Wildlife Photography - International Polar Bear Day, February 27

Every year, on February 27, the world celebrates International Polar Bear Day. With our planet's gradual warming in the last few decades or so due to climate change, the plight of Polar bears have become the proverbial Canary in the Coal Mine for our fragile planet.

The Polar bear is the largest living land carnivore, with adult males growing to over 8 feet in length and some weighing close to one ton. The heaviest recorded bear was about 2,300 lbs. There is also evidence the largest Kodiak Brown bears in Alaska can grow to about the same weight. The Polar bear is immediately recognizable from the distinctive white color of its thick fur. The only parts of the body not covered by fur are the foot pads and the tip of its nose, which are black, revealing the dark color of the skin underneath the pelt.

The neck of the Polar bear is longer than in other species of bears, and the elongated head has small ears. Polar bears have large strong limbs and huge front paws which are used as paddles for swimming. The toes are not webbed, but are excellent for walking on snow as they bear non-retractable claws which dig into the snow like ice-picks.

Females are about half the size of males, although a pregnant female with stored fat can exceed 1,000 pounds in weight. Polar bear cubs weigh about 2 lbs at birth. They look similar in appearance to adults, though they have much thinner fur. Polar bears are found throughout the circumpolar Arctic on ice-covered waters, from Canada, to Norway, parts of the US, the former USSR and Greenland. The furthest south the Polar bears occur all year round is James Bay in Canada, which is about the same latitude as London. During the winter, when the ice extends further south, Polar bears move as far south as Newfoundland and into the northern Bering Sea.

Although Polar bears have no natural predators, male bears sometimes kill young cubs for food or to try and mate with their mothers. In addition, there are also isolated poaching incidents and limited trophy hunting permitted by law. Another big threat to these endangered animals is the warming of the Arctic region and pack ice are forming later and later every year. Polar bears depend on the pack ice to hunt seals and the early ice melt is forcing them to spend more time and energy looking for food and finding fewer seals. They face an uncertain future as the sea ice melt faster and faster in the summer.

My readers know I am The Wildlife Ho-tographer. One of my favorite animals in wildlife photography is the Polar bear. You can see my equipment bag and works on MichaelDanielHo.com  

Wildlife Photography - Polar Bear Photo Tour in Canadian Sub Arctic

* * *  Read the latest post on my Polar Bear Photo Tour  * * *

I am off to the Canadian sub Arctic, Hudson Bay for a Polar bear photo tour. Although this region is called the sub Arctic, the temperatures are generally even colder than the high Arctic, like Svalbard. The cold winds from the North Pole can bring temperatures down to -40+ degrees Fahrenheit starting in mid Autumn and lasting through late Winter.

The Polar bear is the largest living land carnivore, with adult males growing up to over 8 feet in length and some weighing close to one ton. It is immediately recognizable from the distinctive white color of its thick fur. The only unfurred parts of the body are the foot pads and the tip of its nose, which are black, revealing the dark color of the skin underneath the pelt. The neck of the Polar bear is longer than in other species of bears, and the elongated head has small ears. Polar bears have large strong limbs and huge forepaws which are used as paddles for swimming. The toes are not webbed, but are excellent for walking on snow as they bear non-retractable claws which dig into the snow like ice-picks.

Females are about half the size of males, although a pregnant female with stored fat can exceed 1,000 pounds in weight. Polar bear cubs weigh about 2 lbs at birth. They look similar in appearance to adults, though they have much thinner fur.

There are five countries with Polar bear populations - U.S.A., Russia, Denmark (Greenland), Norway (Svalbard) and Canada. Polar bears are found throughout the circumpolar Arctic on ice-covered waters, from Canada, to Norway, parts of the US, the former USSR and Greenland. The furthest south the Polar bears occur all year round is James Bay in Canada, which is about the same latitude as London, England. During the winter, when the ice extends further south, Polar bears move as far south as Newfoundland and into the northern Bering Sea.

Although Polar bears have no natural predators, male bears sometimes kill young cubs for food or to try and mate with their mothers. Sadly, Polar bears are still being hunted on a quota system by indigenous people and sometime big game hunters. Another big threat to these endangered animals is the warming of the Arctic region and pack ice are forming later and later every year. Polar bears depend on the pack ice to hunt seals and the early ice melt is forcing them to spend more time and energy looking for food and finding fewer seals. They face an uncertain future as the sea ice melt faster and faster in the summer.

Photographing Polar bears is one of the most exciting thing a wildlife photographer can do. They have little fear of man and are highly curious. I have come face too face with them and they are large, powerful apex predators. Click here to see Polar bear photos from my previous tours. You can follow my travels on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram and see my works on MichaelDanielHo.com. I will be providing updates on the tour as time and condition permit.

Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4X Lens Review

Canon started the development of the EF 200-400mm f/4L lens over two years ago. When the Canon EF 200-400m f/4L IS official announcement came on May 14, 2013, I immediately put my order in even though the weight and price are higher than I have expected. The lens finally arrived and this hands-on review will not have charts, graphs and technical details. You can read that in Canon's announcement above. It assumes the reader already has a familiarity with Canon cameras and super telephoto lenses. All opinions and observations are my own and from the standpoint of a wildlife photographer out in the field.

