I'm beginning my dissertation research in May on woolly and spider monkeys in the Ecuadorian Amazon and know from my pilot research that I could potentially get some excellent photographs, but am unsure of what camera or which equipment to buy. I don't have much photography experience (I've only used a point-and-click digital, which is great for monkeys that come close on the ground but terrible for the arboreal species). I'm thinking of a digital SLR, and I know that I'd need at least a 10x zoom to get a recognizable full-body image (these species tend to stay up in the canopy ~30m high, but do come down to ~10m once habituated). Does anyone have any recommendations, or at least some features I should consider? Is there anything else I should know regarding rainforest photography? Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Posted by Dan Borzynski on November 30, 2006 at 5:43 PM
Given that you are probably on a grad student budget, options may be a bit more limited. One thing I would consider, money permitting, would be a used Canon 10D (around $550) and a used Sigma lens (170-500mm zoom runs about another $550). The 10D also has a popup flash, which although not real powerful, might be enough. Look for a used flash, though because lighting will probably be an issue. Keep the point and click for opportunities for closer shots, or maybe look at an inexpensive short zoom, such as the kit lens this camera is often sold with.
Wherever you buy, just be sure it is a respectable company. B&H, Adorama, KEH and Midwest (mpex.com) photo all sell good used gear and are honest companies. There will be the tempation to go to Popular Photography (or other US-based camea magazine), open up the ads and see really good prices (better than the above), and try to buy from them. I emphasize the word try. You may pay a bit more at the listed companies, but these are honest businesses that you don't have to worry about buying from.
Just a humble opinion but I certainly agree with Dan regarding the 500mm zoom. Get more if you can and if you can afford it. 30m is a looooong way up. Lighting is going to be a big issue and a pop up won't cut it. You'll need a powerful external flash and a camera that can render the quality you want at high ISO's. You'll need to be able to shoot at shutter speeds approaching your maximum sync speed, usually up to a 1/250th second, when using flash. If you don't use flash you're going to want at least 1/500th second and even that should be on a good tripod. Pretty tall order for a 500mm lens that probably pretty slow.
What you want to do is do-able but it's going to take some skill, good equipment and luck. Good luck!
Plan ahead for thoroughly drying your equipment. I live and work in a wet area for much of the year, but don't have to contend withe the heat you will also encounter. Humidity buildup will be an issue for you over the extended period. I'd pick up a couple of the "rechargeable" 1-pound dessicant packs, the variety you can bake in an oven to dry for repeated use. Periodically, perhaps daily during the monsoon, you will want to put all your gear in a sealed plastic bag with one of these. It may become a good practice simply to store them this way each night as a matter of course.
Posted by Trym Espeseth on December 2, 2006 at 10:12 AM
Hi !
I have done some photography of chimps in the rainforest of Tanzania. My experience is that main challenges regarding gear is humidity and light(lack of it). Buy a good waterproof photobag and sealed plastic bags. When it comes to camera buy one that can take quality pictures with high ISO, and buy the fastest lenses you can afford with image stabilization. A monopod / tripod is also handy.
Good Luck
Trym
Posted by Ott Luuk on December 2, 2006 at 11:13 AM
You need a long and fast lens and a powerful flash setup and a good tripod/head combination. It takes time to learn to use all this gear effectively. If you want to take home some good images, you need to read up on technique and most of all - practice! Long lenses are not easy to use in low-light conditions, especially if your experience is limited to a point-and shoot camera. Buy your gear as soon as you have made up your mind and become as familiar as possible with it before the trip. Shooting backyard birds might be a good way to practice ;)
Due to the lack of light in the rainforest, I`d recommend a 300 or 400mm prime lens with a larger aperture, not a slow 500mm zoom. Your better photo opportunities will rise when the monkeys come lower in the trees and lower means darker. A 300mm f/2.8 lens would give you excellent quality and speed when the monkeys get closer and paired with 1.4x and 2x teleconverters you could also use your lens as 420mm f/4 or 600mm f/5.6 respectively. Obviously, a new 300/2.8 is very expensive but you could cut some costs by buying used, maybe even an older manual focus design.
All the great suggestions aside you need to read up on the gear and basic technique used in wildlife photography. Before you rush to buy expensive gear, spend a little on a couple of books.
Posted by Basil Greber on December 2, 2006 at 11:56 AM
Well, maybe this is a smartassish comment, but you don't need a "10x zoom" - you only need a large focal length. Coming from a P&S where there is only one lens, a large zoom factor and a large focal length at the long end mean the same. This is no longer true on a DSLR/SLR - you can have a 1x "zoom" (called a fix focal or prime lens) with a large focal length (400/2.8, 500/4, 600/4). Which is in terms of image quality the best thing you can have (and in terms of money the worst). However, if your budget is limited, a good XX-400 mm zoom (Sigma 80-400, Nikon 80-400, Canon 100-400) combined with a good flash may be more suitable.
