10D + 500L USM IS, mirror vibration, how bad it could be??

[traupis]

Hi all, I'm planing to buy this camera but I'm not sure if it will work for my subjects. I shoot birds in the jungle, with speeds ranging from 1/30 to 1/60, iso 400 plus fill flash. The thing is that I'm not sure about the mirror vibration in this camera and how it will afect the pictures with an effective focal lenght of 800mm (500 x 1.6X)!!!
Anyoane has tried this camera with a telephoto lens at this speeds??
I'm sure that the Image Stabilisation is going to help, but how much?

Thanks,

Pablo.

[fredlord]

I experimented quite a bit with my 100-400mm lens using the 1.4x teleconverter on my D60. The focal length with that combination was 560mm (896 effective) I could not detect any real difference between locking the mirror up and not locking it up. This was on a Gitzo 1325 tripod with a Kirk BH-1 ballhead. Other factors far outweighed the mirror lock up option. Focus was by far the biggest problem even without the converter. I think if your tripod is solid it's not something you should worry about.

Birds are tough. Their eyes are small and they move constantly so I wouldn't worry about locking up the mirror unless you're really well hidden and the bird sits very still for long periods of time. As soon as the mirror locks up you're blind and unless you're watching through binoculars it's hard to gauge when to trip the shutter.

The IS function will more than make up for any other feature of this lens. The IS really works!

[traupis]

Thanks for your information, it's very usefull. Why do you say that there were problems with autofocus with your D60?
Also, canaon says that the working condition of the 10D is %85 humidity or lower. Will it be a real problem for the camera to use it in the jungle, with humidity at %100 most of the time?

Regards,

Pablo.

http://faunaarg.freewebsites.com/

[fredlord]

The autofocus on the D60 is notorious for its slow response and I find that it will tend to hunt for focus sometimes when I don't think it should. The 10D has reportedly been greatly improved in this regard. I'm not buying another body, though, until I can get a full-frame sensor for a better price. I have learned to deal with the focus follies inherent in the D60 so there is no rush.

I have no idea what the practical limitations of the 10D are in high humidity environs. I would imagine you will soon find out. I would definitely try to protect it as much as possible from condensation and rain as those will, I'm sure, greatly aggravate any problems. I would definitely insure the camera and lenses if you are to use it in such conditions. The 1D and 1Ds are sealed much better against this sort of problem. The 1D may end up being a better camera for high-humidity but it costs two or three times as much as the 10D or a used D60.

Since I live in a near-desert environment, I have only seen artifacts of high humidity from those living in the far southern parts of the US. What I've seen mostly is fungus growing on internal lens elements. It can also grow inside your camera body. I would keep all your equipment sealed in bags with lots of dessicants whenever possible. The camera shops like B&H sell dessicant packs on the internet. They are reusable many, many times over.

Good luck. I would love to be shooting in the locations you are to travel to. Humidity and all.

Best regards,
Fred Lord