I am a wildlife photographer and have been using Canon equipment for almost twenty five years. My subjects range from tiny Hummingbirds to Blue Whales, the largest animal on Planet Earth, ever. Over the decades, I have used and owned many L series prime, zoom and Super telephoto lenses. When the Series II versions of the Super Telephoto lenses came out in 2011, I refrained from upgrading until I have a chance to use the EF 200-400mm f/4L lens. Generally I am not overly excited by any new piece of Canon equipment, the Canon EOS-1D X was the last exception but this new lens carries all the promise of a zoom lens with a built-in extender, all packed into a Super Telephoto lens barrel.

The debate between prime and zoom lens is over for me long time ago. The image quality of the current generation 'L' zoom lens are comparable to their prime cousins. I cannot emphasis the flexibility of having a top quality super telephoto zoom lens. For years, I have suffered through missed opportunity when using prime super telephoto lens on wildlife. Once the animal comes too close, there is a mad scramble to back up or try and grab another camera with a shorter focal length. Invariably, I would end up missing crucial shots.

The most annoying thing about Canon's Super Telephoto lenses is their factory lens cap and the EF 200-400mm is no exception. I immediately substituted it with the Don Zeck lens cap. The DZ caps are on all my Super Telephoto lenses. My first impression of the EF 200-400mm is a rock solid, semi-large and heavy (7.98 pounds) but manageable lens. It measures 5 inch in diameter and 14.4 inch in length without the lens hood. The lens hood is interchangeable with the EF 400mm f/4 DO IS lens. Most of the controls are located at the rear of the lens - extender control lever, IS modes, focus modes, focus limiter and focus preset control. The lens takes 52mm drop-in filters, which are inserted in the rear of the lens via the included drop-in filter holder. Rubberized zoom and focus rings are on the lens barrel, the textured playback ring, and the front-most grip ring that incorporates four AF Stop Buttons. I have examined in detail the area where the extender control lever is located because this is a place where dirt may accumulate and moisture can seep into the lens out in the field. However, after having taken the lens to Africa and the high Arctic (hot and cold), I am comfortable the lever will stand up to field use provided regular cleaning is maintained.

The front and rear lenses elements are fluorine-coated to repel water, dust and dirt. When used with the Canon EOS-1D X and Mk IV cameras, the package is weather-sealed and make cleaning easier on photo shoots. The built-in 1.4x extender is specifically designed for the lens and there are three IS modes, like all the other Series II Super Telephoto lenses. Mode 1 is for stationary subjects. Mode 2 is for panning subjects, like bird in flight. Mode 3 is only available on Series II super telephoto lenses. In Mode 3, IS sound can be detected when the shutter release is half-pressed, but the image is not stabilized until the precise moment when the shot is taken. When I use a Canon IS equipped lens, I always leave the IS on and set to Mode 1. To be honest, most of the time, I find there is a difference without a distinction between Mode 1, 2 and 3. After handholding and panning for so many fast moving wildlife shots over the years, I have developed a rather good technique for myself already.

Up to now, no Canon Super Telephoto lens comes in a zoom. Adding a built-in 1.4x extender and a fixed f/4 aperture over the entire zoom range is a game changer for me. By the way, the minimum focusing distance over the entire zoom range is only 6.6 feet. This means I can get closeup to the wildlife action. Although this lens is revolutionary for a 'L' design, Canon actually experimented with the FDn 1200mm f/5.6 Lens with a built-in 1.4x extender back in 1984 during the Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

To say the EF 200-400mm lens' zoom range is flexible is an understatement. In addition to the built-in 1.4x extender, the lens also accepts the EF 1.4x and 2.0x III extenders. This means the lens can have a possible zoom range of 200mm to 1,792mm, when used with a combination of full frame, APS-H and APS-C cameras. EOS-5D Mk III and the EOS-1 bodies will allow AF down to f/8. Auto-focusing with apertures smaller than f/8 is not possible but this lens is well designed for that with FTM (full time manual) focusing built-in. I am not a big fan of the 2.0x extender but the 1.4x is another matter. With the EOS-1D X or Mk IV cameras plus the EF 1.4x extender mounted on the EF 200-400mm f/4L IS, my focal length starts out at 280mm and ends at a little over 1,000mm. This immense focal length range encourages creativity and open up endless possibilities for my long lens photography.

When the EF 1.4x extender is attached and the EF 200-400mm internal extender set to 1x, any AF points can be selected with the joystick. When the internal extender is set to 1.4x, only the center AF point works. When the EF 2.0x extender is attached and the internal extender is set to 1x, AF slows down and only the center AF point works. If the internal extender is set to 1.4x, manual focusing will be required. This works well for me since I like to add the 1.4x extender sometimes and work mostly with the center AF point anyway. AF is lighting fast, even with the addition of an external 1.4x extender. It took me a little while to get used to the fact I can actually zoom in and out with this Super Telephoto lens and finding the extender lever by touch without having to take my eye off the viewfinder. After that, it was rather instinctual in changing the zoom range, landscape to portrait mode, AF points, ISO setting and exposure control, all in quick succession, without ever taking my eye off the subject.

Hand-holding my camera and traveling light on photo shoots are my preference. Despite the weight of this lens and the EOS-1 camera (about 11 pounds), I am able to hand-hold (with proper technique) the combo for a short while even though I am of average height and build. When I do use support, my pick is the SLIK PRO 824 CF carbon fiber tripod and the SLIK SBH 550 ball head. SLIK equipment is the best value in my opinion and highly underrated. The combination weighs about 5 pounds and can support the EF 200-400mm f/4L lens plus the EOS-1 camera with ease. Visit my Equipment Bag page on my website to see all the gear I use on photo shoots.

