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Birds of the Philippines

Photos and videos of wild birds found in the Philippines. We travel all over the Philippines to document and take pictures of birds. Our goal is to make this site a resource of information and images about wild birds of the Philippines.

  1. Equipment List

Photography Gear

In this section we will show some of the gear we use to photograph birds. We use a lot big heavy gear to photograph these small birds. Wild bird photography in the Philippines is quite challenging. Even the process of building a rig is not easy. We found it very difficult trying to decide which pieces of kit to purchase from the many choices available. There is always a trade-off, weight, portability, price, quality, and performance. With new items always entering the market its not an easy task filtering all the information.

In this page we will talk about the gear we use, our favorite bits of kit, what we like and what we don't like. Hopefully this will be helpful for those who are thinking about similar gear and are looking for some field reviews. Our experience is based on our trips in the Philippines which has its own unique challenges to the wild bird photographer. We have a nation of 7,107 islands, rainforests, mountains, rivers and dirt trails, sun, rain, moisture, extreme heat and some cold weather. Its not easy to prepare for every situation, so its nice to have gear can handle the varied outdoor conditions.

Unique to the Philippines is the challenge of taking pictures of birds that are very wary of humans. We have visited a few other countries and bird photography is usually easier in other countries because the birds are friendlier. The habitat destruction, the hunting by humans and the general lack of infrastructure make Philippine Bird photography more difficult. I think these challenges are sometimes reflected in the kind of gear we choose.

We will keep updating entries to keep track of the performance, reliability, and durability of these products.
Read More
4th Generation Designs Mongoose M3.6<br />
<br />
Weight 779grams (1.5lbs)<br />
<br />
We have gone to many places with our trusty Manfrotto 393 gimbals. All over the Philippines and in many different situations. But after all the hikes and carrying we wanted to get something lighter.<br />
<br />
We have been looking at the 4th Generation Design gimbals for some time and we finally decided to get ourselves the M 3.6.<br />
<br />
This is a compact,  lightweight side mount gimbal. It is fully adjustable and has a very smooth operation. It is easy to pan even when on video mode.<br />
<br />
It is more precise and smoother than the Manfrotto 393. Tracking small birds is much easier. <br />
<br />
The downside is it is a sidemount so you have to grip the lens well before locking it in. It is awkward during the first few times but becomes second nature after using it for a while. <br />
The 500mm is perfectly centered on the tripod because the lens foot is changed to a low profile foot that acts as the mounting plate as well.<br />
<br />
The upside is the ease of operation and the smooth working of the pivoting mechanism. <br />
<br />
The major advantage of this gimbal is the weight. It is only 1.5 lbs! The Wimberley WH200 II is 3.15 lbs more than double the weight. The Manfrotto is even heavier at 3.5 lbs. The small form factor makes it easy to pack. <br />
<br />
It costs the same as the Wimberley and can support up to an 800mm lens.
6 / 13

4th Generation Designs Mongoose M3.6

Weight 779grams (1.5lbs)

We have gone to many places with our trusty Manfrotto 393 gimbals. All over the Philippines and in many different situations. But after all the hikes and carrying we wanted to get something lighter.

We have been looking at the 4th Generation Design gimbals for some time and we finally decided to get ourselves the M 3.6.

This is a compact, lightweight side mount gimbal. It is fully adjustable and has a very smooth operation. It is easy to pan even when on video mode.

It is more precise and smoother than the Manfrotto 393. Tracking small birds is much easier.

The downside is it is a sidemount so you have to grip the lens well before locking it in. It is awkward during the first few times but becomes second nature after using it for a while.
The 500mm is perfectly centered on the tripod because the lens foot is changed to a low profile foot that acts as the mounting plate as well.

The upside is the ease of operation and the smooth working of the pivoting mechanism.

The major advantage of this gimbal is the weight. It is only 1.5 lbs! The Wimberley WH200 II is 3.15 lbs more than double the weight. The Manfrotto is even heavier at 3.5 lbs. The small form factor makes it easy to pack.

It costs the same as the Wimberley and can support up to an 800mm lens.

