Register · Software · Search · Image Upload · Buy & Sell · Reviews · Hosting

	Moderated by: guardian
	Username   Password Visit the FM Store · Image Upload · Buy & Sell FM Forum Rules Rules: One new topic per day FM Forums | Nature & Wildlife | Join Image Upload end

gustiferjones Offline Image Upload: Off p.1 #1 · Costa Rica Gear Question I'm headed to Costa Rica at the end of the month for 16 days. I'm just working out my details, but wanted to get some tips on grear to bring, and how to keep it dry (as I understand it is nice and wet all over). I have a 40d with a grip with the following lenses: 10-22, 70-200 f4l, 50 f/1.8, and a tamron 17-35, as well as a 420ex flash. I'd love to not have to bring all this gear, as I am backpacking. I generally do not shoot RAW, and shoot on the highest JPG. Any info on gear to bring, bags, keeping it dry, and other care for CR would be fantastic! Thanks! Oct 11, 2008 at 12:28 PM

OwlsEyes Offline Image Upload: On p.1 #2 · Costa Rica Gear Question Hello, I have been to Costa Rica many times (5 total and more to come). Your lens needs are based on what you hope to shoot. If you are backpacking you definitely want to travel light. Others may disagree with me, but you don't have the right lenses to make the most that costa rica has to offer. I like your 40D + 10-22 for landscapes. If you want to travel light, leave the grip home. Your 70-200 f4L will be useful, but you really need more reach for wildlife... 100-400L or 300 f4L IS (or a used 300 f4L non-IS). I would invest in a macro (100 f2.8 USM or Tamron 90 f2.8... the ideal would be a 180 macro... but a small light one will get a lot of use). Definietly bring the flash and some kind of tripod if you can swing it. Finally, if you are stuffing your gear into a backpack, bring garbage bags to wrap your gear. If you can't get any new gear, bring your 10-22, 50 f1.8, and 70-200... find a 1.4x converter for the zoom and have a great time. regards, bruce Oct 11, 2008 at 03:21 PM

galenapass Offline Image Upload: Off p.1 #3 · Costa Rica Gear Question I agree with owl – not the optimal lens selection. In about the same time frame as you I will be in Ecuador at the headwaters of the Amazon for about 1 week. I will bring my Nikkor 17-55mm, Sigma 105mm macro or 150mm macro, 300 f4 IS and 400 f4 IS. I will probably leave the 70-200mm at home. I have had good success with these lenses. I have a 500mm f4 IS but find it too heavy and cumbersome for hiking, canoe trips etc. The 400mm f4 IS DO works great in terms of weight and works well on a 1.4X TC. Don't forget lensrentals.com. Oct 11, 2008 at 03:35 PM

gustiferjones Offline Image Upload: Off p.1 #4 · Costa Rica Gear Question Thanks for all the help. I've been looking into the Macro end - so it'll either be the Canon 100mm or the Tamron 90mm - I need to see what I can dig up in Toronto. I've also asked a friend if I can borrow some of his gear as well. I'll likely be bringing the 40d with 3 batteries, my 10-22, a macro of some kind...and perhaps the zoon (with my flash as well).... and tips for keeping gear in decent, dry, shape...ill likely have everything in a camera bag or front-worn backpack, with garbage bags...are there any other precautions I should take? Thanks! Oct 11, 2008 at 03:39 PM

milmoejoe Offline Buy and Sell: On p.1 #5 · Costa Rica Gear Question I do herp photography in CR, generally in the wettest, muddiest, nastiest conditions down there. It does keep you on your feet to work with the rain, but it's nowhere near as bad as folks make it out to be. I do agree that you will want to pack light. I'd say just bring the 10-22 and 70-200, maybe buy a teleconverter. Most of the wildlife is tolerant of humans, so you don't need alot of reach down there. Also, don't worry about buying something new for a trip...you'll waste your time learning how to best use the lens when you're already familiar with the others. If you can, a backpack with the rain cover is nice to have. Don't worry about "photographer's silica gel", etc. Buy yourself a cloth and lens pen just for this trip and make it a point to break down and clean your gear every night. Hope that helps. P.S. End of October- you are going to be transitioning into the dry "Sunny" season. You may go the whole week without rain...depending on where you're at. Oct 11, 2008 at 03:50 PM