So far, I have taken the lens to Alaska, the sub and high Arctic and Africa to photograph Polar bears, Brown bears, the Big Five and other wildlife. The lens is rather cumbersome in bouncing zodiacs, small boats and jeeps but on a stable platform, it works flawlessly. Will be taking the lens to more locations worldwide in the next few months and putting it through further testing. You can see many more wildlife photos taken with the EF 200-400mm lens on my website and follow me on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with my travels and subscribe to my Blog for the latest news and development in photography.

MichaelDanielHo.com

Wildlife Photography - Reflections on Polar Bears in Husdon Bay

* * * PBI and Google Street View highlight Polar Bears' plight in Hudson Bay * * *

I am back from my Polar Bear photo shoot in Hudson Bay. The Polar bear is the largest living land carnivore, with adult males growing up to over 8 feet in length and some weighing close to one ton. The largest bear ever recorded weighed in at 2,300 pounds. Females are about half the size of males, although a pregnant female with stored fat can exceed 1,000 pounds in weight. Polar bear cubs weigh about 2 lbs at birth. They look similar in appearance to adults, though they have much thinner fur.

There are five nations where Polar bears are found - United States, Canada, Norway (Svalbard), Denmark (Greenland) and Russia. The furthest south Polar Bears are found year round is James Bay in Canada, which is about the same latitude as London. During the winter, when the ice extends further south, Polar bears move as far south as Newfoundland and into the northern Bering Sea. The US has the fewest Polar Bears and Canada has the most. The best global estimate of their population is about 20,000 to 25,000. They are the most endangered bear species due to the warming of the Arctic region, especially during the summer.

Although their numbers are declining, the US, Canada and Greenland still hunt Polar Bears 'legally' while illegal poaching exists in Russia and Norway. The 'legal' hunting is 'regulated' by quotas given to indigenous people but they can also sell their quotas to big game hunters for $30,000+ per bear. The quotas is almost certain to be exceeded due to the high profit and remote locations of many indigenous towns and enforcement is next to impossible.

The most vulnerable Polar Bear population resides in southern Hudson Bay. The ice has been melting earlier and forming later for quite a few years now. This compresses the Polar Bear feeding season into about 6 months. Without solid ice, the bears cannot hunt seals and they will not be able to survive and rear their young. A breeding female can raise about 7 to 8 cubs to adulthood in her lifetime if conditions are favorable. Human/bear encounters are also on the rise in southern Hudson Bay. This often leads to fatality for the bears and their population is already on a declining rate.    

This is one of my more memorable trips to Hudson Bay and I have encountered more mothers with cubs this time. I also came across a seal kill as well. The Polar Bears' condition look alright from my observation but I am not a wildlife biologist. Their fast is ending very soon because the ice is forming rapidly by the bay. Soon they will be able to go on the ice and start feeding but the environment is still under threat and their future is by no means secure. Visit my website to see many more photos from my previous photo shoots.

For more posts on photographing other wildlife, you will find Elephants, Hummingbirds, Bengal tigers, Killer whales and Blue whales adventures here. I have been a wildlife photographer for 25 years using Canon gear. You can read my FAQs on wildlife photography, see my equipment bag and my works on MichaelDanielHo.com. You can also follow my travels on my blog, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Wildlife Photography - Polar Bears in Hudson Bay, Day 11 and 12

NE winds are blowing from the Arctic. Temperature is down to well below -20s F with wind chill. This is what the weather should be like here. Bears are getting edgy and ready to head out on the sea ice as soon as possible. I am just as excited as them for different reasons.

This year, the encounters are quite good. Came across a few mothers with cubs. They all seem rather healthy for this time of the year. Visit my Polar Bear page to see more photos from my previous trips.

MichaelDanielHo.com/polar-bears.html

Wildlife Photography - Polar Bears in Hudson Bay, Day 8 and 9

Two of the most iconic species in the Canadian sub Arctic, the Arctic Fox and Polar Bear with cub. The Arctic Fox is a small mammal, often weighing less than 20 pounds. It shadows the Polar Bear and scavenge form its kills. The Polar Bear fasts on land at this time of the year in Hudson Bay, waiting for the sea ice to solidify so it can go out and hunt seals. This cub is mimicking everything Mom does.

MichaelDanielHo.com

Wildlife Photography - Polar Bears in Hudson Bay, Day 6

The weather is unseasonably 'warm' here, just below freezing and the sun actually came out. Came across a Polar bear kill of a seal, which is rather unusual this time of the year on land. Yesterday, there was a bear/human encounter. Two people were hurt but two Polar bears were killed (at least one breeding female) and one cub orphaned.

The little guy will be sent to a zoo, eventually. The bears were killed even though they posed no imminent danger to the two people because they were tracked down later and destroyed. The bear population in southern Hudson Bay is already declining, These type of encounters when bears are killed before any investigation or review are conducted, seems to me a bit heavy-handed.

MichaelDanielHo.com

Wildlife Photography - Polar Bears In Hudson Bay, Day 4

Taking off in a helicopter on the tundra to look for Polar Bears

I am in Hudson Bay now. On the way up, I came across a Bald Eagle struggling to free its talons from a fish that was too heavy for it to lift out of the lake. The water was VERY cold and the poor eagle was struggling for its life trying to release the fish with little success. It may drown because of that and this is one of the biggest reason for BE deaths.

