EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Review WOW!

MatthewK wrote in post #17841842
I love reading about the crazy stuff you guys deal with... How about Jack Jumper Ants? Those little guys sound crazy..

I've never heard of those, actually.. but I'm a city person

bidkev wrote in post #17843785
Hope that my endeavours will live up to the excellent images portrayed in this thread

They will, no doubt!
Thanks for the explanation.

Randy

Kevin, I don't know what sort of bags you have, but I find walking around with the 100-400 mounted goes very well with my Lowepro Toploader Pro 75 - very quick access, and you can wear it while you are wearing a backpack, if necessary. If I have a full size pack on, then I chest mount the toploader by attaching it to D-rings on the shoulder straps with Op/tech uniloop adapters (but there are plenty of other ways to do something similar).

dodgyexposure wrote in post #17844492
Kevin, I don't know what sort of bags you have, but I find walking around with the 100-400 mounted goes very well with my Lowepro Toploader Pro 75 - very quick access, and you can wear it while you are wearing a backpack, if necessary. If I have a full size pack on, then I chest mount the toploader by attaching it to D-rings on the shoulder straps with Op/tech uniloop adapters (but there are plenty of other ways to do something similar).

Damien! You're a bloody star! I never thought of that.

I've got the big Lowepro that opens at the rear for security reasons. Useless in the rainforest as you have to take it off and sit it down to access your gear and as you are aware, it's always damp in there.

I have the optech double sling and an optech strap but I also have heaps of spares for them both. I like to have the camera "at the ready" and just have it slung over my right shoulder when walking with a pack but the optech strap slips now and again as it is interfered with by the rucksack strap and I have to keep one hand on it most of the time

Like you advise, with the toploader, I guess I can hook the camera to the sacks d rings and have the camera/lens cradled in the crook of one arm as I often do when just out normally. The only thing with that is it limits the use of trekking poles to just one although I was that limited before anyway, hanging on to the optech strap

MatthewK wrote in post #17842973
Ok, I'm a believer. Get the II in good light and it just shines. Made a trip to local wildlife management area and got to see A LOT more interesting birds!

A House Finch and Cedar Waxwing.

Hosted photo: posted by MatthewK in
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I agree. Getting good light and keeping that shutter speed up make a big difference to image quality and sharpness in my experience also.

bidkev wrote in post #17844531
Damien! You're a bloody star! I never thought of that.

I have the optech double sling and an optech strap but I also have heaps of spares for them both. I like to have the camera "at the ready" and just have it slung over my right shoulder when walking with a pack but the optech strap slips now and again as it is interfered with by the rucksack strap and I have to keep one hand on it most of the time

Like you advise, with the toploader, I guess I can hook the camera to the sacks d rings and have the camera/lens cradled in the crook of one arm as I often do when just out normally. The only thing with that is it limits the use of trekking poles to just one although I was that limited before anyway, hanging on to the optech strap

When I'm trekking, I have the uniloop adapters on the bag and the camera lugs. It gives a lot of versatility. You can mount the bag or the camera on the pack shoulder straps (if you need longer straps, there are extenders in the uniloop range), or you can use the strap with either the bag or the camera. If you chest mount the camera alone, I don't see why you would need to still hold the camera in your hand, unless you are getting some serious swing . . .

bidkev wrote in post #17844531
Damien! You're a bloody star! I never thought of that.

I've got the big Lowepro that opens at the rear for security reasons. Useless in the rainforest as you have to take it off and sit it down to access your gear and as you are aware, it's always damp in there.

I have the optech double sling and an optech strap but I also have heaps of spares for them both. I like to have the camera "at the ready" and just have it slung over my right shoulder when walking with a pack but the optech strap slips now and again as it is interfered with by the rucksack strap and I have to keep one hand on it most of the time

Like you advise, with the toploader, I guess I can hook the camera to the sacks d rings and have the camera/lens cradled in the crook of one arm as I often do when just out normally. The only thing with that is it limits the use of trekking poles to just one although I was that limited before anyway, hanging on to the optech strap

Good luck, Kev, have a wonderful trip. Looking forward to your photos from your adventure! Be sure to take some photos of your camping spots too so we can get a feel for the scenery/environment.

AnnieMacD wrote in post #17844546
Good luck, Kev, have a wonderful trip. Looking forward to your photos from your adventure! Be sure to take some photos of your camping spots too so we can get a feel for the scenery/environment.

Will do Annie. It's into day two of rain atm with more tomorrow so the waterfalls should be in full flow when I go, along with the bloody leeches!

Shoot the stuff in the Good light Kevin, you know Im gona

dodgyexposure wrote in post #17844540
When I'm trekking, I have the uniloop adapters on the bag and the camera lugs. It gives a lot of versatility. You can mount the bag or the camera on the pack shoulder straps (if you need longer straps, there are extenders in the uniloop range), or you can use the strap with either the bag or the camera. If you chest mount the camera alone, I don't see why you would need to still hold the camera in your hand, unless you are getting some serious swing . . .

With this lens/weight I would think that I may? Particularly as I'll need enough length on the straps to lift the rig to my eye. I've tried it conventionally with just the strap round my neck but it tends to give me back pain after a while.

Won't know till I try it hooked to the pack straps I guess. I'll give it a whirl when it stops bloody raining here!

Miserable day yesterday but this chap paid me a visit

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/CF7L​kG

bidkev wrote in post #17844591
Miserable day yesterday but this chap paid me a visit

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/CF7L​kG Corella In The Rain by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr

Cool. Birds like that live in the wild?! I was thinking only in at cage at Grandma's house.

Pondrader wrote in post #17844589
Shoot the stuff in the Good light Kevin, you know Im gona

It's pitch black in there Jeff, unless you hit a clearing. Goes dark about an hour before outside the forest also.

WebDevGuy wrote in post #17844627
Cool. Birds like that live in the wild?! I was thinking only in at cage at Grandma's house.

Some of the birds seen in Oz fetch thousands of dollars back in the UK. I'm not up to date on export laws atm but near everything here is protected species. I used to breed new World Cichlids but imports are so bad that most of the cichlids that you see here now are so inbred due to import bans that they bear little resemblance to those in the wild or those that I used to buy in the UK. You even need a licence to keep native reptiles. Even rabbit keeping is bannned in my state.

Not a bad thing I guess in order to protect the wildlife but it can resemble a "nanny state" at times.

Wow ...ok your gona have it way worse than I, I had a little sun today for a change but the temp was -18c or .0 f