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Recent content by flanken

  1. flanken

    Best and cheapest tele-lens solution for raptors in migration

    After going through the same dilemma myself, I wound up going with the Sigma 150-600 Contemporary after renting it and the Nikon 200-500 and comparing the two lenses side-by-side. They're both very good lenses, but they were so close optically that I picked the Sigma because it was lighter...
  2. flanken

    Camera strap recommendations please

    Thanks for pointing that out. Somehow I hadn't seen their tether before in retail stores, but that does make the strap a lot safer to use. Since our Cotton Carriers also came with safety tethers, I might consider using them with the Black Rapid, as it looks like they'll probably fit just fine.
  3. flanken

    Camera strap recommendations please

    Happy to do so. I sent the binoculars to Canon's Costa Mesa repair center. I just approved the repair quote today, so I'll provide ongoing updates on how long it takes to get them fixed, and how well the repair goes when I get them back. Definitely hoping to get them back before we go to the...
  4. flanken

    Camera strap recommendations please

    My wife and I were Black Rapid users up until last week. Walking around on Alcatraz, the tripod socket screw somehow worked its way loose, and her Canon 10x42 IS binoculars fell 2-3 feet onto concrete, knocking the elements out of alignment and resulting in a $170 repair. We thought we'd...
  5. flanken

    New Canon 12x36 is lll & 10x30 is ll

    My understanding is that DEET is a plasticizer, and therefore degrades any rubber it comes into contact with. I've also read that picaridin is an effective alternative to DEET as an insect repellent, and also isn't a plasticizer, so it won't degrade any rubber coatings. I'll put this to the...
  6. flanken

    Birding lens.

    I actually think the Sigma 150-600 Contemporary or the Nikon 200-500 are your best bets on a D800 with that budget. The Sigma would be my preference, but they're both very sharp. See my comments and comparison shots from this post: http://www.birdforum.net/showpost.php?p=3374693&postcount=77...
  7. flanken

    AF-S Nikkor 200-500mm f5.6E ED VR

    My opinion would be to go with a good copy of the Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary. Having tried them all, both Sigma 150-600s and the Nikon 200-500 are superb lenses, although I suspect there is a fair bit of sample variation among all of them, which may explain why there isn't a lot of consistency...
  8. flanken

    New Nikon 300mm f/4 VR

    I have used the 300mm PF with the TC-17E. It has pretty good overall image quality stopped down to f/8, and retains decent AF capability with both the D810 and D5500. That said, the resolution is definitely not quite up to par with the bare lens, or unsurprisingly with the 500mm f/4. I actually...
  9. flanken

    Olympus OM-D EM-5 Advice - Blurry pics

    Definitely much better shots there. They look about as sharp as what I saw from that lens. You might consider slightly higher shutter speeds (e.g., 1/500s or faster) to further reduce the risk of image shake. Don't be afraid to push the ISO beyond 200, as the 16MP sensor is pretty decent up to...
  10. flanken

    Olympus OM-D EM-5 Advice - Blurry pics

    Sorry to hear about all the frustrations you've experienced with this camera/lens setup. I think these test shots (particularly the lack of blur in pic no. 3), and my own experience suggest you're coming up against the limits of IBIS, which is great for shorter focal lengths, but simply not that...
  11. flanken

    Nikon D7100 or 7200?

    The D7100 does have a small buffer, but if you use a fast SD card (e.g., a 95 MB/s Sandisk Extreme) it clears pretty quickly. I used to have the 50-500, but mainly used it with the D7000; I sold it before I went to the D7100, and have since sold the D7100 as well. It should be even better with...
  12. flanken

    New Nikon 300mm f/4 VR

    Some shots with the D810, 300mm f/4E, and the TC-17E II. These are all close to wide open at f/7.1; I find that f/8 yields peak sharpness. AF performance is very good even with the TC-17E mounted. All in all very glad I got this lens; its weight and size make it much easier to carry around and...
  13. flanken

    What lenses do you use for bird photography?

    Thanks, Oobly. Regarding my shots, they are in focus, although focus on the Booby in the fourth shot is on its back rather than on its head. I think the sharpness of those shots is within reasonable expectations of this lens given its size and price; it renders some feather detail, and has good...
  14. flanken

    New Nikon 300mm f/4 VR

    After months of waiting - and taking the time to sell my 80-400 AF-S to fund it - I managed to get a 300mm f/4E PF from Best Buy's eBay site. They get a few in stock every few days, and offer in-store returns, so at the moment they seem to be one of the more definite avenues for getting this...
  15. flanken

    What lenses do you use for bird photography?

    I use a GM1 and the 100-300mm, and find it makes for a great compact wildlife kit. The combination does look a little silly as the 100-300 dwarfs the GM1, but it is quite easy to handhold, and delivers very decent shots at 300mm f/8. I recently added the Richard Franiec stick-on metal grip to...
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