What’s In My Bag? Costa Rica Edition

September 18, 2019 by Steve Perry | 56 Comments

Here it is! I’ve had a TON of requests over the years for a “What’s in my bag” video. The trouble is, what’s in my bag varies by location. So, I decided to start with the wildlife kit I use when I’m in Costa Rica. However, this is also a …

Posted in Nikon Gear, Travel Tips, Using Your Gear

The “Secret” To Locating The Hard-To-Find Gear You Want

August 27, 2019 by Steve Perry | 31 Comments

So, I talk to a LOT of people who are excited about Nikon’s new products (although this post applies to any manufacturer) but there’s often an issue with availability.

In fact, I get e-mails and comments on a regular basis from people asking if I know anything about a particular …

Posted in Misc, Nikon Gear, Opinions

Finding Your Subject With A Long Lens

August 24, 2019 by Steve Perry | 44 Comments

One of the most common problems I observe while in the field – and during my workshops – is when someone can’t find the subject in their viewfinder while using a telephoto lens. Nothing’s quite as cringeworthy as watching a photographer flail around with their glass in a desperate attempt …

Posted in Techniques, Using Your Gear, Wildlife

How To Back Up Nikon Camera Settings

August 10, 2019 by Steve Perry | 28 Comments

Stuff happens.

You send your camera in for repair and it comes back reset to factory defaults. You mess around in the menus, things get out of hand, and you can’t get back to the way things were. You get a second identical body and want a quick way to …

Posted in Nikon Gear, Using Your Gear

The “False Positive” Autofocus Trap

July 9, 2019 by Steve Perry | 27 Comments

Have you ever faced a low light or low contrast subject and discovered that, despite the viewfinder showing a confirmed AF lock, the camera actually missed critical focus?

If you answered yes, then you’re certainly not alone. You fell victim to the “false positive” AF lock – and it can …

Posted in Techniques, Using Your Gear, Wildlife

All About Teleconverters (TCs)

June 25, 2019 by Steve Perry | 65 Comments

This time around I thought we’d take an in-depth look at teleconverters. Not just what they do – but how they work, how to get the best results, how they affect AF speed and accuracy, the best way to use them and more. Even if you think you know all …

Posted in Nikon Gear, Techniques, Using Your Gear, Wildlife

The Secret To Sharp Eyes & Better Compositions

June 15, 2019 by Steve Perry | 69 Comments

Psst…Wanna know the secret to getting consistently sharp eyeballs and better compositions with your wildlife photos? Use your AF points in conjunction with your composition.

One photographic faux pas I see regularly – even from more experienced pixel pushers – is improper AF positioning technique.

What the heck am I …

Posted in Techniques, Using Your Gear, Wildlife

Nikon Z Series Firmware Update & Recall

May 16, 2019 by Steve Perry | 22 Comments

Whew – it was a busy night for Nikon! The new Z series firmware (2.0) has been released. I’ve just updated my Z6 and Z7, but have not had the chance to test any of the new features yet – although on paper there does seem to be a lot …

Posted in Nikon Gear

How To Update Nikon Firmware

May 11, 2019 by Steve Perry | 39 Comments

So, there you are, casually browsing the latest camera news and you discover that Nikon has just released new firmware for your camera.

But the question is – do you update it yourself or send it in to Nikon for the update?

Well, save your packing tape for returning all …

Posted in Nikon Gear

7 Quick Tips For Wildlife Photographers

April 23, 2019 by Steve Perry | 73 Comments

This probably won’t come as a surprise to anyone who knows me, but as it turns out, I tend to have a lot of “random” little thoughts creep into my mind when I’m out doing wildlife photography. Some of these are actually pretty handy, others are just bizarre, and some …

Posted in Opinions, Techniques, Using Your Gear, Wildlife