Johnny Bravo Offline Image Upload: On p.1 #6 · Costa Rica Gear Question I've done a number of trips---and you do need some longer glass. Personally, I don't use long zooms--the soft images at the long end just piss me off. Get a 300 or 400 mm lens--a prime. The 300 f4 IS would be just the ticket if you're on a budget--the 2.8 is THE BOMB in CR most of the time if you can swing the bucks. Rain is in the afternoon and pretty predictable (I'm speaking generally here--your milage may vary). Carry a collapsable unbrella--you'd be surprised how much that works for you, and carry a few trash bags in your backpack---they are very useful for covering your backpack if you get caught out with it really coming down. Also, carry several zip lock backs with some of those 'artificial shammy' type clothes in them. They suck up water like crazy and are great for wiping down your gear. As far as macro, the Tamron 90 is a great lens for the money--the Canon 180 is the e-ticket ride. Don't forget your flash, lots of batteries, and be sure you know how to use the flash in high speed sync mode with your long lenses. CR is so great--the fact of the matter is that you're going to have a GREAT time no matter the gear you have. The oppty's are boundless. Where are you going? Oct 11, 2008 at 03:58 PM

milmoejoe Offline Buy and Sell: On p.1 #7 · Costa Rica Gear Question Despite the belief of many, you really don't *need* the long glass in CR. A little bit of patience will go a long ways! Here is a full frame shot @ 100mm (yes, wild / non banded animal) Oct 11, 2008 at 04:01 PM

milmoejoe Offline Buy and Sell: On p.1 #8 · Costa Rica Gear Question camera flash is also illegal in the national parks Oct 11, 2008 at 04:04 PM

jdc562 Offline Image Upload: Off p.1 #9 · Costa Rica Gear Question I lived in next door to CR in Panama for 16 years. All the advice on lenses, etc., is right on. Because of the very high humidity, be careful when you leave a cool airconditioned space and go outside. If you expose your cooled camera equipment to the humidity, you will get condensation. Warm up you camera stuff to air temperature before exposure. Oct 11, 2008 at 05:37 PM

Roy_H Offline Image Upload: On p.1 #10 · Costa Rica Gear Question I have been many times like others here: Costa Rica has a lot of different environs so it does depend on where you are going. In general, I would advise: (1) Take the 70-200, 10-22, and flash, (2) Get a better beamer for the flash - many of the monkeys and birds will be black/dark brown and/or in a shaded forest with terrible contrast. The flash will save the day. (3) Get a 1.4X you will use it (4) Costa Rica has many opportunities for macro. If you can not get a dedicated macro to take with you, then get extenders for the 50mm, or a Canon 500D for the 70-200. Also look at getting the off camera shoe mount for the flash so yo can hand hold it off camera when doing macro. (5) Listen to others about the Silica packs. People sell them in quantity on Ebay for cheap. Oct 12, 2008 at 01:08 AM

hfillmore Offline Image Upload: On p.1 #11 · Costa Rica Gear Question Don't forget the Better Beamer. Only costs about thirty bucks, weighs nothing, folds flat, and will greatly extend the range of your flash. A lot of serious wildlife guys use them. I understand the jungle canopy can be quite dim, and a good flash setup is essential. I'd also go with the 10-22, the 50 1.8, and 70-200 with extender. That 70-200 f4 is great with a 1.4 extender. I'd have to think long and hard about exchanging the zoom for a 300. That 300f4 is twice the size and weight of your little zoom, and I'm not sure I'd like to be carrying it for extended backpacking. A day hike is one thing, but extended backpacking? Harvey Oct 12, 2008 at 08:23 AM