The weather is unseasonably mild right now but it was cold a few days ago. catching up with some friends and heading out to find Polar bears soon. Happy Halloween.

MichaelDanielHo.com

Wildlife Photography - Polar Bears In Hudson Bay

I am off to Hudson Bay for a Polar Bear photo shoot. This region of Canada has the most southern population of Polar Bears in the world and they are very vulnerable to climate change. Already the ice in the Bay has been melting earlier and freezing later for a number of years now. This has a detrimental effect on the Bears because they rely on solid ice to hunt seals. When the hunting season is shortened by the rise in temperature, they run the risk of expending more energy and travel much further to find their food.

Hoping to see more Snowy Owls and Gyr Falcons this time. The real icing on the cake will be coming across a nice Aurora Borealis but I am not counting on it. Spending another Halloween on the frozen tundra. Just the thought of 30+ knots winds and bone-chilling temperatures is scary enough for me. Should have intermittent access to the Internet but in the meantime, you can look at some photos from my past trips and I will try and stay in touch. Wish me luck.

MichaelDanielHo.com/polar-bears.html

Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x Lens In Stock

The Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x lens is the winner of the 2013 - 2014 EISA Award. The lens is so much in demand it is heavily back-ordered but the word is shipments are coming to North America soon. Now B&H Photo and Amazon are showing they have the lens in stock. If you want one, you better hurry and place your order.

I have owned this lens for about three months now and have taken it to the high Arctic, Africa and Alaska on wildlife photo shoots and it is quite an achievement for Canon to come out with this unique Super telephoto zoom lens. Take a look at my comprehensive review on this lens and visit my website to see more photos taken with it.

MichaelDanielHo.com

Canon EOS-1D X vs. EOS-1D Mk IV Comparison

* * * Canon EOS-1D X Firmware 2.0.3 makes camera even better * * * 

My readers know, I have been a wildlife photographer using Canon equipment for about 25 years now. Through the decades, I have used almost all of Canon's cropped and full frame, film and digital cameras, plus the EF and EF-S lenses.

The Canon EOS-1D X and the EOS-1D Mk IV are two of my all time favorite cameras that I have with me on all my photo shoots. They have accompanied me on many grueling trips through extreme heat and cold and came through with flying colors. Many photo enthusiasts often ask me which camera do I prefer and whether I will be selling my EOS-1D MK IV now that I have upgraded to the new EOS-1 camera.

My following review will not have charts and graphs and this article will not cover all the cameras' features, just the major functions, and assumes the reader is already familiar with the functionality of the current 1D cameras. It is intended to help those trying to decide whether to upgrade their present 1D bodies by sharing my impression of the two cameras from the stand point of a wildlife and travel photographer out in the field. Let us refresh ourselves with their respective major specifications :


EOS-1D X body :

• 18 MP sensor powered by dual Digic 5+ processors, 3.2 inch, 1040K dot LCD screen.
• Dual CF card slots with 12 fps and 14 fps (with mirror lockup).
• ISO range from 100 - 51200, up to 204800 with expansion.
• 61-point High Density Reticular AF with dedicated metering powered by a Digic 4 processor.
• The number of cross-points depends on the speed of the lens used.
• 36 ms. shutter lag, 400,000 cycle shutter and .76x viewfinder.  
• DxOMark overall sensor score - 82
• Low light ISO - 2786 ISO

EOS-1D MK IV body :

• 16 MP sensor powered by dual Digic 4 processors, 3.0 inch, 920K dot LCD screen.
• One CF and one SD card slot with 10 fps.
• ISO range from 100 - 12800, up to 102400 with expansion.
• 45-point AF system with 39 cross-points.
• 104 ms. shutter lag, 300,000 cycle shutter and .59x viewfinder.
• DxOMark overall sensor score - 74
• Low Light ISO - 1720 ISO

I have been using the EOS-1D MK IV as my main body for over 3 years and am very pleased with its performance and rugged reliability. In fact, my confidence rose to the level that I sold my EOS-1D Mk III when the EOS-7D was introduced and used it as my backup camera. Now I am about to make another decision, should I keep the EOS-1D MK IV as my backup camera now that I have taken delivery of the EOS-1D X?

It is not an easy decision. Thankfully, both 1D cameras share the same new battery and charger. Their specs are similar but the burst speed, additional AF points and better high ISO performance of the EOS-1D X gives me an extra edge on photographing wildlife, especially moving ones. With the 1D Mk IV, anything shot with ISO 3200 or above has unacceptable noise level to me and the 1D X's high ISO performance is nothing short of phenomenal. 

My preference is to handhold my camera and travel light on photo shoots so I usually bring two camera bodies and 3 lenses with me. Therefore, on most photo shoots, my upper limit on prime lens I can bring with me is the Canon 400mm f/4 DO IS. With extenders, the EOS-1D X offers me a focal length of 400 - 800mm while the EOS-1D Mk IV gives me a reach of 520 - 1040mm. When combined with the EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x lens, the versatility is virtually unlimited.

Each camera offers key features I cannot get in the other but combined, they give me unparalleled level of performance.  In addition, Canon will be discontinuing the APS-H format so the EOS-1D Mk IV will be the last camera with that sensor technology. I really like this sensor because it combines a professional camera's performance with an extra reach, unlike the EOS 7D. I will definitely keep the 1D MK IV as my main backup camera and use the 7D as the secondary backup body.

