p.2 #1 · Considering R7 for Reach for Polar Bears Mid Nov
Thanks all. I have now spent some time on thedigitalpicture and
1) 200-400 2x (f8) out resolves 200-800 (f9)
2) 600f4ii 1.4x (f5.6) outresolves 200-800 ( f9)
3) 600f4ii 2x (f8) out resolves 200-800 1,4x (f13)
eg R7 is only useful on a really good lens like 200-400 or 600 with either 600f4 1.4x f5.6 (effective 1344mm), 600 2x f8 (eff 2000mm), or 200-400 (eff 500-900mm f5.6 on r7). [Or where 200-400 or 600 are not practical such as in my car.]
I can't easily juggle adapters / bodies so practically two bodies mounted with a walk to switch.
There is risk of leaving a body and lens on the chair with people being excited about bears. And there is no room to hang it on the back of a chair. The safest place is in a bag under the chair when not used.
I don't know if 600/f4 is practical in overhead bin or leaving on my seat while I wander about tundra buggy.
So I will bring 200-400 on my r5 (with r5ii as backup), as my go to combination. Shorter than 200 is too bad an angle from the tundra buggy. And sharp and f4 or f5.6 is desirable.
I will buy the r7 just in case I am reach limited (for 500-900mm/f5.6 effective).I will bring a 1.4x to double up and make the 200-400 into a 400-800f8 on r5 or 640-1420mmf8 on r7.
If space permits in the overhead, I will bring my 600f4. I will get the back bench and leave it under my seat for protection. And if there is a permanent long shot opportunity, I will bring it out and put the r7 on it with the 1.4x to achieve 1344mm/f5.6 or 1920mmf5.8 with 2x.
If space limited I will bring my 200-800 as a backup.
Thanks for all the recommendations. If I don't use the r7, I will sell it for $500 less than I buy it.
p.2 #2 · Considering R7 for Reach for Polar Bears Mid Nov
So I bought the r7, rented a rf1.4x, then spent some time with aI chatbot (google gemini) debating which lens and bodies. Gemini recommended 200-400 without 2x with r5 as best for f5.6 (shutter speed and low noise). I also debated electronic vs efcs and determined EFCS for lessened rolling shutter affects for r7. I brought the r7, r5 and 200-400 (and kept my rf200-800 and rf100-400 in my bag for a security blanket). [I left the r5ii at home because I trusted the r5 more in cold, did not need precapture and liked the high iso better on r5 from experience] I could not bring my 600f4 because it was too big for the plane [and in retrospect switching between 200-400 and 600 would have been too awkward in the moment so 600 was not needed and r7/200-400w1.4x was sufficient and the chatbox convinced me that r7 with 2x and 200-400 would just magnify noise instead of detail)
I did not use the rf1.4x that I rented.
My plane was delayed 2 hours, so I only got to see 7 bears over about 3 hours.
p.2 #4 · Considering R7 for Reach for Polar Bears Mid Nov
artsupreme wrote:
Do they ever let you out of the vehicle so you can shoot from the ground?
No - the only vehicles allowed on this beach are the tundra buggies and they consider it too dangerous and logistically challenging to put the steps down, get many people to go on the tundra and get back on. And you would not want to get out when the polar bears are near.
In the summer, you can do smaller tours with armed guides and no tundra buggy.
p.2 #6 · Considering R7 for Reach for Polar Bears Mid Nov
artsupreme wrote:
Would they let you hang your camera over the side hanging from a monopod?
I did not ask but:
1) its quite busy on the tundra buggy with people jostling. You would need a less than full tundra buggy.
2) The bears can almost reach the bottom of the cage you are standing on. You would want to be ready to drop it or keep it up a bit eg above floor level.
So my guess is that you would not want to do it. They are moving. The camera would be hard to focus. The bus is not overly stable with people moving. It would be better to have a long lens and a distance subject (eg r7, 600f4, 1.4x) and go multiple days to get the long opportunities.
There are tours you can do from the ground with an armed guard. They are expensive.
