Birding Outing to Sg. Congkak with Leofoto Ranger LS-324CEX

9/9/2019

Taking advantage of the public holiday today, I went to Sg. Congkak forest reserve for the first time with several other bird photographers. We gathered up at a nasi lemak stall at Pekan Batu 18 at 7:30am before proceeding to the shooting location by 8:00am.

From 8:30am until 12:00noon, I only managed to capture the Rufous-backed kingfisher ("RBKF"), Grey-headed babbler and Horsfield's babbler. Here, I used the SONY a7RIII with the SEL100400GM and SEL14TC. The main star, the Blue-eared Kingfisher ("BEKF") didn't show up, despite of having fish bait and the bird call on speaker. No luck this time.

As for the RBKF, I have the opportunity to try out the new SONY a6600 with the SEL100400GM and SEL14TC. My first impression using the SONY a6600 is focusing is dead-on with the real-time tracking, noise handling is better than the SONY a6400 (in post), the grip handling is superb, thanks to the NP-FZ1000 battery! Can't wait to get my hands on the a6600 to replace my SONY a6400.

Patiently waiting for the Blue-eared kingfisher to appear. It never came.

Name: Grey-headed babbler
Scientific: Stachyris poliocephala
Family: Timaliidae
Gear: a7RIII + SEL100400GM + SEL14TC
EXIF: 840mm (APSC mode), f/8.0, 1/30, ISO 3200, on Leofoto LS-324CEX tripod + Leofoto BV-10 fluid head + Leofoto LS-200 lens support.

Name: Horsfield's babbler
Scientific: Malacocincla sepiaria
Family: Pellorneidae
Gear: a7RIII + SEL100400GM + SEL14TC
EXIF: 560mm, f/8.0, 1/320, ISO 6400, on Leofoto LS-324CEX tripod + Leofoto BV-10 fluid head + Leofoto LS-200 lens support.

Name: Horsfield's babbler
Scientific: Malacocincla sepiaria
Family: Pellorneidae
Gear: a7RIII + SEL100400GM + SEL14TC
EXIF: 560mm, f/8.0, 1/250, ISO 6400, on Leofoto LS-324CEX tripod + Leofoto BV-10 fluid head + Leofoto LS-200 lens support.

Name: Rufous-backed kingfisher
Scientific: Ceyx rufidorsa
Family: Alcedinidae
Gear: a6600 + SEL100400GM + SEL14TC
EXIF: 840mm, f/5.6, 1/320, ISO 1600, on Leofoto LS-324CEX tripod + Leofoto BV-10 fluid head + Leofoto LS-200 lens support.

Name: Rufous-backed kingfisher
Scientific: Ceyx rufidorsa
Family: Alcedinidae
Gear: a7RIII + SEL100400GM + SEL14TC
EXIF: 840mm (APSC mode), f/8.0, 1/40, ISO 1600, on Leofoto LS-324CEX tripod + Leofoto BV-10 fluid head + Leofoto LS-200 lens support.

Leofoto Ranger LS-324CEX

During this outing, I used the Leofoto Ranger LS-324CEX tripod. This tripod really comes in handy especially when shooting on an uneven ground surface. Thanks to the a built-in leveling base, getting my Leofoto BV-10 video head to be level is so easy, by adjusting the leveling knob. This tripod is really a game-changer since one doesn't need to purchase additional leveling base for one's tripod. It's one-of-a-kind and not present in tripods way more expensive than the LS-324CEX. The tripod should be available in Malaysia in one-month's time.