4thgeneration gimbalmongoose m3.6tonjisylviabirdlistphilippinescamera geartonjiandsylviasbirdlistbirdgimbaltripod4th generation designsphotographygearCanon

  • When terrain is too difficult and the super telephotos are too heavy we bring out our lighter lenses. 

<b>70-300mm f4-5.6 L IS USM  - top
100-400mm f4.5-5.6 L USM - middle 
400mm f5.6 L  USM - bottom</B>

The <b>70-300</b> is the newest release from Canon. It was just released in 2010 and has all the latest technology. It is the shortest and lightest of the three. This L lens is built tough, it is dust and water resistant.  It is only 1050 grams. It has the latest IS technology, 4 stops,  which makes it hand holdable. No need for a tripod with this lens.  Built like a proper L lens with a nice quality feel to all the moving parts.  It is very sharp and has great image quality. I like the pictures from this lens more than I like the pictures from the other two lenses. If the birds are not going to be too far, this is the lens we will pick up. We used this lens a lot in Tubbataha. I suspect we will use it often when we will be in dense forest. Paired with a crop body the focal length should be ok. 

It has a minimum focusing distance of 1.2meters. This should make it be able to do double duty for butterflies and other interesting things in the forest. 

It cannot use a canon TC. 

Overall, it is easy to carry, great construction, very sharp photos, great images the only downside is the 300mm focal length. I would not get this as my first lens for birding. It is more of a superlight lens for when the terrain might be too difficult to bring a bigger lens.

Price $1500-1300

Brown Booby with 70-300mm L lens handheld: http://tonjiandsylviasbirdlist.smugmug.com/List/Boobies/BB/i-6XfRFhn/0/X2/IMG2872-X2.jpg




<b>100-400mm</b> is an older zoom, first released in 1998. It is 1380 grams. Around 30% heavier than the 70-300mm.  It has IS but not as good as the latest generation of IS. It can still be used without a tripod. It has a more useable focal length than the 70-300mm for birds. It is the lens we use while hiking to a site or in places where the 300mm and 500mm super telephoto lenses would be too heavy. We have taken some very nice pictures with this lens. It is a good starter lens for anyone planning to take up bird photography. It is an older design and I suspect a new version should be coming in a year or three. One negative aspect is the push and pull design which can get loose over time as I have seen in a friend's lens. Others have reported some complaints about the poor dust sealing and its lack of waterproofing. Hopefully they switch to a rotary design like the one they are using for the new 70-300mm L in the future. In the rain use a raincoat for this lens. 

I would recommend this lens despite its shortcomings because it is very versatile. Spend some time checking the sharpness and focus of the lens before buying. Some lenses are sharper than others. I spent a whole day testing a lens, then I went home to check my test shots in my computer before I got our 100-400. 

Price: $1600-1400. 

An owl picture using the 100-400mm handheld 
http://tonjiandsylviasbirdlist.smugmug.com/List/Owls/Grass-Owl/IMG2143/557928260_YrPjJ-XL.jpg




The <b>400mm f5.6 </b>is a fixed focal length lens. It is the longest lens among the three. It is slightly lighter than the 100-400 at 1250 grams. It is also the oldest design, having first been released in 1993. It has no IS. It is best used with a tripod. It can take very sharp pictures. It has the worst minumum focusing distance, almost three times of the 70-300mm. I like the contrast and colors from the 70-300mm more than the 400mm f5.6. It also does not have weather sealing so it needs to be covered when hiking. In my opinion it is not as versatile because of the lack of IS. For birds in flight with the fast shutter speeds it can be handheld with very good results. It focuses fast. I have seen lots of great pictures with this lens from other bird photographers. It is a very popular lens because of the good image quality and good value for money. 

My main reservation with this lens is when the light gets low the lack of IS hinders the ability to handhold this lens. It ruins its portability by requiring you to use a tripod in difficult lighting. 

This is another good lens for someone who wants to get into bird photography. When the new 400mm f5.6 finally comes out to replace this model it will probably have great weather sealing and the latest generation 4 stop IS, chances are it will also be double the price. This lens is an old design but a great value.

