Wildlife Photography - Costa Rica Photo Tour, Day 7

Pura Vida

A quick update on my photo tour so far. The weather is extremely humid and short showers are frequent in many parts of Costa Rica. This is very normal here and driving to national parks takes time due to some less than ideal road conditions. The wet weather exacts a toll on my energy level and finding wildlife is not an easy thing.

Red-eyed tree frog

Unfortunately, I am a bit too early for the Leatherback turtles and was not able to locate any on the beaches of the Atlantic coast. Hummingbirds and Toucan encounters are also slow going but I am working hard to get some decent photography of both. Primates and other bird encounters are a bit more frequent but I have little time to look through the photos.

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

Two-toed Sloth

My Canon equipment are working quiet well. I am using the EOS-7D Mk II , EOS-1D X , EF 100-400mm IS II and EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II more often because most of the photography are done under canopy and tree cover (very low light condition)  and I have to move with the wildlife so heavier equipment like the EF 200-400mm f/4 IS 1.4x lens and tripod are more cumbersome and less useful.

Visit my website MichaelDanielHo.com to see photos from my past shoots and if you are interested in Hummingbirds, read my post on how and where to photograph them.

Wildlife Photography In The Southern Oceans

* * *  Photo shoot in the Southern Oceans, Day 11  * * * 

I am off to the Southern Oceans for a wildlife photo shoot of mostly penguins, pelagic birds, seals and whales. As you can see form the map, the Penguin breeding ranges are quite huge, spanning a large swathe of the southern part of South America, mostly in the countries of Chile, Argentina and the Falkland Islands. South Georgia is off my itinerary on this trip.

The species I hope to encounter and photograph are the Magellanic, Macaroni, Southern RockHopper and maybe King penguins. The Cetacean sightings may include Orcas, Humpback, Southern Right and Minke whales plus dolphins. Pelagic birds may include a few species of Albatrosses, Petrels, Seagulls, Ducks, etc.

There are 3 pieces of new Canon gear I plan to test extensively - EOS-7D Mk II , EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II and EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II lenses.  In addition, I will be bringing the old favorites - EOS-1D X , EOS-1D Mk IV and EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM 1.4x Extender lens. I may have sporadic access to the Internet so it will be difficult to stay in touch. Wish me luck and in the meantime, you can see my works from past photo shoots on MichaelDanielHo.com

Canon Explains Focus Preset On Super Telephoto Lenses

Canon Digital Learning Center put out a short article on how to use the Focus Preset function on their Super Telephoto lens. I never found a need for and therefore do not use this feature.

"Most Canon super telephoto lenses have a cool feature called Focus Preset, which allows for quick focusing to a predetermined distance. It is an ideal tool when shooting sports or wildlife, where you might be rapidly changing focus from two vastly different distances. At a basketball game, for example, you can preset the focus on a basketball rim. Then, follow-focus the action using AI Servo AF mode via either the shutter button or the back button. When the action shifts to under or around the rim you’ve preset focus on, a slight twist of the serrated Focus Preset Ring brings that preset distance immediately into focus. The ring, located just in front of the manual focus ring, falls readily to my hand, whether I am hand-holding the lens or shooting from a monopod.

The Focus Preset Ring, is a thin, serrated metal ring, located just in front of the manual focus ring. When turned slightly in either direction, the lens’s Ultrasonic focus motor instantly moves the lens to a memorized focus distance. The ring is spring-loaded, and returns by itself to its original position as soon as the photographer lets go of it.

The process for programming the focus distance into the camera/lens memory is simple. Three controls on a side panel of the lens are used. They are the Preset switch, the Set button and the Focus Preset ring. The Preset switch has three settings: Off ( O ), On ( I ), and On with sound (sound icon). Focus Preset controls are on the switch panel of select Canon super-telephoto lenses. The Set button and sliding Off–On–On with sound switch are visible in the first image.

To use, turn the switch to On or On with sound. Focus the lens to the distance you want, then press the Set button on the lens to save the currently focused distance into the lens’ memory (I like to test the memorized distance before making an exposure, to ensure I don’t miss something cool. A slight twist of the Focus Preset Ring ensures it is focusing to the correct distance desired). Then you can return to normal AF operation, whether you are using the shutter button or the back button, and quickly revert to the preset focus distance at any time by simply twisting the Focus Preset Ring. (Manual focus prior to using the Focus Preset ring is fine, too.)

As of early 2015, Canon lenses with the Focus Preset feature include :

•     EF 200mm f/2.0L IS
•     EF 200-400mm f/4L IS Extender 1.4x
•     EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II
•     EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II
•     EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II
•     EF 500mm f/4L IS II
•     EF 600mm f/4L IS II
•     EF 800mm f/5.6L IS

Canon EF Lens Technology - Diffractive Optics

* * *  See how Nikon is trying to play catch up to Canon  * * *

* * *  See the latest Diffractive Optics lens Canon is working on  * * *

Canon announced the EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II lens on September 11. This is one of my favorite Canon lenses and I placed my order right after the announcement and have received the new model. This glass is about 13 years in the making. The original model was introduced in 2001 and it had one of the earlier version of Image Stabilization with a 2 stop advantage. 

You can read my review of the new lens. I will be taking it out very soon on a real world overseas photo shoot for an extensive test. The Canon video below explains the Diffractive Optics technology, Fluorite Elements and more.

