Planning Fossil Rim Wildlife Safari Trip - Texas

03/05/2004 02:47:42 PM · #76

James

If you have time to hang around and the weather is nice you can pack it and bring it along if you want :)

We can head back to the house have a cookout and find a place to shoot the moon without to many city lights.

Your call my friend :)

Originally posted by jab119:

Originally posted by Calvus:
James

I would love to do some moon shots, but according to the solar calendar it is only going to be a half moon on April 24th?

//www.stardate.org/nightsky/moon/

Will you mount work on the Canon EOS 10D?

Originally posted by jab119:
Again just let me know and I can pack all my scope stuff also....
James

Calvus, yes a 10D, D60 or most any camera with the correct adapters can hook up to most any telescope....the adapter I use for my D60 to scope will work the exact same on your camera .

also half moon images are a lot nicer than full moon shots in most cases, you can see a LOT more detail in the craters...

see....

James

03/08/2004 02:03:08 PM · #77

Are the open top vans suitable for tripod use, or should be thinking bean bags ?

Brent_Ward

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L USM

03/08/2004 04:45:53 PM · #78

Originally posted by Gordon:

Are the open top vans suitable for tripod use, or should be thinking bean bags ?

I would suggest a bean bag, Tripods and a van full of people aren't a good mix. :D

03/08/2004 04:49:00 PM · #79

Originally posted by MeThoS:

Originally posted by Gordon:
Are the open top vans suitable for tripod use, or should be thinking bean bags ?

I would suggest a bean bag, Tripods and a van full of people aren't a good mix. :D

Just I've seen plenty of tour type places that have jeeps/vans that accomodate tripods as well for about 5 people, with tiered seating.

Brent_Ward

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L USM

03/08/2004 05:19:16 PM · #80

Originally posted by Gordon:

Originally posted by MeThoS:

Originally posted by Gordon:
Are the open top vans suitable for tripod use, or should be thinking bean bags ?

I would suggest a bean bag, Tripods and a van full of people aren't a good mix. :D

Just I've seen plenty of tour type places that have jeeps/vans that accomodate tripods as well for about 5 people, with tiered seating.

Just get out of the van and use it. Bring a steak to stick in your buddy's back pocket so the lions will leave you alone. :D

Flash

Nikon D700

03/08/2004 06:37:45 PM · #81

Well Calvus and I have concluded that I can't walk and chew gum at the same time, so if you run out of steak.......I might end up being a casualty of war :)

Never thought about NOT being able to use a tripod. If quarters are tight I'll just extend one leg and use it as a mono. Can't imagine trying to capture images with 200-600mm lenses freehand. But, I'll abide by whatever the designated etiquette is.

About 6 weeks. It'll fly by.

Flash

03/23/2004 10:44:45 AM · #82

Gordon

Sorry I missed your question.

I have not seen the open air vans as of yet.
If I make a trip to Fossil Rim before our tour I will check them out.
My wife is off on vacation starting Thursday of this week we will try and run up and check them out and get some photos of them.

I was told this photo is the open air jeep:

I planned on using my new tripod in the open air van.
With my new 80-400mm plus 2x converter 160mm-800mm I will need the extra stabilization. The new tripod shuts down to only 33" and should be short enough to use on the bench seat.

I think a bean bag would require getting down on the floor and resting the bag on the side of the vehicle? Does not sound very comfortable.

I have three open air vans scheduled and only 4-5 people each (With no cancelations). What ever happens I planned on trying to have only 4-5 per van. I was told these open air vans have bench seats. They hold 8 max they said.

I will be sending out another email with some tips and other info shortly.

Originally posted by Gordon:

Are the open top vans suitable for tripod use, or should be thinking bean bags ?

03/23/2004 10:46:57 AM · #83

Methos

I'm trying to keep it to 4-5 members per van. Thus allowing for all of the equipment and movemnet form side to side for the members. It hopefully will not be that crowded.

Originally posted by MeThoS:

Originally posted by Gordon:
Are the open top vans suitable for tripod use, or should be thinking bean bags ?

I would suggest a bean bag, Tripods and a van full of people aren't a good mix. :D

03/23/2004 10:50:34 AM · #84

ROFLOL

We can not get out of the vehicles until we reach the rest/look out area or the end of the tour. Unless told otherwise LOL

And there are no lions on this tour :)

The list of animals can be found here:

//fossilrim.org/animals/index.php

Originally posted by MeThoS:

Just get out of the van and use it. Bring a steak to stick in your buddy's back pocket so the lions will leave you alone. :D

Sigma 18-125mm f/3.5-5.6 DC for Canon

03/23/2004 10:56:08 AM · #85

James

I have noticed with the Tokina 80-400mm that with the ample light we will have it does not do a lot of searching? With the multiple sensors (7) total it does happen in low light, but on the EOS 10D I can set the sensors so that it uses just the center sensor if need and that does help reduce searching in low light conditions.