Price $1250

Owl picture 400mm f5.6 handheld:  http://tonjiandsylviasbirdlist.smugmug.com/List/Owls/Grass-Owl/IMG0656/556815148_BzH2C-XL.jpg
  • Tonji's main photography rig. <br />
<br />
Camera Body: Canon 5D Mk2. <br />
Lens: Canon 500mm f4<br />
Gimbal: Manfrotto 393<br />
Tripod: Feisol 3471<br />
TC: Canon 1.4x TC series II<br />
Flash: Canon 580 EXII<br />
<br />
<br />
This is my main birding rig. In this picture its set up for night time photography with a flash and better beemer. I usually don't have the flash connected. <br />
<br />
The Canon 500mm f4 is a great lens. Its very sharp and a good size. Its at the upper limit of what I can carry and near the upper limit of what an airline will allow on a plane. Its length is 15.2 inches without the hood. It can be handheld for a few shots but it performs best when on a sturdy tripod. <br />
<br />
 I use a Canon 1.4xtc. Its not in this picture. But the 1.4x usually just stays stuck to the 500mm making it a 700mm. <br />
<br />
I use this rig 95 percent of the time. Maybe even more than 95%. It is light enough for shooting from a car. It is also light enough to carry on a tripod over a short distance. We have some lighter lenses. But I would rather take the weight penalty and carry my regular rig into almost any birding situation because usually the birds are too far rather than too near.  A lot of my favorite bird photos are with this rig so I don't want to change anything.  It is the smaller, easier to carry lenses that I end up leaving at home. <br />
<br />
Total weight:<br />
Camera : 0.9 kilos<br />
Lens: 3.856 kilos <br />
TC: 0.227 kilkos<br />
Gimbal: 1.588 kilos<br />
Tripod: 2.268 kilos<br />
<br />
Total weight is  8.845 kilograms (19.50 pounds) without flash.<br />
<br />
<br />
If I were in the market for a 500mm lens today Canon has recently announced a new 500mm f4 that is 1.5 pounds lighter and probably sharper. It is however also 50% more expensive and its still not available. But I am sure the new lens will be better in every way.<br />
<br />
note: I have since changed my gimbal to the 4th Generation Designs M 3.6
  • 300 f2.8  Rig<br />
<br />
Canon 300mm f2.8<br />
Canon 5d Mark 2<br />
Canon 2x TC series III<br />
Feisol 3471<br />
Markins M10 Ballhead<br />
<br />
Specs of Canon 300mm f2.8<br />
<br />
Length without hood: 5.0 x 9.9"	(128 x 252mm)<br />
Weight:                	  5.6 lbs.	(2,550g)	<br />
Minimum Focusing :  8.2'	(2.5m)<br />
<br />
Sylvia's wanted to have a rig that performed well but was light enough for her to carry. While it is always nice to have the longest possible lens the weight of a 500mm was something that she did not think was enjoyable. Her gear is optimized with weight savings in mind. In fact her rig is almost 5 pounds lighter than mine. It is much easier to carry over a long distance. It is also shorter so it is easier to shoot without a tripod or from a car window. <br />
<br />
The 300mm f2.8 is a very sharp lens. It is supposed to be the sharpest lens Canon makes. It has very fast AF and has IS. <br />
<br />
Most of the weight savings come from the lens and the ballhead. We use the same model camera body and tripod. <br />
<br />
She has a Canon 1.4x Series II and a Canon 2x Series III extender in her bag so she can make her lens into a 420mm or 600mm. She also has a 7D body with a 1.6 crop factor if she want to go even longer. <br />
<br />
Bird gear for photography can get very heavy and the weight can actually keep you from going to the more difficult areas with the interesting birds. Sylvia decided to go with a lighter system rather than a longer and bigger lens. <br />
<br />
If you have some problems with weight and can't carry a rig like this maybe you should also look at the review of the three lighter lenses that can be found in this section of Photography Gear.
  • Canon 5D Mark II<br />
Full frame sensor<br />
21 MP <br />
<br />
Tonji:<br />
<br />
This is my favorite camera. We used to use Nikon film cameras and had 3 Nikon digital SLRs before switching to Canon. The other Canon cameras I have owned recently are the 50D and the 7D. I prefer this camera to those models.<br />
<br />
