Kenko extension tubes - Should help me get closer to the action on those butterfly/bug shots this Spring and Summer!

 

 

 

 

 

I know it is a shame that Canon charges so much for these, but I needed one for my 100mm.  With the extension tubes, 100mm, and now a great hood, I should be well equipped for those macros!

 

 

 

 

Canon WP-DC300 Waterproof Case - I finally found one of these for less than 100 bucks on eBay.  This thing is awesome.  It snaps around the point and shoot S45 and it is extremely easy to take on and off.   See my more in-depth review here.

Every DSLR owner needs a way to carry everything.  In the beginning, I decided to get one of the Lowepro Trekker Orion backpacks because it was cheap and held all of my gear back in those days.   It holds a few lenses in the bottom half and the top half is hollowed out for carrying a jacket or accessories.

 

 

The next thing I bought was a fanny pack.  This will come in handy when I just want to carry my camera with one or two lenses, but don't want to haul around a backpack.  The Lowepro Off Trail 2 - Belt pack ( for camera ) seems to fit the bill and it is around $60.

I want to update to a Lowepro Slingshot 200, which makes it easy to change lenses without taking off the backpack, and possibly some sort of do-it-all backpack (maybe Delsey GoPix 92 (which retails for $85, but is very hard to find)) that will also handle my laptop.

 

 

 

 

Bogen - Manfrotto 3178WNK Wilderness Tripod Kit - 3221WN Black Tripod with 3130 Micro Fluid Video Head with Quick Release - I bought this set on eBay at a discounted price, but I did not get a bag in my package. 

The reason I decided on the 3221WN Tripod is because it can be extended up over my head with the center pole in, but I can remove the pole and only need to bend down slightly.  I am 6'5, so this was my main reason for getting this tall tripod.  I usually want to leave the center pole out because I can also take the tripod almost all the way to the ground (around 5 inches from the ground).  This will be very handy when we get some bees or butterflies to shoot in early spring or later in the summer.

The versatility in the heights was a major selling point, but I also read that this tripod was very sturdy because of its weight.  Most people want a lighter tripod, but I was willing to live with the weight issues because I did not want to spend a fortune and I did not want to worry about putting my Canon 20D camera with an expensive lens on something that did not feel secure.

 

 

To the left Bogen - Manfrotto 3130 Micro Fluid Head with Quick Release - This came in my particular setup and it looked like it could hold me over until I could buy a more flexible unit. 

It is a good basic head that feels sturdy and pans smoothly.  I also have a cheap video camera and this could work great with it, too.

 

 

The POD Camera Platform ( Bean Bag )- There are a couple of bad reviews for this thing on Amazon.  People seem to think a $14 bean bag should work like a tripod.  If you are looking for that, good luck! 

Many photographers use bean bags to secure cameras when they are shooting from a car window or other from some other object to avoid hand shake.  This is just like a bean bag, but it has a screw, so it can be attached to the bottom of the camera. 

I have used it only a few times, but I have not been shooting much lately and I bought this fairly recently. 

 

The bird shot below was taken with the pod and my Quantaray lens with a Tamron 1.4x extender from a car window.  I would have never gotten the detail in the feathers by hand holding the camera:

 

Tamron Autofocus 1.4x Teleconverter Lens for Canon SLR Cameras - This is a great product for giving me added length to my Quantaray 300mm while I wait until I can afford one of the Canon 400MM lenses.  Of course, I can always use it with a new lens, too.  I have also used it with my Sigma 200mm lens to get some added length.  This allows me to go from (200x1.4) 282mm to (18x1.4) 25.2mm without having to switch out lenses.  I used it at the fireworks show with my Sigma and I have also used it at an airplane show with my 300mm (1.4 x 300 = 420MM).

Here are a few of the shots I have taken with it (I use it quite often, so I have tons of pics with it):

 

 

 

While the shot to the left looks a bit unreal, it was taken on a tripod with my Sigma and teleconverter.

 

 

Below are just a couple of shots I took, handheld, using the filter and the Quantaray.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Canon RS-80N3 Remote Switch - I bought this mainly for macro photography to make camera shake even less likely.  Unfortunately, I had an issue with my old tripod, so I had to shoot most of my macros handheld instead of on a tripod this season.  I plan to use this quite a bit with my new tripod and I also got an extension cord so I can plant the tripod where I want it and take shots from a distance. 

There is a wireless solution available now, but it costs $400 and is overkill for my needs.

 

I have one example of the technique that I used before the tripod issue:

 

This is the actual shot that I took using my old tripod, shutter release and extension cable.  The shot is from about a foot off of the ground and I would have never had tried this without the shutter release.  I was safely hidden away as I snapped this shot!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tiffen 58mm Close Up Lens Set - This is a great way to get closer with a 100mm macro lens.  I have used the filters a few times for insects and flowers.  It comes with several filters depending on just how close you want to get.

Below is an example of a shot I took with the filter attached to my 100mm lens:

 

 

 

 

Without a filter, I doubt I would have been able to pick up the detail in the eyes, to see a much bigger shot of the dragonfly to the left, click on the picture.  I would have loved to use a cable release, but since my tripod was broken, I took this shot with a mono-pod.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As I mentioned above, I took the dragonfly shot using this monopod.  I bought this so I could permanently keep it in my car for "emergencies".  This monopod is less than $20 and does everything I need.  Since you have to support the monopod yourself anyway, I see no reason to spend more.

Once again, there is an idiot on Amazon complaining about the quality.  Get a tripod if you are looking for serious stabilization.  For my needs, this thing has worked great.  No, I do not expect it to hold a heavy lens and camera without my help.  Keep your neck strap on just in case you are worried about the $5 head on this thing breaking.  It is not a CF Tripod with a pro head that costs a thousand bucks.  It is an accessory for when you want to just throw something in the trunk and want to keep the tripod at home. Sheesh!!!  How can someone spend $16 and expect a piece of professional quality equipment?  Are people really this stupid?

 

 

 

I have been searching for a all-around bag for the city and places like Disney. 

One thing I did not want to do was buy a bag that made it look like I was carrying a "man-purse".

As a result, I ran across what looked like a perfect bag, the Domke F-3X.