Canon EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II Lens Review

              
                    * * *  Canon EF 600mm f/4 DO BR prototype lens at Expo 2015  * * *

             Read the latest photo shoot in Costa Rica with the EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II lens

                 Read the latest photo shoot in India with the EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II lens

Read the latest photo shoot in South Africa with the EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II lens

Canon EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II lens in 400D lens case

Canon EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II USM lens

* * *  Canon explains EF Lens technology - Diffractive Optics  * * *

Canon announced the EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II lens on September 11. These is one of my favorite Canon lenses and I placed my order right after the announcement and have just received the new model. This glass is about 13 years in the making. The original model was introduced in 2001 and it had one of the earlier version of Image Stabilization with a 2 stop advantage.

Although the technology is aged and it is not one of the sharpest lens in Canon's EF lineup, the Series I lens is still a very good performer and its relatively fast speed, excellent focal length and light weight made it my favorite, handheld lens on wildlife photo shoots. The Series II lens incorporates all of Canon's technological advances in the last decade and more with new optics, coatings and material.

Specifications for EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II lens :

• Lens Construction - 18 elements in 12 groups
• Focal Length & Maximum Aperture 400mm 1:4
• Diagonal Angle of View 6°10’
• Focus Adjustment Inner focusing system with USM
• Minimum Focusing Distance 10.83 ft. / 3.3 m
• Filter Size 52mm drop-in
• Latest generation 4 stop Image Stabilization system
• Comes with 3 IS modes
• Attached tripod collar
• Latest material, offering a slight weight addition to current model
• Max. Diameter x Length, Weight
• Approx. 5.04 x 9.16 in. / 128 x 232.7 mm
• Approx. 74.1 oz. / 2100 g
• List price - $6,899

The EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II lens, together with the recently released EOS-7D Mk II camera, is one of my favorite combination equipment for handheld, wildlife photography.

The Series II lens is equipped with the latest IS technology, with a 4 stop compensation and 3 IS Modes, a feature shared only by the other Series II Super Telephoto lenses.

• Mode 1 is designed for stationary subjects 
• Mode 2 is designed for panning, allowing a linearly-moving subject to be tracked 
• Mode 3 detects panning but IS activates only at the moment when the shutter releases

This new Series II telephoto lens features gapless dual-layer diffractive optical elements for improved diffraction efficiency with reduced flare. They are arranged with a large-diameter ground aspheric lens and a UD lens for unparalleled sharpness and clarity. New coatings help to reduce ghosting and ensure excellent color balance, while reducing fingerprints on the front and rear of the lens. A new 9-blade circular aperture provides beautiful bokeh.

The tripod collar is now permanently attached to the lens. It has a very small foot and even with a lens plate attached, it is rather difficult to carry the lens by grabbing on to the foot, especially if one has large hands. The most annoying thing about Canon's Super Telephoto lenses is their factory lens cap and the EF 400mm DO II is no exception. The cap is 'cumbersome' and does not do a great job in protecting the glass. I always substitute it with the Don Zeck lens cap. The DZ caps are on all my Canon Super Telephoto lenses.

With the improved Image Stabilization system and material of the new lens, the weight has increased by about 5.3 oz / 160 g. The dimension is almost identical to the old lens and it is extremely well built and has a familiar feel in my hands. The 400D lens case is slightly redesigned and feels lighter. The handle on top of the old 400B case is gone, replaced by a side handle on the right.

I have taken the lens out for a quick birding trip. Mounted the Canon EF 2.0x Series III extender and used it on the EOS-1D Mk IV camera. All shots were taken with f/8 aperture. Some shots are from very far away (Osprey and Snowy Egret). The others are from moderate distance. The lens' IQ is impressive and much sharper than the Series I especially with the 2.0x extender mounted.

It is nothing less than amazing when paired with the EOS-1D Mk IV and EF 1.4x and EF 2.0x extenders, I have a handheld package with about 520mm to 1,040mm focal length to work with and not get tired even after a full day of wildlife photography. I have also tried the lens with the EOS-7D Mk II but recommend using only the EF 1.4x on it. The EOS-7D Mk II autofocusing ability is less than desirable with f/8. It is slow and I have lost crucial wildlife shots trying to AF with that aperture. Read my 7D2 review for details.

I have just returned from a photo shoot down in the Southern Oceans. The weather was windy, cool and sometimes misty. The EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II performed flawlessly. It is a joy to use especially on handheld photography. I get to move around quickly following the wildlife without the bulk and weight of the EF 200-400mm f/4L IS . Of course, the drawback is I have to use my feet a lot to get closer or further from the action whereas the EF 200-400mm is a zoom lens with a built-in extender. The DO's sharpness improved dramatically with a little stepping down. I will give it additional field testing in Asia.

Just back from India. The weather was was too hot by Indian standard but the conditions were extremely dusty and bumpy on the jeeps. Put the EF  400mm DO II through some though field tests and it came through with flying colors.

Back from my latest shoot in Costa Rica. It rained often and the weather super humid. This DO lens is a joy to use with or without a tripod.. AF was fast and accurate, even under heavy rain and cloud forest lighting conditions. Used it with the EOS-7D Mk II , EOS-1D Mk IV and EOS-1D X cameras. This is my favorite Super Telephoto lens in my inventory. It is a real pleasure to be able to handhold a 400mm Super Telephoto lens all day and get incomparable mobility to follow the wildlife action. You can see more of my works on MichaelDanielHo.com