In my opinion the main strength of this camera is the sensor.  It uses the same sensor as the top of the line 1Dsmk3 which presently costs $8,750.00. The 5dMk2 costs 1/4 the price.  I like the image quality of my captures with this camera. It produces very clean files. I find that to be a big advantage early in the morning or late in the day when the light is weak and difficult. The great low light performance is a big plus under a thick forest canopy. I don't worry about ISO 2500.  The large 21 MP file size is a big advantage. Paired with the clean files the high resolution allows me to crop and retain a lot of details without a lot of noise. When I zoom into a perfectly focused photo, the details just get better and better.  Did I say I like the sensor? <br />
<br />
 I find the AF works very well. Its not as high tech as the 7D AF. But I have taken some very decent BIFs with this camera. On center point AF, which is the only mode I use for birds, its just as good as the 7D in terms of speed of AF. But on the other AF mode it can't compete with the 7D. <br />
<br />
The battery lasts a long time, usually a day and a half to two days. There is no need to use a battery grip which will only add to the weight. I carry more than enough gear already. Less weight please!<br />
<br />
What I don't like is the slow frame rate of 3.9 per second. But it is not usually something that bothers me.<br />
<br />
We have recently upgraded to the 5D Mk3. It answers all the weaknesses of the 5Dmk 2.  Advanced AF, better weather sealing, and 6 fps shooting. If the sensor of the new model really is 2 stops better than the 5D Mk2. The Mk2 is a good camera. The Mk3 is a big step up.
  • Manfrotto 393<br />
<br />
Tonji: <br />
<br />
Its a very simple gimbal head.  I use it as for my 500mm as well as for our spotting scope. <br />
<br />
There are three knobs. The one at the base needs a 2.5mm allen wrench to adjust it. You have to set it a bit snug then basically you leave it on that setting forever. The only remaining knobs adjust the tilt. Very basic, very simple. It works well and is stable if you adjust everything properly. <br />
<br />
It is also very strong. Basically two big solid aluminum bars bent to a U shape and connected with two bolts. Nothing to break. <br />
<br />
The downside is that it weighs 1.6 kilos (3.527 pounds).<br />
<br />
The best feature of this gimbal head has got to be the price. Its around $160-200. The Philippine distributor is Island Photo. But because of the price is so reasonable its hard to upgrade this particular item.<br />
<br />
 One of the best Gimbals is the Whimberely  MkII. It is very well made and has better adjustments. But it is also heavy at 1.4 kilos. And you need to buy the lens plate extra. The Whimberley costs $600.00.  <br />
<br />
The unit which I want to try is the Generation 4 Mongoose M-3.6 Gimbal which is only 0.68 kilos. It costs as much as a Whimberley but weighs so much less. Its only 1.5 pounds thats two whole pounds less than the Manfrotto. <br />
<br />
But those two alternatives cost 3 times more than the Manfrotto. Making the 393 the clear value winner. All in all it is very difficult not to recommend the Manfrotto 393. Its just such a good deal.
  • 4th Generation Designs Mongoose M3.6<br />
<br />
Weight 779grams (1.5lbs)<br />
<br />
We have gone to many places with our trusty Manfrotto 393 gimbals. All over the Philippines and in many different situations. But after all the hikes and carrying we wanted to get something lighter.<br />
<br />
We have been looking at the 4th Generation Design gimbals for some time and we finally decided to get ourselves the M 3.6.<br />
<br />
This is a compact,  lightweight side mount gimbal. It is fully adjustable and has a very smooth operation. It is easy to pan even when on video mode.<br />
<br />
It is more precise and smoother than the Manfrotto 393. Tracking small birds is much easier. <br />
<br />
The downside is it is a sidemount so you have to grip the lens well before locking it in. It is awkward during the first few times but becomes second nature after using it for a while. <br />
The 500mm is perfectly centered on the tripod because the lens foot is changed to a low profile foot that acts as the mounting plate as well.<br />
<br />
The upside is the ease of operation and the smooth working of the pivoting mechanism. <br />
<br />
The major advantage of this gimbal is the weight. It is only 1.5 lbs! The Wimberley WH200 II is 3.15 lbs more than double the weight. The Manfrotto is even heavier at 3.5 lbs. The small form factor makes it easy to pack. <br />
<br />
It costs the same as the Wimberley and can support up to an 800mm lens.
