atravelynn

The night vision photos from the H9 end up in black and white, almost dark green and white. It takes normal color photos. Wanted to clarify that.

It is not easy to accidentally be in the night vision mode. You have to flip a switch that moves hard and you can tell immediately in your viewfinder that you are in the night vision mode.

sevendown

OK, thanks. I think I am looking for a more compact camera for my niece. We have a Panasonic DMC-TZ3 that has a 10x zoom. We have been very happy with it and may give her that camera. Another option is the new Canon SX100 IS, which also has a 10x zoom, but does not appear as compact as the TZ3 we already have.

sevendown

OK, I went and looked at the Nikon 70-200 f2.8, and it's really nice. Also, it wasn't really as big or as heavy as I expected -- until I held it for a few minutes. Then it got heavy and I'm back to considering the monopod for that reason. There's no place to set down a camera in the jungle with the gorillas, so for the whole hour it would have to stay in my hands or around my neck.

I'm really considering it, but wish it was longer, so that I could get better use of it in Tanzania as well. In Tanzania, the light will probably be better and I'm thinking the 18-200 I already have will serve me as well in good light. I know I can use a teleconverter, but is it really necessary when I'm using a 10mp camera? I've heard less than favorable reviews of using teleconverters. If I do use a teleconverter, do any of you have recommendations? Should it be the Nikon 1.4x or the 2x? Or is another brand (e.g., Sigma) acceptable?

I'm leaning toward the 70-200, but it means buying more "stuff" such as more lens caps (no big deal), several more filters (bigger deal), and maybe the teleconverter (big deal depending on the brand). Each of these things add up and add to the overall complexity and weight of my camera bag/equipment.

You guys have great ideas. Got any more?

afrigalah

sevendown,

It should be easy to advise you but most photographers understand it's not that simple. It depends so much on the individual.

For example, you say the 70-200 wasn't as heavy as you expected, until you held it for a few minutes. My wife uses the Canon equivalent for basketball, and shoots hand-held (with arthritic hands) from the floor for a whole game. For sure, mountain climbing for gorillas is a whole different ballgame , but my example shows you have to learn from your own experience.

The same applies to teleconverters. I wouldn't use one with a zoom lens, not even the 70-200/2.8 (as my wife does for wildlife), but I do with a prime lens.

I use a monopod a lot, usually with my 300/2.8 and teleconverters while walking in the bush, but a mono is not for everybody. Mine is almost a third arm, but others I know find them a hindrance....mainly because they haven't practised and persevered with them.

I wouldn't use a third-party teleconverter because image quality is compromised even more. If you have Nikon lenses, use a Nikon teleconverter.

John

davgai1

I don't know yet how it will work out on my gorilla trek coming up in January. I am taking a Panasonic FZ -18, p&s with 18 optical zoom. I have been really pleased with my test results. It has a lens equivelency of 28-504... whatever that means.