For those who have the EOS-1D Mk III body or older model and you shoot primarily sports or wildlife photography, generally in good light, you may want to upgrade to the MK IV. Good clean bodies are selling for about $4,000. The photographer who shoots moving wildlife of varying sizes (like myself, Hummingbirds to Blue whales) and in challenging environment (rain forests, jungles, dark overcast skies, etc.), the 1D X is a definite must because of its unmatched AF capabilities, high ISO performance and 12-14 fps burst rate.

I have taken both of the EOS-1D cameras to North and South America, Hawaii, Alaska, Europe, Asia, Africa and the high Arctic for a variety of grueling wildlife and travel photo shoots. Visit my website MichaelDanielHo.com to see many Travel and Wildlife photos taken with both cameras and you can follow me on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with my travels. 

Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x Lens Availability

The Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x lens is the winner of the 2013 - 2014 EISA Award. The lens is so much in demand it is heavily back-ordered but the word is shipments are coming to North America soon.

I have owned this lens for about three months now and have taken it to the high Arctic, Africa and Alaska on wildlife photo shoots and it is quite an achievement for Canon to come out with this unique Super telephoto zoom lens. Take a look at my comprehensive review on this lens and visit my website to see more photos taken with it. 

MichaelDanielHo.com

Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x Technical Report

The Canon Camera Museum has published a technical report on the EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x lens. Below is an excerpt from the article. I have taken this lens on a few wildlife photo shoots under harsh conditions, ranging from the high Arctic to Africa. You can read my review of the lens here. 

Development aims

We revamped four lenses in our EF super-telephoto lens series — the 300mm and 400mm in August 2011 and the 500mm and 600mm in May 2012 — to satisfy professionals and high-end amateurs. This product was developed with the aim of going one step beyond these lenses.

This lens is a super-telephoto lens with a built-in extender that has been newly designed so that one lens can cover a wide variety of shooting conditions and scenes. The extender switch lever lets users quickly switch the focal length range between 200-400mm and 280-560mm in one operation.

The lens carries a combination of fluorite and UD lens elements to deliver the image quality demanded of the super-telephoto lens series while also covering a focal length range of 200mm to 560mm with just one lens.

This high-power zoom lens is further equipped with superb operability alongside image stabilization functionality, reliable water and dust protection, and excellent durability.

The design carries forward the super-telephoto lens series' design concept and sensibility suitable for a flagship model while aiming for a high-grade feel and presence. The lens silhouette, which tapers from the front toward the mount, expresses the beauty of converging light. Each part has been expressly designed so that photographers can give their full attention to the shot. In keeping with this, the frequently used zoom ring has been placed in front of the focus ring (Figure 1).

The following sections describe the lens's main features.

Figure 1

The lens's optical system achieves the high image quality suitable for a super-telephoto lens, despite being a zoom lens, as well as provides image stabilization functionality and a built-in 1.4x extender for a completely new super-telephoto zoom lens. The lens is arranged with 25 elements in 20 groups. When the built-in 1.4x extender is in use, the lens consists of 33 elements in 24 groups (including one rear filter element). The built-in extender itself is organized with eight elements in four groups (Figure 2).

Figure 2

One fluorite lens element and one UD lens element are used in the first lens group and three of the four elements in the focusing lens group are UD elements. The inclusion of these elements drastically reduces the occurrence of chromatic aberrations that tend to appear as color fringing around subject edges, giving high-quality images with excellent resolution and contrast. These elements also help the lens deliver high image quality when the built-in extender is in use (Figure 3).

Figure 3

The inner focusing system is provided by the third lens group (elements 11 through 14) and image stabilization by the fifth lens group (elements 17 through 19), which shifts in parallel.

The biggest feature of the lens, the built-in extender, provides optimal optical characteristics over the entire focal length range. It is placed by making space within the sixth lens group in the lens's rear fixed lens groups.

The protrusion at the rear of the lens is used to house the built-in extender's optics when not in use.
Optimizing the lens arrangement and coatings virtually eliminates ghosting and flaring and achieves an excellent color balance. To cut ghosting caused by light sources within the frame, we used a subwavelength structure coating (SWC) on the front surface of the tenth lens group.

A fluorine coating is applied to the front and rear lens surfaces (not including the filter glass) that are exposed to the atmosphere so that any dust or contaminants on the lens surfaces can be easily wiped off with a dry cloth. The lens is also designed to minimize color fringing when used not only with the built-in extender but also with external extenders. The minimum focusing distance is two meters, regardless of the zoom position or whether the built-in extender is used. Click here to read the entire article on Canon's website.

MichaelDanielHo.com

Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x Lens Review

Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM 1.4x lens and EOS-1D X camera

Canon started the development of the EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x lens over two years ago. When the official announcement came on May 14, 2013, I immediately put my order in even though the weight and price are higher than I have expected. The lens finally arrived and this hands-on review will not have charts, graphs and technical details. You can read that in Canon's announcement above. It assumes the reader already has a familiarity with Canon cameras and super telephoto lenses. All observations and opinions are my own and from the standpoint of a wildlife photographer out in the field.