  • Markins M10 Ballhead<br />
<br />
Weight 498 grams (1 pound)<br />
Max load: 40 kg<br />
<br />
Sylvia likes this ballhead because its only 1 pound vs the 3.5 pounds of the Manfrotto 393 or 3.3 pounds of the Whimberley. <br />
<br />
It is also very small so it is easy to pack for airplane trips.<br />
<br />
But it is not as easy to use as a full gimbal. It does not work well for birds in flight. Basically its main highlights are weight and small size. If weight is not an issue get a gimbal. But if you can't carry your rig anymore or if you are injured then maybe this lightweight head might be helpful.<br />
<br />
If you are using a 300 f2.8 the model to get is the M10. If you are using a 500mm f4 and heavier then the M20 is the correct model.
  • Feisol 3471 Carbon Fibre Tripod<br />
<br />
We have had 5 tripods before these Feisol model. We had a lot of experience about what we wanted and what we did not want. <br />
<br />
High on the list of wants is stability. This model has huge legs, 37mm diameter. It is rated for 12 kilos. The 500mm lens, 1.4x tc and camera body is around 5 kilos. The Feisol can easily handle the payload. <br />
<br />
I also wanted the lightest possible tripod. It is very light at 2.3kilos. My previous tripod a Manfrotto 975B was 4.3 kilos. The Feisol has the same capacity but almost half the weight. 2 kilos weight savings may not sound like much but it is quite noticeable because of the length of the tripod. It is also very nice to carry less weight  on your shoulders the whole day. My back certainly notices the difference. <br />
<br />
The light weight helps both in the field and when checking into an airplane. Tripods are not allowed to be carried as hand luggage on planes now, so they have to be checked in. Domestic flights usually have a 15 kilo baggage allowance, the Batanes flights have a 10 kilo allowance.  My old tripod took up 1/3 of my total baggage allowed.  We got the 4 leg section so the tripod can fit inside our luggage. <br />
<br />
Another great feature is that the tripod can be spread out flat. It has no center column so it goes very low to the ground. Perfect for waders. <br />
<br />
The best feature is the price. Its much cheaper than a Gitzo so I am not thinking about it when I am setting it down on some rugged terrain. <br />
<br />
Its a simple light tripod. <br />
<br />
What can be improved? In my opinion the unlocking mechanism could have been better. I would sometimes tighten it too much when I first got the tripod making it hard to open. But now I know the proper pressure. I think the new mechanism is supposed to be faster. Its a small quibble, it does not bother me anymore since I know the proper tightening pressure now.<br />
<br />
We bought the optional stainless steel spikes as well. But the weight penalty is high for the spikes so we don't use them. The rubber caps provide enough traction even on wet surfaces.
  • Pelican 1510 Carry On Case<br />
<br />
Carrying photography gear thru the jungle, to a beach environment or even in an airport is always a challenge. There is no bag that does everything well. <br />
<br />
When we are going to shoot in an extreme environment, that is dirty and or wet, something that may need transport with a boat then these are the cases we use. These cases are 100% waterproof and are very tough. It can handle beach landings in a small boat, salt water or typhoon type strong rain. It is sand, mud and dust proof as well. Perfect for extreme environments.<br />
<br />
 It is long enough to fit a 500mm f4 with a 1.4xtc and a camera body without dismantling. There are pockets on the cover that you can use to put batteries, CF cards and cables. With the 500mm rig complete there is enough space for flash, and smaller lens.<br />
<br />
This is an airline approved size. So you can carry it on the plane. It has wheels and a retractable handle so you can wheel it around the airport. <br />
<br />
Another advantage is that it is easy to clean. If you used a horse to carry your gear or you have lots of dirt on your bags, cleaning a soft bag is more difficult. These cases just need a quick wipe. <br />
<br />
For car transport it is also useful because everything is laid out neatly and organized. The cases also protect the gear when you are in a rough road and other items in the car may fall on your gear bags. <br />
<br />
