Camera gear choices for Bosque

[Gene C. Callison]

I will be headed for Bosque sometime this month. I was wondering what would be the best choice(s) for lenses and bodies. I have a 500L F4 and 300 2.8L with TC converters as well as a Canon 1D4 and 7D. Would the 7D be a better choice to use with the 500 in typical shooting conditions or would the 1D4 with it's 1.3 crop be better or? I have a Gitzo 3 series and Wimberley 2. I would be curious to hear from others as to just what you use and recommend. Thanks for any help or suggestions.

Gene

[Joerg Rockenberger]

I'd say go long. That being said I had much better results this year with a 1DMkIV than a 7D last year - both in combination with a 500F4IS. Agree with Peter re a 70-200. And a wide angle can't hurt either although it has the least priority IMO. JR

[Doug Brown]

I'd bring both bodies (always good to have a backup), the 500, and your TC(s). You won't find the 300 to be at all useful. I do agree that a wide-angle lens and a 70-200 both come in handy. I have both a Mark IV and a 7D, but the 7D doesn't get much use.

[Gene C. Callison]

Thanks for the advice guys, exactly what I was looking for. I have a 70-200 II and a 17-40, I will pack those two. I will think of the 7D as a backup.

Gene

[Andy Goris]

Gene,
I just got back from Bosque (Nov 2010). I took a rented 500mm f/4 (awesome), 70-200(good for massive fly-offs), and 100-400mm. Most photographers at Bosque focus on the marshes and corn fields, and this is where most of the action is, but in the afternoon when things slow down, I saw many small birds while hiking the trail in the SW corner of the refuge. This loop circles frozen wetlands. In December you probably won't see anyone on the trail, and except for a few birds, there's nothing interesting about the trail. If starting in the morning, hike the loop clockwise for good lighting, ending on the boardwalk. If hiking late in the afternoon, start on the boardwalk and hike counterclockwise.

The two hiking loops on the East side of the refuge that go near the Rio Grande were closed.

I've started posting my Bosque pictures at:

http://acgoris.smugmug.com/Birds/Bosque-2010

The pictures between IMG_8681 and IMB_8745 we all taken on the hiking loop with my 100-400mm.