I am a wildlife photographer and have been using Canon equipment for almost twenty five years. My subjects range from tiny Hummingbirds to Blue Whales, the largest animal on Planet Earth, ever. Over the decades, I have used and owned many L series prime, zoom and Super telephoto lenses. When the Series II versions of the Super Telephoto lenses came out in 2011, I refrained from upgrading until I have a chance to use the EF 200-400mm lens. Generally I am not overly excited with any new piece of Canon equipment, the EOS-1D X camera (see my review) was the last exception but this new lens carries all the promise of a zoom lens with a built-in extender, all packed into a Super Telephoto lens barrel.

The debate between prime and zoom lens is over for me long time ago. The image quality of the current generation 'L' zoom lens are comparable to their prime cousins. I cannot emphasis the flexibility of having a top quality super telephoto zoom lens. For years, I have suffered through missed opportunity when using prime super telephoto lens on wildlife. Once the animal comes too close, there is a mad scramble to back up or try and grab another camera with a shorter focal length. Invariably, I would end up missing crucial shots.

The most annoying thing about Canon's Super Telephoto lenses is their factory lens cap and the EF 200-400mm is no exception. I immediately substituted it with the Don Zack lens cap. The DZ lens caps are on all my Super Telephoto lenses and I highly recommend it. My first impression of the EF 200-400mm is a rock solid, semi-large and heavy (7.98 pounds) but manageable lens. It measures 5 inch in diameter and 14.4 inch in length without the lens hood. The lens hood is interchangeable with the EF 400mm f/4 IS DO lens. Most of the controls are located at the rear of the lens - extender control lever, IS modes, focus modes, focus limiter and focus preset control. The lens takes 52mm drop-in filters, which are inserted in the rear of the lens via the included drop-in filter holder. Rubberized zoom and focus rings are on the lens barrel, the textured playback ring, and the front-most grip ring that incorporates four AF Stop Buttons. I have examined in detail the area where the extender control lever is located because this is a place where dirt may accumulate and moisture can seep into the lens out in the field. However, after taking the lens to the high Arctic and Alaska, I am comfortable the lever will stand up to field use provided regular cleaning is maintained.

The front and rear lenses elements are fluorine-coated to repel water, dust and dirt. When used with the Canon EOS-1D X and Mk IV cameras, the package is weather-sealed and make cleaning easier on photo shoots. The built-in 1.4x extender (see bulge in photo below) is specifically designed for the lens and there are three IS modes, like all the other Series II Super Telephoto lenses. Mode 1 is for stationary subjects. Mode 2 is for panning subjects, like bird in flight. Mode 3 is only available on Series II super telephoto lenses. In Mode 3, IS sound can be detected when the shutter release is half-pressed, but the image is not stabilized until the precise moment when the shot is taken. When I use a Canon IS equipped lens, I always leave the IS on and set to Mode 1. To be honest, most of the time, I find there is a difference without a distinction between Mode 1,  2 and 3. After handholding and panning for so many fast moving wildlife shots over the years, I have developed a rather good technique for myself already.

Up to now, no Canon Super Telephoto lens comes in a zoom. Adding a built-in 1.4x extender and a fixed f/4 aperture over the entire zoom range is a game changer for me. By the way, the minimum focusing distance over the entire zoom range is only 6.6 feet. This means I can get closeup to the wildlife action. Although this lens is revolutionary for a 'L' design, Canon actually experimented with the FDn 1200mm f/5.6 lens with a built-in 1.4x extender back in 1984 during the Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

To say the EF 200-400mm lens' zoom range is flexible is an understatement. In addition to the built-in 1.4x extender, the lens also accepts the EF 1.4x and 2.0x III extenders. This means the lens can have a possible zoom range of 200mm to 1,792mm, when used with a combination of full frame, APS-H and APS-C cameras. EOS-5D Mk III and the EOS-1 bodies will allow AF down to f/8. Auto-focusing with apertures smaller than f/8 is not possible but this lens is well designed for that with FTM (full time manual) focusing built-in. I am not a big fan of the 2.0x extender but the 1.4x is another matter. With the EOS-1D X or Mk IV cameras plus the EF 1.4x extender mounted on the EF 200-400mm f/4L IS, my focal length starts out at 280mm and ends at a little over 1,000mm. This immense focal length range encourages creativity and open up endless possibilities for my long lens photography.

When the EF 1.4x extender is attached and the EF 200-400mm internal extender set to 1x, any AF points can be selected with the joystick. When the internal extender is set to 1.4x, only the center AF point works. When the EF 2.0x extender is attached and the internal extender is set to 1x, AF slows down and only the center AF point works. If the internal extender is set to 1.4x, manual focusing will be required. This works well for me since I like to add the 1.4x extender sometimes and work mostly with the center AF point anyway. It took me a little while to get used to the fact I can actually zoom in and out with this Super Telephoto lens and finding the extender lever by touch without having to take my eye off the viewfinder. After that, it was rather instinctual in changing the zoom range, AF points, landscape to portrait mode, ISO setting and exposure control, all in quick succession, without ever taking my eye off the subject

I have taken some bird photos in my usual hot spots and went on a few photo shoots. So far, I am quite pleased with the initial results. Look at the image quality of the 100% crop Chimpanzee and Victoria Crowned Crane photos. They were taken from about 100 and 40 feet away, handheld. The IQ of the Bird-in-flight shots are equally impressive. All photos taken with the EOS-1D X, 400mm @ f/4, IS Mode 1, AI Servo. Will be taking the lens and the EOS-1 cameras out to get acclimated to its functions and shooting techniques in the next few months. Hand-holding my camera and traveling light on photo shoots are my preferences. Despite the weight of this lens and the EOS-1 camera (about 11 pounds), I am able to hand-hold (with proper technique) the combo for a short while even though I am of average height and build. When I do use support, my pick is the SLIK PRO 824 CF carbon fiber tripod and the SLIK SBH 550 ball head. SLIK equipment is the best value in my opinion and highly underrated. The combination weighs about 5 pounds and can support the EF 200-400mm f/4L lens plus the EOS-1 camera with ease. Visit the equipment page on my website to see all the gear I use on photo shoots.

