Costa Rica Photography Equipment
by
Adrian Hepworth

Cameras

If you are bringing a new camera with you please read the manual well and take some practice shots before the tour begins. It would be very frustrating to be flipping through the manual as monkeys swing by!

In case you are considering buying a new camera, we recommend you browse the Internet for sites that have equipment reviews posted by consumers. One example is www.fredmiranda.com. Should you have any specific questions about equipment and its usefulness on this tour please feel free to contact Adrian Hepworth at adrian@hepworthimages.com.

Older cameras that haven’t been used for some time ought to be tested thoroughly before the trip. We regrettably cannot replace any malfunctioning equipment on the tour.

Camera Cable Release

This cable has a shutter button at one end and plugs or screws into your camera at the other.  It allows you to take photographs without touching the body of the camera, which otherwise causes camera shake at low shutter speeds. Because we often work with low shutter speeds in the rainforest this item is highly recommended.

Lenses

Note: If your digital camera causes focal length multiplication this should be taken into account when choosing lenses (e.g. a 28mm lens on a Canon 50D becomes a 45mm lens).

Lens and camera cleaning equipment will be required.

The amount of equipment that you bring is entirely your decision; even though all of the previously mentioned lenses are very useful they are not essential to participate in our tour. Please remember that we will be doing most of our photography on foot and you will be carrying all your own equipment with you.

Filters

A circular polarizing filter will be very useful on our trip to cope with strong sunlight and the reflections from wet vegetation.The majority of animal photographs taken under the canopy require some degree of flash.  A medium or large flashgun is therefore considered essential. 

Flash

To achieve extra flash distance you may want to consider buying a flash extender (sometimes called ‘Project-a-Flash’ or ‘Better Beamer’).  This is a very simple and cheap plastic lens that fits on the end of your flashgun and magnifies its output by up to 3 stops.  This can be extremely useful when photographing animals in trees with a telephoto lens.  There are several different models available that can be purchased on the Internet.

For those who enjoy macro photography, one or two bracket-mounted / or a hand-held flashgun with an off-camera cord are the best set ups if flash is required.  A plastic diffuser or mini softbox diffuser can help to soften the light from your flash.  A flashgun mounted on the camera’s hot shoe will not provide the correct lighting for very close subjects.

Tripod

Limited natural light is probably the biggest challenge when photographing wildlife in the rainforest.  In some cases slow shutter speeds are unavoidable and this makes it very difficult to obtain sharp images with a hand-held camera, even with an image stabilizer.  In addition, once you have an animal in your viewfinder you often have to wait for the pose or behavior that interests you; by supporting the camera on a tripod your arms won’t get tired.

A sturdy but relatively lightweight tripod with an easily maneuverable head is recommended.  The head needs to be strong enough to hold your camera and telephoto lens perfectly still while pointing 45 degrees upwards.

Memory Cards

Memory cards are the digital equivalent of film and are available in different formats (e.g. compact flash, smart media, memory stick) and sizes (e.g., 2GB, 4GB).

• Check which card format(s) are compatible with your camera before making a purchase.
• Decide what size image you will be taking with your camera on our tour and then choose a memory card size that allows you to take at least 40 or 50 photos before the card is full and needs changing.
• Bring enough memory cards to hold all of the photos that you think you will take (be generous in your estimate!) OR bring several cards and a portable digital storage hard drive.
• Read carefully the instructions of how to care for your memory cards i.e. avoid dropping them, getting them wet or exposing them to magnetic fields.

Digital Storage Devices

Laptop computers and portable digital storage hard drives enable you to download and save photographs from your camera’s memory card during the trip.  They provide a back up should anything happen to your cards. 

Laptops have the obvious added advantage of allowing you to view your images on a big screen and to show them to others in the group.

Portable digital storage hard drives are roughly the size of a calculator and can be carried with you during the day as we photograph.

Don’t forget to bring the relevant cables for your hardware!

Batteries

We recommend that you bring rechargeable batteries for your cameras and flashguns as this reduces the amount of garbage.  Costa Rica operates on 110 volts AC and all batteries can be recharged at night in the hotel.

Camera Bag(s)

We recommend camera bags that:

• Are comfortable enough to carry for several hours at a time.
• Store all of your field equipment in an ordered manner.
• Allow you to take out and put away equipment quickly and safely.
• Are padded to help protect your equipment from knocks and (to some extent) water.

Bags and pouches that strap around your waist can be very convenient and comfortable.  Backpacks may be more spacious and somewhat comfortable but you have to remove them to take things out.  Shoulder bags can be accessed more easily but can put a strain on your back when walking for some time.

Miscellaneous Equipment

• Camera bag(s)
• Plastic rain cape for camera and lens.
• Water bottle and water bottle holder / harness for when walking.
• Umbrella or waterproof cape for yourself and your bag.
• Plastic zip lock bags for extra waterproofing of equipment inside your bags.
• Walking boots / shoes with a good grip.  Gore-Tex material helps keep your feet dry.
• Thin, cotton socks.
• An extra pair of ‘dry’ footwear for evenings.
• Thin cotton pants and medium length cotton shorts – side pockets can be useful in the field.
• Cotton T-shirts, polo shirts and/or other thin shirts.  Long-sleeves can help protect against insects instead of using repellent.
• WARM CLOTHING for our stay in Savegre Mountain Hotel on the Coast to Coast expedition and Peace Lodge on the Clouds to Coast expedition.
• Insect repellent
• Head torch
• Sunhat
• Sunglasses
• Sun block
• Bathing suit.
• Travel Alarm Clock.
• Prescription medicines as required.