The biggest negative of this case is the weight. Its around 11 to 13 pounds empty.  But if you want a 100% waterproof case, something that can actually float, this is a good choice for the bigger rigs. <br />
<br />
The second drawback is that for the size you could carry more things in a soft pack. <br />
<br />
Here are the dimensions that I got from their website:<br />
Exterior Dimensions<br />
(L x W x D)	 	<br />
22.00" x 13.81" x 9.00"<br />
(55.9 x 35.1 x 22.9 cm)	 <br />
<br />
Interior Dimensions(L x W x D)<br />
19.75" x 11.00" x 7.60"<br />
(50.1 x 27.9 x 19.3 cm)
  • Kiboku Bag by Gura Gear<br />
<br />
This bag is best soft bag I have come across for carrying big lenses. It is purpose built for outdoor photography. <br />
<br />
It is ultra light. It is less than four pounds empty. Made with a very durable high tech sail cloth. The light weight is helpful especially on a long trek and when carrying the bag in the airport. <br />
<br />
 It is supposed to be water resistant, not water proof. I usually put my gear in dry bags inside the bag if I expect really bad weather.   And it has a rain cover if the rain starts to really pour. I've not had a problem with the water resistance of this product. But the zippers are not the sealed waterproof type so I expect that this would be the weak point if you were in a torrential downpour for a long time. If that were the case it would be good to have everything inside in dry bags just to make sure. <br />
<br />
It has the biggest capacity of any airline legal carry on bag I have seen. It can fit two complete 500mm f4 rigs side by side. Complete with 1.4x tc. In the picture on the left the Canon 300mm f2.8 is connected to a Canon 2x and mated to a 5dMk2. The whole rig fits loosely in the left main compartment. On the right main compartment is a 500mm f4, Canon 1.4x, and a 7d. On left compartment of the bag there is still space for another body or a lens.  I would recommend it to birders who have a lot of camera gear. Bird photographers who carry spotting scopes and super telephoto lenses will find that everything can fit in this one bag.<br />
<br />
My usual kit in this bag is a Canon 5dmk2, Canon 7D, 500mm f4, 100-400mm f.5.6, 24-70mm, 1.4x tc, flash, flash bracket, better beemer, extra batteries, CF cards, cables, chargers, flashlight. <br />
<br />
The picture on the right is the bag zipped up with two big camera rigs comfortably inside. It has enormous space. There are straps for the tripod and side pockets for a water bottle. <br />
<br />
The only limitation is the amount you can carry on your back. There is a temptation to pack everything in your dry box into this bag. Don't do it! You will kill your back before you run out of space.<br />
<br />
The straps provide adequate support and have a nice adjustable belt strap to help distribute the weight. If you want to streamline the bag the straps can be hidden inside the bag. <br />
<br />
The main issue with this bag is the cost. It is around $400.00. But for carrying big lenses I have not seen a better bag yet. I saw an article in the web, on one safari in Botswana a person noticed that 8 of the 10 bags were  Kiboku bags. <br />
<br />
This bag is easy to clean and after washing the straps dry very fast.
  • Custom Brackets CB Folding-S<br />
<br />
This item is made of aircraft quality black anodized aluminum. Most of the parts are machined. It is a solid bracket. <br />
<br />
This item is made is the USA to a very high standard. You can feel it when you pick it up. It is a hefty 340 grams. The bracket folds flat and is easy to store. The pivoting points and the locking mechanisms are really well made. The buttons to release the locks are brass. The screws for connecting the camera and hot shoe to the bracket are quality items. <br />
<br />
There is a lot of value put into this product. We got two of them. They cost around $80 in Amazon and only $70 in B&H. We purchased ours in Singapore for around $100. <br />
<br />
If you use a Canon 1D series or a Nikon D3 you will need the tall version. The "S" is the short version.<br />
<br />
Specifications<br />
• Weight:  12 oz.   (340 g)<br />
• Bracket Dimensions:  8-1/8” high, 7" wide, 1-7/8” deep<br />
• Metric Dimensions: 20.6 cm high, 17.8 cm wide, 4.7 cm deep<br />
• Storage Dimensions:  8-5/8" high, 2-1/2" wide, 1-7/8" deep<br />
• Metric Storage Dimensions:  21.9 cm high, 6.3 cm wide, 4.7 deep<br />
• Nominal lens-to-flash distance:  11”   (27.9 cm)
  • Image Stabilization (IS)