Originally posted by jab119:

speaking of renting lenses, anyone know of a place in the Houston area that rents lenses?? My Tokina 80-400 is ok, but its slow to focus and image quality is not very sharp for distant images.

James

Kavey

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

03/23/2004 10:58:28 AM · #86

This sounds so much fun - I wish I could come!
Looking forward to seeing the pics!

03/23/2004 12:17:24 PM · #87

No lions! I demand my money back (!) (Did you get the cheque btw?)

If that picture is anything to go by, I'll need my 17-40 just to get one of the animals in frame.

I'll bring the tripod and a monopod and see how things look. I can always swap things around. I think I might actually have a spare monopod that I don't need any more if anyone is interested (it has the small thread size though - you'll need an adaptor for most heads, or you can stick it straight into your camera if you wanted. Let me know.

I might make up a small bean bag. I'm thinking a gallon size freezer ziploc bag might be about perfect. Either that or I'll just buy a bag of lentils on the way up there.

03/23/2004 12:34:17 PM · #88

ROFLOL

I plan on using my 80-400mm and try to control the feeding until we get our shots. I can switch out like you say. It is a long drive and you have some ample warning as to what is coming up. The Giraffes are very tricky to shoot they are so danf tall! Especially when they got up close! My wife loves them and can not wait to feed them in the open air van. But she hates the Ostriches beacuse they get excited and peck and pinch your hand.

But there is nothing that will really harm anyone!!

What are you asking for the monopod?
I have bought so much lately my wife put a lock on all my spending.
LOL

I have been typing an email with tips and suggestions for the trip. I will be sending it out very shortly. I have noted I'm not the big expert but I can share my ideas and experiences with eveyrone.

Like I mentioned my wife is on vacation starting Thursday and I just talke to her and told her we need to drive up and check out the vehicles. I will try and get some photographs so we can see what we have to work with.

Originally posted by Gordon:

03/23/2004 12:38:31 PM · #89

Suggestion:

If anyone would like we can meet at my house and drive up together?
We have a Jeep Grand Cherokee and have room.
Danny said he had his Honda Element and may have room.

Let me know ahead of time and I will email the directions to our house. It is right off I635, I45, I35, I30 and I20 oh heck all major highways LOL.

03/23/2004 12:38:41 PM · #90

I need to check that I actually have a spare one (I do have two but can't honestly remember if I gave one away or not) If so - its free. Perhaps the cost of a beer or something.

Note, that it isn't very good (hence the huge asking price) but it is a velbon monopod, without a head.

I'm actually thinking I'll probably bring a couple of bodies so I won't need to swap lenses - it'll no doubt be dusty out there.

03/23/2004 12:42:15 PM · #91

It is not bad the roads are blacktop.
But bring a good lens chamois anyhow.

Glad to hear you kick back once in awhile and are open to a BEER!

ROFLOL

Originally posted by Gordon:

03/23/2004 01:48:23 PM · #92

I want to shoot RAW and I may end up short for storage space, so I will be bringing along my 20gb NixVue Vista storage unit.

//www.steves-digicams.com/2002_reviews/nixvue_vista.html

If anyone has a memory/storage problem I would be willing to share the space. It accepts CF cards type I/II. It also accepts other types of memory cards but I do not have the adapter required. It has an LCD display for viewing photographs also.

Just an idea

Brent_Ward

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L USM

03/23/2004 05:56:56 PM · #93

So I can trade usage of my 500mm for storage space? ;D

I owe you money by the way. When is the deadline for the cash?

03/23/2004 06:11:23 PM · #94

I mentioned I would like to have it by April 10th But if that is a problem PM me we will work something out.

Originally posted by MeThoS:

So I can trade usage of my 500mm for storage space? ;D

I owe you money by the way. When is the deadline for the cash?

03/30/2004 10:32:11 AM · #95

Woohoo!

Getting close now...

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

03/30/2004 01:07:50 PM · #96

Flash is so excited he can't control himself :)
So am I

LOL

I probably will be in Glen Rose at 8:00am for breakfast and coffee :)

Flash

Nikon D700

03/30/2004 04:08:03 PM · #97

Just got the call, that my D70 is here. Will pick up Thursday nite. Just got another 6006 film body off ebay, so it looks like a pair of 6006's and a D70 for fossil rim. (no need to change lenses with 3 bodies going).

Lenses? Oh do I need those???

Still shopping. The lense thread was a huge help.

Happy? Did Calvus mention something about "happy"?

Oh yes. Definately happpy. Now if I can just learn how to take pictures...... :]

crabappl3

03/30/2004 04:14:31 PM · #98

I have a Honda Element, it'll sit me and 3 others. I live up in McKinney. I'm willing to cart a few along if they'd like. Just drop me a note and we'll get it arranged.

-danny

03/30/2004 05:59:40 PM · #99

I hate to say this guys, but it appears Flash is turning this into an old time Texas Shoot Out!

ROFLOL

Originally posted by Flash: