COSTA RICA

[CATALOGUEKID]

Off to Costa Rica Jan/Feb next year and need some help on what the best lens would be to suit the trip. I already have a 100-400mmL canon and the kit 17-35mm. Will be doing landscapes, wildlife and people. Not decided on a budget just yet......

What accessories would you advise for the rainforest?

many thanks for all advice

Tom

 

[CATALOGUEKID]

Anything.......?

 

[odd jim]

Kit 17-35? Not heard of a kit 17-35!

For wildlife your 100-400 will be great. For the people portraits I'd invest in a 50mm and / or 35mm prime (both Canon f/1.8 and f/2 variants are very affordable). Maybe look at a Raynox dcr 250 to go with the 50mm for some nice macro shots of all those creepy crawlies youre bound to encounter!

For landscapes you could also use the 50mm or 35mm or your kit lens. What lens is that out of interest?

Quite jealous, I'd love to go to Costa Rica!

Oh and maybe a monopd. Easy to carry and so useful in most situations!

 

[hollis_f]

I'm subscribing just to see what people recommend as I'm planning to go there Feb of next year. For the long stuff I'm not sure if the 300 f2.8 (with TCs) or the 100-400 would be best. Quality vs weight, I suppose a lot depends on who we fly with (BA WT+ is nice and generous for weight allowances). Then the 10-22 and 70-200 f4 look obvious, as does the 60mm macro instead of the 100mm.

But what about the gap from 22 to 60mm. Can I get away with leaving a gap (I don't really shoot people) or should I take the 18-55?


For the rainforest I've already decided on Thinktank's Hydrophobia.

 

[CATALOGUEKID]

Kit 17-35? Not heard of a kit 17-35!

For wildlife your 100-400 will be great. For the people portraits I'd invest in a 50mm and / or 35mm prime (both Canon f/1.8 and f/2 variants are very affordable). Maybe look at a Raynox dcr 250 to go with the 50mm for some nice macro shots of all those creepy crawlies youre bound to encounter!

For landscapes you could also use the 50mm or 35mm or your kit lens. What lens is that out of interest?

Quite jealous, I'd love to go to Costa Rica!

Oh and maybe a monopd. Easy to carry and so useful in most situations!

Many thanks for that advice....gunna do some research into the lenses you have recommended especially the Macro stuff as this is a new aspect of photography that I would like to do and where better a place to start

Sorry for the typo! my kit lens is the 18-55mm.

Maybe get a 2X converter to what do you think? will probably use that here more than there but would be nice to have just incase.

Already have monopod and tripod along with grad filters plus plenty of memory cards.

Any tips on stuff that I may need for the humid conditions (other than a mac and a brolly!!)

 

[CATALOGUEKID]

I'm subscribing just to see what people recommend as I'm planning to go there Feb of next year. For the long stuff I'm not sure if the 300 f2.8 (with TCs) or the 100-400 would be best. Quality vs weight, I suppose a lot depends on who we fly with (BA WT+ is nice and generous for weight allowances). Then the 10-22 and 70-200 f4 look obvious, as does the 60mm macro instead of the 100mm.

But what about the gap from 22 to 60mm. Can I get away with leaving a gap (I don't really shoot people) or should I take the 18-55?


For the rainforest I've already decided on Thinktank's Hydrophobia.

Hi Frank,

When in Feb will you be there? and excuse my ignorance but what is Thinktanks Hydrophobia?

 

[hollis_f]

Hi Frank,

When in Feb will you be there? and excuse my ignorance but what is Thinktanks Hydrophobia?

Still not sure when we'll be going, or even if we go. It all depends on companions's finances.

The Hydrophobia is an expensive waterproof cover.

 

[cjay]

Many thanks for that advice....gunna do some research into the lenses you have recommended especially the Macro stuff as this is a new aspect of photography that I would like to do and where better a place to start

Sorry for the typo! my kit lens is the 18-55mm.

Maybe get a 2X converter to what do you think? will probably use that here more than there but would be nice to have just incase.

Already have monopod and tripod along with grad filters plus plenty of memory cards.

Any tips on stuff that I may need for the humid conditions (other than a mac and a brolly!!)