Basil
Posted by Chris Ross on December 4, 2006 at 8:58 PM
A 300mm f4 IS lens may be a good more affordable and possibly hand holdable alternative, Image Stabilisation will help you a lot in low, light, but only if the subject actually sits still. Being smaller and lighter it would be easier to carry around than the big glass and possibly easier to keep dry.
A 10x zoom is normally a 380 mm equivalent focal length on point and shoots, so add a 1.4x converter for a 420mm f5.6 lens and you will straddle that mark on a 35mm full frame camera.
On a Canon 10D/20D/30D you have a 1.6x crop factor which will give you the equivalent of about 480mm or the same as a 14x or so on a point and shot. The 1.4x would give you 672mm equivalent. (The sensor in those canon bodies, so to calculate the reach multiply the lens focal length by 1.6)
Another alternative may be a 70-200mm f2.8 IS with a 1.4x, this will give you 112-320mm equivalent on a 10D/20D/30D body add the 1.4x and you have 156-448 or just over what you'd get with a 12x P&S camera.
You'll need a seperate flash unit and I'd suggest a better beamer unit (see the NPN store) to give you more flash range.
Friends I know who take urang ,mountain gorilla @other such, use a 20D (canon) and shoot at ISO 800 without flash , some people frown on using flash with endangered animals (because of the increased stress caused) .
You could use a second hand nikon D70 and the new 70-300 vibration reduction lens , or the cheaper 70-300 lenses - you could use a sb600 flash gun and control this remotely with the pop up flash on the camera ,(tho I doubt the flash would last long if the monkeys get hold of it ).Most importantly try to visualise the images you want and take trial shots in controlled conditions esp in forests , if there is a bright sky you can end up with lots of silhouettes unless you increase the exposure .As others have mentioned take silica or other gel to dry out your camera bag .A spare rechargeable battery is good as would be conventional battery plus holder( for the D70) . Enjoy the trip ..
Discussion
8 repliesWherever you buy, just be sure it is a respectable company. B&H, Adorama, KEH and Midwest (mpex.com) photo all sell good used gear and are honest companies. There will be the tempation to go to Popular Photography (or other US-based camea magazine), open up the ads and see really good prices (better than the above), and try to buy from them. I emphasize the word try. You may pay a bit more at the listed companies, but these are honest businesses that you don't have to worry about buying from.
Now if budget is not a huge issue...
What you want to do is do-able but it's going to take some skill, good equipment and luck. Good luck!
Bob
I have done some photography of chimps in the rainforest of Tanzania. My experience is that main challenges regarding gear is humidity and light(lack of it). Buy a good waterproof photobag and sealed plastic bags. When it comes to camera buy one that can take quality pictures with high ISO, and buy the fastest lenses you can afford with image stabilization. A monopod / tripod is also handy.
Good Luck
Trym
Due to the lack of light in the rainforest, I`d recommend a 300 or 400mm prime lens with a larger aperture, not a slow 500mm zoom. Your better photo opportunities will rise when the monkeys come lower in the trees and lower means darker. A 300mm f/2.8 lens would give you excellent quality and speed when the monkeys get closer and paired with 1.4x and 2x teleconverters you could also use your lens as 420mm f/4 or 600mm f/5.6 respectively. Obviously, a new 300/2.8 is very expensive but you could cut some costs by buying used, maybe even an older manual focus design.
All the great suggestions aside you need to read up on the gear and basic technique used in wildlife photography. Before you rush to buy expensive gear, spend a little on a couple of books.
Basil
A 10x zoom is normally a 380 mm equivalent focal length on point and shoots, so add a 1.4x converter for a 420mm f5.6 lens and you will straddle that mark on a 35mm full frame camera.
On a Canon 10D/20D/30D you have a 1.6x crop factor which will give you the equivalent of about 480mm or the same as a 14x or so on a point and shot. The 1.4x would give you 672mm equivalent. (The sensor in those canon bodies, so to calculate the reach multiply the lens focal length by 1.6)
Another alternative may be a 70-200mm f2.8 IS with a 1.4x, this will give you 112-320mm equivalent on a 10D/20D/30D body add the 1.4x and you have 156-448 or just over what you'd get with a 12x P&S camera.
You'll need a seperate flash unit and I'd suggest a better beamer unit (see the NPN store) to give you more flash range.
You could use a second hand nikon D70 and the new 70-300 vibration reduction lens , or the cheaper 70-300 lenses - you could use a sb600 flash gun and control this remotely with the pop up flash on the camera ,(tho I doubt the flash would last long if the monkeys get hold of it ).Most importantly try to visualise the images you want and take trial shots in controlled conditions esp in forests , if there is a bright sky you can end up with lots of silhouettes unless you increase the exposure .As others have mentioned take silica or other gel to dry out your camera bag .A spare rechargeable battery is good as would be conventional battery plus holder( for the D70) . Enjoy the trip ..