Small Is Beautiful

Testing The Arctic Waters

Dracula - My scariest Halloween costume

Will Charge For Food 

My next few wildlife photo shoots start in August and last through Autumn. I have taken the lens and the EOS-1D X to Svalbard in the high Arctic to photograph Polar Bears and Alaska for the Brown bears and other wildlife.

You can follow my travels on Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr and visit my website MichaelDanielHo.com to see wildlife photos from my previous shoots around the world. Keep checking back for additional photos and addendum to my hands-on review of the EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x lens as I return from more photo shoots.

Canon Wins Three EISA Awards

The 2013 - 2014 EISA Awards have been announced and Canon has won three accolades.

European Professional Lens Award - Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x

European DSLR Camera Award - Canon EOS-100D/SL1

European Advanced DSLR Camera Award - Canon EOS-6D

MichaelDanielHo.com

Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x Lens Reveiw

Canon started the development of the EF 200-400mm f/4L IS 1.4x lens over two years ago. When the official announcement came on May 14, 2013, I immediately put my order in even though the weight and price are higher than I have expected. The lens arrived in June and this hands-on review will not have charts, graphs and technical details. You can read that in Canon's announcement above. It assumes the reader already has a familiarity with Canon cameras and super telephoto lenses. All opinions and observations are my own and from the standpoint of a wildlife photographer out in the field.

I am a wildlife photographer and have been using Canon equipment for almost twenty five years. My subjects range from tiny Hummingbirds to Blue Whales, the largest animal on Planet Earth, ever. Over the decades, I have used and owned many L series prime, zoom and Super telephoto lenses. When the Series II versions of the Super Telephoto lenses came out in 2011, I refrained from upgrading until I have a chance to use the EF 200-400mm lens.

Generally I am not overly excited by any new piece of Canon equipment, the EOS-1D X camera (read my review) was the last exception but this new lens carries all the promise of a zoom lens with a built-in extender, all packed into a Super Telephoto lens barrel. The debate between prime and zoom lens is over for me long time ago. The image quality of the current generation 'L' zoom lens are comparable to their prime cousins. I cannot emphasis the flexibility of having a top quality super telephoto zoom lens. For years, I have suffered through missed opportunity when using prime super telephoto lens on wildlife. Once the animal comes too close, there is a mad scramble to back up or try and grab another camera with a shorter focal length. Invariably, I would end up missing crucial shots.

The most annoying thing about Canon's Super Telephoto lenses is their factory lens cap and the EF 200-400mm is no exception. I immediately substituted it with the Don Zack lens cap. The DZ caps are on all my Super Telephoto lenses. My first impression of the EF 200-400mm is a rock solid, semi-large and heavy (7.98 pounds) but manageable lens. It measures 5 inch in diameter and 14.4 inch in length without the lens hood. The lens hood is interchangeable with the EF 400mm f/4 DO IS lens. Most of the controls are located at the rear of the lens - extender control lever, IS modes, focus modes, focus limiter and focus preset control. The lens takes 52mm drop-in filters, which are inserted in the rear of the lens via the included drop-in filter holder. Rubberized zoom and focus rings are on the lens barrel, the textured playback ring, and the front-most grip ring that incorporates four AF Stop Buttons. I have examined in detail the area where the extender control lever is located because this is a place where dirt may accumulate and moisture can seep into the lens out in the field. However, I am comfortable the lever will stand up to field use provided regular cleaning is maintained.

The front and rear lenses elements are fluorine-coated to repel water, dust and dirt. When used with the Canon EOS-1D X and Mk IV cameras, the package is weather-sealed and make cleaning easier on photo shoots. The built-in 1.4x extender (see bulge in photo below) is specifically designed for the lens and there are three IS modes, like all the other Series II Super Telephoto lenses. Mode 1 is for stationary subjects. Mode 2 is for panning subjects, like bird in flight. Mode 3 is only available on Series II super telephoto lenses. In Mode 3, IS sound can be detected when the shutter release is half-pressed, but the image is not stabilized until the precise moment when the shot is taken. When I use a Canon IS equipped lens, I always leave the IS on and set to Mode 1. To be honest, most of the time, I find there is a difference without a distinction between Mode 1, 2 and 3. After handholding and panning for so many fast moving wildlife shots over the years, I have developed a rather good technique for myself already.

