By Jim Zuckerman
For 25 years I used a medium format camera to photograph everything, including wildlife and birds. The longest lens available for the Mamiya RZ 67 II is a 500mm, which is the equivalent of a 280mm telephoto in the 35mm (or digital) format. Photographing birds was, indeed, an exercise in extreme frustration because I just couldn’t get close enough. There were times when I found a situation (often in captivity, but not always) where my medium format system could get a frame-filling shot, but that didn’t happen often.
Most serious bird photographers use a 600mm f/4 super-telephoto In deciding which long lens to buy, I debated between the 400 f/2.8, the 500 f/4, and the 600mm f/4 monster. I actually debated with myself for months, finally settling on the 500mm. I felt this was a compromise between many factors, not the least of which was dealing with air travel. In many planes, the 600mm just won’t fit in the overhead compartment. I’d be forced to check it in the belly of the plane, and although I knew I could protect it from damage (and insure it from loss), the issue was this: What happens if I’m going to Kenya but my lens ends up in Berlin? Answer – I wouldn’t have the use of the lens on safari.
With the 500mm, I can carry it on-board in a soft case with handles and it fits perfectly. The three photos you see here were taken in Florida last week. The egret and the woodstork were taken with the 500mm f/4 lens alone, while the red-winged black bird was taken with the 500mm plus a 2X teleconverter. Flying down to Florida was stress-free because I could carry onboard my lens plus all my camera equipment, and even if my clothes got lost I knew I had the essentials with me.
[There is one space left on my photo tour to Kenya departing Sept. 25 this year. Also, there are a few spaces left on my workshop in Lucerne, Switzerland in July. If you are interested in joining me for either of these events, please contact me at photos@jimzuckerman.com]
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