It's All Happening At The Zoo (2 Viewers)

[Scott Merryfield]

Nice, Carlo. That lens gets rave reviews, and most consider it Canon's best zoom lens. If it wasn't for the size and cost, I would upgrade my f/4 IS version (which is also stellar).
We have a wedding this weekend, too. I plan on trying out the 5D3 with the 135mm f/2 L.

 

[Sam Posten]

Nice! I bought the VR II equivalent 3 weeks ago and am loving it. I have use for both it and the lighter 70-300, both have their strengths.

 

[Scott Merryfield]

We visited the Detroit Zoo this morning. Here are a few more samples using the Canon 5D3:

 

[Ed Moxley]

Some nice zoo pics.............. I like the tiger. I'm a cat lover.
Is that first pic a red panda? And the last pic a badger? Is the Detroit Zoo pretty big?

 

[Cees Alons]

With shots like that you guys are actually killing someone who's camera recently "disappeared", and you're turning the knife.


Cees

 

[Scott Merryfield]

Some nice zoo pics.............. I like the tiger. I'm a cat lover.
Is that first pic a red panda? And the last pic a badger? Is the Detroit Zoo pretty big?

Ed,
Yes, the first pic is a red panda. We visit the zoo quite often, and this is the first time either of the two red pandas have been moving around -- they are usually hiding up in the trees. This time they were both moving around. It was quite a treat.
The last shot is a wolverine -- you just know a zoo in Michigan has to have one. He's usually quite active when we visit.
Our new favorite to watch are the three new grizzly cubs. They've been playing both times we've visited since their arrival last winter, and the volunteer there says it's a common occurrence throughout the day..
The Detroit Zoo is pretty decent size. The Zoo is not actually in Detroit, but is located in a northern suburb. It's on 125 acres, and is home to more than 3,300 animals of 280 species (according to their website). They have done a lot of work on the habitats over the years to make them natural-looking and viewer-friendly. The Arctic Life, Outback Adventure, and Lion exhibits are all quite unique. They could use a new penguin house, though, as it has not been touched since it was built, probably around 40 years ago.

With shots like that you guys are actually killing someone who's camera recently "disappeared", and you're turning the knife. 
Cees

Thanks, Cees. The more I use this new Canon 5D3, the tougher it's going to be for me to use my 7D for wildlife when I take two cameras on some of our trips. The detail I'm getting on the shots, as well as the low noise when using high ISO, amazes me.

 

[Scott Merryfield]

Ed,
Since you like cats, here are a couple from the new lion exhibit. It is a great exhibit for viewing the lions, but quite tough to photograph, as there is glass separating the cats from the patrons. It is difficult to get shots without reflections when the sun is out. The second shot was with a polarizing filter, and even it wouldn't eliminate all the reflections. On the second shot, the lioness is actually laying right next to the glass, to give you an idea of how close they can be. Warming rocks were placed in a few spots right next to the glass to entice the cats to lay near the visitors.

 

[Ed Moxley]

Nice............ they just look like over-grown house cats.

 

[dmiller68]

Nice pictures!!

 

[Sam Posten]

Love those, is that first one a Red Panda?

 

[Scott Merryfield]

Love those, is that first one a Red Panda?

Thanks. Yes, the first shot is a red panda. This is the first time they've not been hiding in the trees when we visited. It was a real treat.
Here are a couple more.

 

[dmiller68]

Yeah they are always hiding when I go to our Zoo great shots.

 

[Mike Frezon]

All these great pictures got me to ask my wife if we want to make a trip to the Bronx Zoo this summer. We haven't been in years (when the kids were little). It's a few hours away.

But now I want to go just to take some pictures!

 

[Sam Posten]

Awesome, thanks!
Never been to the Bronx Zoo, hear it is great tho!

 

[Scott Merryfield]

All these great pictures got me to ask my wife if we want to make a trip to the Bronx Zoo this summer.  We haven't been in years (when the kids were little).  It's a few hours away.
But now I want to go just to take some pictures! 

Zoos are a really fun place to photograph, Mike. My wife and I bought a zoo membership last year and had so much fun that we renewed it for another year. I love taking wildlife photos, and there's not much interesting wildlife around here so this scratches my itch between real wildlife trips.
In our case, the Detroit Zoo is not that far of a trip -- about 30 minutes during light weekend morning traffic, freeway the entire way. If we get there when they open, it's usually not crowded, and we can spend 2-3 hours walking around and get out before the afternoon crowds hit.

 

[Citizen87645]

Red pandas are my favorite, and now that I know there are some a little closer to me than San Diego, I might try to take more photos of them. Being nocturnal creatures, they are hard to capture during the normal zoo operating hours, but I got fairly lucky on my first day. I went back the next day hoping to get more, but they chose to ignore me and sleep away.

San Diego also made some marked improvements in the red panda enclosure. Previously they were in wire mesh cages and it was difficult to get a decent shot of them. The new environment is much more open now. I kinda wish I'd brought my telephoto zoom, but after several days on my feet, my back is thanking me.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ygx/7155197595/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ygx/7340400542/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ygx/7340400266/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ygx/7340400180/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ygx/7155197655/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ygx/7155197555/

Generally, I'm less interested in the pandas, but they were in rare form that day too. The posture in the second one is one most of us HT nuts are pretty accustomed to.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ygx/7340400434/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ygx/7155197307/

 

[Scott Merryfield]

Nice shots, Cameron. I'm glad to find so many red panda fans here at HTF!
I think the difference in our seeing the red pandas this time was we got to their exhibit earlier this time, and it was cooler that morning. They probably had not climbed up into the trees yet to sleep.

 

[Scott Merryfield]

One last photo from the weekend visit. I liked the way the pattern on the rock in the background complemented the tiger.

 

[Sam Posten]

Sweet! :tu:

 

[Cees Alons]

Scott,

That was exactly my thought, even before I read your own comment.
You chose the moment to open the shutter quite well!

Very nice picture.


Cees