Up to now, no Canon Super Telephoto lens comes in a zoom. Adding a built-in 1.4x extender and a fixed f/4 aperture over the entire zoom range is a game changer for me. By the way, the minimum focusing distance over the entire zoom range is only 6.6 feet. This means I can get closeup to the wildlife action. Although this lens is revolutionary for a 'L' design, Canon actually experimented with the Canon FDN 1200mm f/5.6  lens with a built-in 1.4x extender back in 1984 during the Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

To say the EF 200-400mm lens' zoom range is flexible is an understatement. In addition to the built-in 1.4x extender, the lens also accepts the EF 1.4x and 2.0x III extenders. This means the lens can have a possible zoom range of 200mm to 1,792mm, when used with a combination of full frame, APS-H and APS-C cameras. EOS-5D Mk III and the EOS-1 bodies will allow AF down to f/8. Auto-focusing with apertures smaller than f/8 is not possible but this lens is well designed for that with FTM (full time manual) focusing built-in. I am not a big fan of the 2.0x extender but the 1.4x is another matter. With the EOS-1D X or Mk IV cameras plus the EF 1.4x extender mounted on the EF 200-400mm f/4L IS, my focal length starts out at 280mm and ends at a little over 1,000mm. This immense focal length range encourages creativity and open up endless possibilities for my long lens photography.

When the EF 1.4x extender is attached and the EF 200-400mm internal extender set to 1x, any AF points can be selected with the joystick. When the internal extender is set to 1.4x, only the center AF point works. When the EF 2.0x extender is attached and the internal extender is set to 1x, AF slows down and only the center AF point works. If the internal extender is set to 1.4x, manual focusing will be required. This works well for me since I like to add the 1.4x extender sometimes and work mostly with the center AF point anyway. AF is lighting fast, even with the addition of an external 1.4x extender. It took me a little while to get used to the fact I can actually zoom in and out with this Super Telephoto lens and finding the extender lever by touch without having to take my eye off the viewfinder. After that, it was rather instinctual in changing the zoom range, landscape to portrait mode, AF points, ISO setting and exposure control, all in quick succession, without ever taking my eye off the subject.

I snapped a few bird photos and am quite pleased with the initial results. Look at the image quality of the 100% crop Chimpanzee and Victoria Crowned Crane photos. They were taken from about 100 and 40 feet away, handheld. The built-in extender was switched off with the Chimp photo but switched on with the Crane shot. The IQ of the Bird-in-flight shots are equally impressive. All photos taken with the EOS-1D X at 400mm f/4, IS Mode 1, AI Servo. Hand-holding my camera and traveling light on photo shoots are my preference. Despite the weight of this lens and the EOS-1 camera (about 11 pounds), I am able to hand-hold (with proper technique) the combo for a short while even though I am of average height and build. When I do use support, my pick is the SLIK PRO 634 CF carbon fiber tripod and the SLIK SBH 550 ball head. SLIK equipment is the best value in my opinion and highly underrated. The combination weighs 3.3 pounds and can support the EF 200-400mm f/4L lens plus the EOS-1 camera with ease. Visit my equipment bag on my website to see all the gear I use on photo shoots.

My next few wildlife photo shoots start in early August and last through Autumn. Just came back from Svalbard in the high Arctic to photograph Polar Bears and other wildlife. The EF 200-400mm lens is rather cumbersome in a bouncing zodiac but on a stable platform, it works flawlessly. Will be taking it to Alaska, Africa and the Canadian tundra in the next few months.

You can follow me on Facebook, Flickr, Twitter and this Blog to keep up with my travels. Keep checking back for additional photos and addendum to my hands-on review of the EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x lens as I return from additional photo shoots.

MichaelDanielHo.com

Wildlife Photography - Reflections on the High Arctic

I am back home in California after a wildlife trip circumnavigating the Svalbard archipelago in an expedition ship and spending some time in Norway after the photo shoot. The high Arctic is a fascinating place and it can bring out the best and worst in photographers and equipment alike.

The archipelago is mostly ice free in the south and one has to go way north, above 80 degrees to even find sea ice. This proved a challenge to finding Polar Bears and seals. The permanent ice sheets are still there but fast ice is tough to locate. Even though this is the high Summer in the high Arctic, the weather can range from severe cold, well below freezing temperatures with light snow and 40+ knots winds to sunshine, T-shirt weather and BBQ on the deck of the ship. The latter suited this Californian just fine.

I have been to all the Scandinavian countries and find the people friendly and enjoyable. Sadly, some in Norway find no incongruity in going on a whale watching trip and then eating a whale fillet burger after the outing. Thankfully, Polar Bears are now protected in Svalbard now but in the past, they were wantonly slaughtered for their hide and even for fun. Sadly, Polar bears are still hunted for 'sports and trophy' in Canada and other places. You can see more Polar bears photos from my past trips here.

The Canon equipment I brought with me, EOS-1D X, EOS-1D Mk IV, EF 400mm DO, EF 200-400mm f/4L IS and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS, all worked fine under severe field conditions except one of the legs on my light weight Slik carbon fiber tripod broke under very cold temperatures. It was mostly my own fault for loading the tripod with much heavier weight than recommended. Now comes the time that I am not looking forward to after every photo shoot. Trying to get back to the daily routine and going through the photos. Unfortunately, I do not have a lot of time since I am scheduled to go on another wildlife photo shoot in early August to Alaska.

For more posts on photographing other wildlife, you will find Hummingbirds, African elephants, Polar bears, Bengal tigers, Killer whales and Blue whales adventures here. I have been a wildlife photographer for 25 years using Canon gear. You can read my FAQs on equipment and see more of my work on MichaelDanielHo.com. You can also follow my travels on my Blog, Twitter and Facebook.