gustiferjones Offline Image Upload: Off p.1 #12 · Costa Rica Gear Question Wow - these are such great tips...I'm so happy I posted.... As an update, a good friend of mine will be lending me his canon 100mm macro lens for the trip (he's a nice guy), and perhaps his 1.4x extender as well. I will have to sort out the space I have for gear, and the space I have for clothing (generally equal), and then get my gear in order for packing. I will likely need to buy another battery or two because of the remote places I will be heading to... On a similar note though, I will need to get myself a new tripod (after having mine broken by a hotel clerk while in storage). I'm not too keen on breaking the bank, and was using a SLIK tripod for years while living in Asia (like this one: ). I think the budget is around 150-200 CAD - any tips here in terms of weight, as well as durability for this trip as well as Canadian winters (also to be taken up waaaay up north a few times)... Thanks! Oct 12, 2008 at 02:14 PM

milmoejoe Offline Buy and Sell: On p.1 #13 · Costa Rica Gear Question Feisol tripod is good bang for the buck, and in your price range. Bogen also. 100mm is my favorite lens. Stayed on my camera 100% of the time last 2 week trip this past May. Have fun! Oct 13, 2008 at 05:52 PM

gustiferjones Offline Image Upload: Off p.1 #14 · Costa Rica Gear Question Just getting things finalized here. A mate, as I said, is letting me borrow his 100 f2.8 macro - so I'll be bringing that, as well as my 10-22 and 70-200. He might also lend me his 1.4 extender. Would you think a 24-105 would be a good lens to bring along as well? Oct 20, 2008 at 03:41 AM

hfillmore Offline Image Upload: On p.1 #15 · Costa Rica Gear Question gustiferjones wrote: Just getting things finalized here. A mate, as I said, is letting me borrow his 100 f2.8 macro - so I'll be bringing that, as well as my 10-22 and 70-200. He might also lend me his 1.4 extender. Would you think a 24-105 would be a good lens to bring along as well? Sure, if you don't mind the extra weight. On a crop camera though, I think I'd rather go for the 17-55 2.8IS for a more useful walk around focal length. Otherwise the 50 1.8 would fill the gap with almost no weight and bulk. Oct 20, 2008 at 07:58 AM

swanny338 Offline Buy and Sell: On p.1 #16 · Costa Rica Gear Question Just don't do what I did when I went to costa rica with my family.... It had been a long year for all of us so we just sat around the resort drinking boos. Barely got to experience the true costa rican experience. We did an atv/zip line tour and did take a boat tour. But other than that... We just partied. It was nice. I did take some pictures but my camera did stay in the hotel for most of the trip. I won't lie, I didn't regret it at all it was a much needed break. It is quite beautiful and we are definitely going back for a more in depth trip. Oh, I did get to take some photos of the "wild" monkeys that were hanging around the hotel beach. When I go again, I expect my most used lenses to be the 100 macro, 17-40 and a 70-200. Oct 20, 2008 at 08:06 AM

milmoejoe Offline Buy and Sell: On p.1 #17 · Costa Rica Gear Question Swanny, that is a good point. Despite the tico time schedule, your visit is always over before you know it Gustifer, 10-22, 100/2.8 and 70-200 + tc is a pretty perfect setup for a first run in CR. Unless you already have the 24-105, I definitely wouldn't go buy it to add to your backpack. I limit myself to three lenses every time I go, and almost always only end up using two. I think you will find that the small amount of time it takes to change lenses is just enough to miss "that shot". And, jdc makes a critical point (that I always seem to forget until im there), which is condensation will account for the other half of those "missed shots". Have a great trip Oct 20, 2008 at 12:25 PM

	FM Forums | Nature & Wildlife | Join Image Upload end

You are not logged in. Login or Register

Username   Password   Lost password?