When purchasing a lens, Image Stabilization is a key feature that will greatly enhance your bird photos in difficult light. What it does is it reduces your camera shake when handholding your rig. When the light is very low in the forest there is no choice but to go to a high ISO and a very slow shutter speed. If there are too many obstructions you can't use a tripod and you have to handhold. Sometimes you know its a bird of a lifetime and you may never see it again, so you need to get the shot quickly despite the bad shooting conditions.  Its times like this when the IS feature of the lens helps a lot in getting a reasonably decent picture. 

Usually you need a fast shutter speed when handholding a long and heavy lens. Especially when you can't use a rock or a bean bag for extra support. 

In the picture above the light was very low and I used manual exposure and manual focus. I had to open shoot wide open at f5.6. My ISO was at 2500. And the speed of my shutter was at 1/25. This shot was handheld because the bird was so low and there was no space for my tripod. I was handholding my heavy  500mm+ 1.4x  rig at an awkward angle. I am very happy to come out with a useful image. I think the Image Stability feature of the lens played a big part in helping me take a decent photo. 

Its images like this that make me a believer in Image Stability(IS). If you have a choice get the IS.



WHISKERED PITTA
<i>Pitta kochi</i>
Northern Sierra Madre, Luzon, Philippines
  • <b>Think Tank Hydrophobia 300-600 V2.0</b>
Field Tested for one year

This is the best raincover we have used. We have used trash bags, cheap clear plastic covers, and the generic camo rain covers and they all are half baked compared to the Think Tank Hydrophobia. The Think Tank is a very sturdy design and we have used it for a years worth of trips. It has proven to be very durable. 

This model is for the 300 f2.8 to the 600 f4.  The cover comes in two pieces, the first will fit lenses from 300 f2.8  to 500 f4. The second piece is for the 600mm f4.

This cover comes with an integrated lens cover so you can cover the lens when transporting in the rain or if the wind is strong and the rain might wet the front element of the lens.

 It has openings on the left and right side where you can slip your hand in to control the camera and lens functions. The openings can be closed with adjustable elastic cords. 

You must buy an eye piece for your specific camera. The eye piece works very well and is very comfortable with a good amount of foam making it a pleasure to use. 

You can shoot and control the camera easily. In addition you can change the battery and CF cards even with the rain cover attached. It is loose enough to switch TC's in the rain. But I have not tried that yet. 

You can roll the whole thing into the front section when it is not raining and it will just occupy the space of the lens hood. A very useful design feature. This makes the Hydrophobia ready to deploy the moment it rains. 

It works. The lens and camera stay dry. We have used these covers in many different locations and conditions. Rainforest, beach storms, and even Batanes rain and wind. When we are in the middle of nowhere with no shelter in sight and its pouring we are always so happy we took the time out to get proper rain protection. 

It is a thoughtful design made for extreme wet weather shooting. If you want to keep your gear dry you can use a garbage bag but that is a flimsy solution at best. This bag is not cheap at around $160.00 plus the eyepiece which is $35.00. But the gear it is protecting is  very expensive and it seems like a good price to pay to insure that everything stays nice and dry even in the worst conditions.
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