Costa Rica 2023 -

[Astacus]

The allure of Costa Rica for birders is quite compelling. We were able to return this march for another trip (14days, multiple lodges). This is a follow on from my post last year.. with minor updates- see https://www.alphashooters.com/community/threads/experiences-in-costa-rica-a1-and-600f4.4185/

This trip was arranged through Costa Rica Focus, who put together a superb circuit with a truly exceptional guide and driver. I need to write a review about this company elsewhere, but suffice it to say, they were absolutely excellent, and we'll use them again next year.

As before, the system (a1, TC1.4, 600mm f4) was perched on top of a monopod and was carried over my shoulder for many kilometres.

Equipment: no issues, but as usual, I carry too much gear with me. Things I brought by did not use/hardly used:

• 70-200 G f2.8 v2
• 200-600 G
• Flashgun
• Ring flash
• 50mm and 35 mm lenses
• Rocket blower

That's quite a lot of weight to haul around to no avail. It's all about 'what if' scenarios - what if I damaged the 600/f4?

Minor disaster: this system has been perched on my trusty, second hand,. Velbon aluminium monopod since I got it. I throw it over my shoulder and march around the forests with no concern. The monopod legs extend by click levers, and one of them snapped half way through the trip! no adjustment, but I was able to hit it hard against an iron bracket to lock it open, so that I could still use it. I cannot find a spare part, and am now looking for equally reliable monopods. I'll probably shift to carbon fibre, and it looks like I'll be driven to screw thread locks.

My shooting was pretty consistent through the trip Minimum SS 1/1000 (though often failing to reach that) 100-6400 auto ISO, f4 or 5.6 (-/+TC) most of the time (light is in limited supply under the canopy). AF-C, smallest spot focus area.

There are times when this system (or more likely, me) struggle with the desire to show me accurate images of twigs rather than the bid just behind the twig. I do not see how I can focus manually with this set up, so if anyone has any advice?

I write to two cards - fast 128GB SDXC cards for RAW (uncompressed), and 64GB slower cards for jpegs (21MB), the latter to share en route. 10,000 shots, and the editing/selection marathon has just started.

As before, I am absolutely thrilled by this system. The monopod makes it easy for me to be out with the camera from 6am to 5pm (with breaks) and I can easily walk 10km with the system. I do a little processing on shared images en route, and a few examples are attached here.

I'd like to ask some opinions -
Would you feel safe, travelling with just one, long lens? I did find myself saying 'the damn bird is too close on a few occasions!). Am I crazy carrying all this gear that I never use?

I have decided I'm fine carrying this system (£££ or $$$) atop a monopod thrown over my shoulder. Am I mad? Can you recommend a decent monopod that would be a suitable replacement for my existing Velbon, now in demise?

Some images - the last two to show croppability, even with jpeg output. It is quite a system.
Original at ISO 6400. Also one of yours truly in pursuit of a tody motmot. (didn't get a great shot!).

So, I still have no regrets.

Sony: I doubt you are listening, but I'd really like, in the next generation:

• No additional pixels, or even fewer, but please give me better noise performance so I can shoot routinely at ISO 6400 with a big crop!
• A smaller focus point (surely this is possible) or AI that finds the bird in a jungle thicket! (Eye Af works brilliantly, btw)
• Depending on bird/background, I find myself riding the +/- EXP dial - be nice to have the ability to assign, say, C1 to +1 stop and C3 to minus 1 stop

All that being said, I appreciate that birders have specific needs, and do not reflect the majority. So, I'm not hopeful! But, I am still delighted with the system!

Next trip is birding/'mammalling'? in Namibia. I'll def take a second lens there, and might even rent a second A1 for the trip. Poss the 70-200 for mammals, the 600 for birds

Rob

 

[iamdlewis]

Costa Rica is on my list to get to in the next couple years. I started off my birding trips taking more gear then I would use as well. My travel kit is now my two bodies, two long lenses the 24-105 and a small cleaning kit. I think if you use Topaz DeNoise those images will look fine.

Just to add to the Sony wish list I want them to get rid of the Frame Rate dial or add an additional setting for controlling via electronic settings.

 

[Geo C]

I'm going for a 2 week trip at the end of November into December so am interest din any comments. Plan to take my A1 + A7RV + 200-600 plus TC + 70-200 + 24-105 + 14mm. Birds and animals are the main targets but also scenery hence the last 2 lenses. Hoping my wife might carry the 7RV with lens for general pics.

 

[Astacus]

We're already planning a return trip next year! Because we went with an incredibly active and enthusiastic guide, we had very little time for any other sort of pictures - the iphones were all we used- But, we tend to be bird specialists, so less of an issue. I had a few hours where I could use the 70-200+1.4, or the 200-600. I have to say, both performed well, but in both circumstances, there was plenty of open light. Inside the forest, light could be a bit on the thin side! HAve a look at the metadata for the CR trip - note distribution of shutter speeds. Generally with a wide open aperture.

 

[Astacus]

Costa Rica is on my list to get to in the next couple years. I started off my birding trips taking more gear then I would use as well. My travel kit is now my two bodies, two long lenses the 24-105 and a small cleaning kit. I think if you use Topaz DeNoise those images will look fine.

Just to add to the Sony wish list I want them to get rid of the Frame Rate dial or add an additional setting for controlling via electronic settings.

I'm a bifgTopaz fan, but at 5pm, in the canopy, the images, esp if big crop, as birds often are, are irrecoverable ('record shots )

 

[Astacus]

I'm going for a 2 week trip at the end of November into December so am interest din any comments. Plan to take my A1 + A7RV + 200-600 plus TC + 70-200 + 24-105 + 14mm. Birds and animals are the main targets but also scenery hence the last 2 lenses. Hoping my wife might carry the 7RV with lens for general pics.

Many places have good light, so you should be fine - what is your itinerary. Ours was as attached...

 

[Geo C]

Many places have good light, so you should be fine - what is your itinerary. Ours was as attached...

This is our route. Has a variety of habitats. Finish with 4 days on the Osa Peninsula.