Then you go on to insult those that do and other people that posted in this thread. Yes its your site but with that kind of attitude, especially since there are many excellent alternatives, you may one day be the only user of your site. I find your responses throughout this thread and others, distasteful, disrespectful, unprofessional and incredibly elitist. I have enjoyed many of the subjects and discussions on Photo.net but I will not be returning to a site where its proprieter has such a condascending attitude just as I would not return to a store that gave me your attitude.

The old 2x MOST DEFINITELY DID CAUSE VIGNETING on the IS version of the 300 f/2.8 at f/2.8, f/4, and f/5.6. In my case I found it to be so bad that I could not use the combination at all on a film camera (no problem on a digital since it is only using the central part of the optics anyway). It was of course most noticeable on a blue sky. When I got the 2x-II, the problem completely went away. I did not have this problem on the 600 f/4 IS.

The FX-1 will fit the 420EX without any problems

Unless there is some serious rainfall in southern AZ real soon there aren't going to be any wildflowers this year. Supthern and south central AZ has had ZERO (absolutely none) precipitation in 2002. Typically the best times for wildflowers here range between the last week in Feb and the first week in April - those can move a little bit based on when there is rain and when it gets warm. Normally by now the large fields of Mexican Poppies have come and gone but there hasn't been a hint of them this year. Unfortunately this is likely to be the worst wild flower year in many many years in AZ. On the other hand, by the first week in April, the Cactii should be starting to bloom so there are many photographic oportunities for flowers anyway, just not the traditional wildflowers.

The answer to your question about using the Gitzo leveling base with other brand's tripod is NO!

I've searched the archives but have't found much... I will have one

full day in mid April to take in the natural side of Southeastern

Vermont. Any suggestions for Nature Photography oportunities in this

area would be greatly appreciated (either wildlife or landscape).

Hey Bob - here is a simple test to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Canon 2x II is superior to the old 2x. Take either a 300/2.8 or a 400/2.8 and take a shot of just blue sky wide open with both converters than look at the resultant image on the two slides side by side. You will recant all of the statements you have made about there being no difference. The light fall-off in the corners on the old one is severe. the new one still has some fall-off but it is dramatically reduced.

I lived in ABQ for 11 years. Besides the obvious Balloon Fiesta, the first weekend in Oct is when the Aspens reach peak color in the Sangre De Cristo Moutains. Just take the short drive to Santa Fe and go to the Santa Fe Ski Basin. The road takes you up to nearly 10,000 feet has several beautiful vistas and pullouts. These trees are almost luminescent this one week. Another great trip is to drive about 90 minutes south to Bosque Del Apache NWR - its a little early for snow geese and Sandhill Cranes but there is always an abundance of wildlife here that is realtively used to photographers. Chaco Canyon Culture Park about 2 hours NW of ABQ is another excellent choice for its Indian Ruins and desert wildlife. Bandelieer NM between Santa Fe and Los Alamos has cliff dwellings that you can actually climb into. Finally, if you are just staying around town, ABQ has an excellent zoo as well as a new aquarium (I have not been to it) and many excellent museums including the NM Museum of Natural History. On the other side of Sandia Peak, the mountain just east of ABQ, you can drive to the top. I have often found good condition butterflys clinging to the leaves early in the morning which make great photo subjects. Be prepared for the weather, at dawn it can be as cold as 25-40 degrees near the Rio Grande while it can heat up into the 80's during the day. Several years ago while I was still living there, the last weekend of the Balloon Fiesta (2nd weekend in Oct) got snowed out so prepare for anything. Hope this helps.

Bandelier is not very far from Santa Fe - about half way between Santa Fe and Los Alamos. It is a difficult place to get clean photos of ruins as they are heavily shaded much of the day and there are many visitors. A cliff dwelling that is much easier to photograph especially in morning light and is easy to photograph without people because of the way it is oriented is Montezuma's castle in central Arizona. Here is a picture, pardon the photographer in the photo, that was intentional... http://www.ejphoto.com/about_ej.htm

 

E.J.

Your question prompted me to write down my thoughts on a number of different transparency films. I have added this to my web site:

http://www.ejphoto.com/eqpment.htm

Fuji Provia 100F, sometimes pushed a stop is quickly becoming a favorite among wildlife photographers however for higher saturation, Velvia is a great choice but it is a slow film at an ISO 50 rating. Some people like Kodak Ektachrome 100VS which also has high color saturation however for my taste it is a little grainy and doesn't handle shadow detail well.

AF is very slow with this combination on a 1v. It's fine for stationary subjects but moving subjects can be a problem.

"However he does not often venture out to locations where it is extremely difficult if not impossible to get close shots"

 

I just spent a week trying to shoot Warblers in N. Ohio with Artie - very difficult, sometimes near impossible to shoot.

 

E.J. Peiker

 

www.ejphoto.com

Just spent a week with Morris. He feels that the lens you bought the 400/5.6 is superioir to the 100-400 for flight shooting and if he is just going to be doing flight shooting he carries the 400/5.6. The 100-400 is just more versatile due to the zoom feature.

 

E.J. Peiker

www.ejphoto.com

Between these two flashes it's no contest - even with an extender you need all the reach possible in nature photography - get the 550 EX

Bob makes a good point about Provia 400F - it is really very good in low light situations and does produce publishable quality. I do find it objectionable if there is blue sky in the picture (why would you be using it for nature photography w/ blue sky to begin with :)). I feel Provia 400 is fairly grainy in blues but then I think 100VS is way too grainy in blues too. I agree with Bob also on the VS - I don't like it all - its grainy, and loses shadow detail. These of course are very personal tastes.

Hi, I answered your question completely in the other forum

Markus, In the photos I posted, the catchlight on the hawk was done with a 550 EX with a better beamer flash extender to get enough reach. The flash was set to a -2/3 fill flash compensation. The shorebird was a natural catch light.

 

As for small birds, they are very difficult to do well and require a lot of patience and film since these birds tend to be skittish. You could use a blind with the smaller lenses like the 400/5.6. If you don't want to use a blind then you will probably need the big heavy glass with teleconverters.

 

As far as image quality with the new Canon 2x II Extender - it is excellent - here is a photo taken the other day in my backyard at 1200mm f8 at 1/100 sec on Provia 100f shot at 160 ISO and pushed 1 stop in processing using the 2x II...<div></div>