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RF 100-400 for whales?

Started 1 month ago | Questions thread
Distinctly Average Senior Member • Posts: 2,527
Re: RF 100-400 for whales?
3

Ember88 wrote:

Would you take the RF 100-400 (non weather-sealed lens) on a whale watching trip in Maui?
I will be on a bigger boat I believe. (Not a RIB). Not being a common sea-goer, I’m wondering how the RF 100-400 will be on the R5, or if I should be more concerned about moisture…and thus bring the RF 100-500.
I do have the RF 100-500 weather-sealed lens, but am hesitating on packing the weight.

It all depends on the boat. If it is a two deck type you should be fine. However you should be prepared. I’ve photographed from loads of boats over the years and made all the mistakes going. I would certainly take the 100-500 but put the 100-400 in the bag too. Take a waterproof sack as they can be really useful. Use a lens coat if on the day there is risk of a soaking. Also worth bringing three plain filters and some cleaning wipes. I used to carry a water tight tub big enough to hold a couple of filters in. It would be filled with clean water, so when one filter was covered in salt spray I would swap to a clean one and drop the dirty one in the clean water. When shooting windsurfing from a RIB I used to carry 5 or six filters as they go covered very quickly, but I doubt you will have those kinds of issues.

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