I went 4 or so years ago with a kit 18-55 and 55-200. I did feel I lacked good macro capability and a 300mm would have provided more reach. That ND grad is a good idea - I really missed mine. I didn't sweat the humidity as I shoot Pentax but the other people with Nikons didn't suffer much so it isn't that bad. One thing I *really* wished I had brought was an Arctic Butterfly or other sensor cleaner as the sky can be as clear as a bell and spots show up like mad UFOs as you frequently end up shooting at small aperture to compensate for such bright light.

C

 

[CATALOGUEKID]

I went 4 or so years ago with a kit 18-55 and 55-200. I did feel I lacked good macro capability and a 300mm would have provided more reach. That ND grad is a good idea - I really missed mine. I didn't sweat the humidity as I shoot Pentax but the other people with Nikons didn't suffer much so it isn't that bad. One thing I *really* wished I had brought was an Arctic Butterfly or other sensor cleaner as the sky can be as clear as a bell and spots show up like mad UFOs as you frequently end up shooting at small aperture to compensate for such bright light.

C

Yes I think theres a lot of Macro shots to be had so definately going to follow Jims advice but not sure whether to get the 35mm or 55mm prime along with the Raynox dcr 250. Which lens do you all think would be better? I'm thinking 35mm as it would be better for landscapes......?

That Arctic butterfly looks good...your not a sales rep are you?

Thanks all this is great help!!

 

[cjay]

Yes I think theres a lot of Macro shots to be had so definately going to follow Jims advice but not sure whether to get the 35mm or 55mm prime along with the Raynox dcr 250. Which lens do you all think would be better? I'm thinking 35mm as it would be better for landscapes......?

That Arctic butterfly looks good...your not a sales rep are you?

Thanks all this is great help!!

Cheaper than the Arctic Butterfly is the SensorPen and it doesn't require batteries. It is just limited to 50 or so uses. I'd go for that, as needing to clean a sensor *and* being out of batteries can only be frustrating.

Personally I'd buy a cheap manual focus second hand macro lens - I have the Raynox DCR 250 and 150 and the DOF is paper thin compared to dedicated macro lenses and make the distant focus point very close in. On the other hand, I'm not a particularly good photographer and I've seen some people doing amazing things with stacked Raynox and stacked focus - but that is less 'doable' in the field as it were.

Anyway - whichever way you go, have fun and enjoy yourself.

C

 

[Craikeybaby]

I'm going to Costa Rica in February/March, the kit I am taking is as follows:

5D
17-40mm: Landscapes
50mm: My walkabout lens
100mm Macro: Macro/portraits, although I haven't got round to buying this yet.

Maybe tripod and Lee filters too, but I'll be travelling around a lot, so may want to keep my bag light. Hence I am also leaving the 70-200 in the UK. I hadn't thought of taking anything in particular for the humidity, I wasn't going to bother with an expensive rain cover either, as I understand it won't be raining that much in February.

 

[hollis_f]

I'm going to Costa Rica in February/March, the kit I am taking is as follows:

5D
17-40mm: Landscapes
50mm: My walkabout lens
100mm Macro: Macro/portraits, although I haven't got round to buying this yet.

Maybe tripod and Lee filters too, but I'll be travelling around a lot, so may want to keep my bag light. Hence I am also leaving the 70-200 in the UK. I hadn't thought of taking anything in particular for the humidity, I wasn't going to bother with an expensive rain cover either, as I understand it won't be raining that much in February.

I presume, from the lack of anything long, that wildlife isn't at all important?

 

[Craikeybaby]

Yeah, to me a lighter pack is more important than wildlife.

 

[CATALOGUEKID]

Yeah, to me a lighter pack is more important than wildlife.

Really? each to their own I guess but if I'd be kicking myself if I needed just that extra bit knowing full well I had it but was on the other side of the planet.....

I'm trekking coast-to-coast so gunna grin and bare it after listening to Ed Stafford, Benedict Allen and Alastair Hunphries efforts I'm sure I can carry the 100-400 with me even if I only use it once......I hope...

Is it the 50mm 1.8 prime your taking and which exact macro lens are you looking at?

 

[Craikeybaby]

I don't really do wildlife photography anyway and 200mm on FF wouldn't be worth the extra weight or space in the bag.

I've got the 50mm f1.4 which is my main lens and its the 100L macro I'm looking at.