As you may know, I’ve been struggling with my giant bird and nature lens – a whopping 100-400 mm that weighs a ton. I’m no good with tripods, and I need to move the camera faster. I must hold it firmly and wait for something to fly into it.
So I have to take time and a lot of patience; I have little of either. I could fall over dragging that lens around, but I’m stubborn about my photography; perhaps I will become more patient.
I’m figuring it out because photography has taught me not to quit.
I sat for 45 minutes with Zip this afternoon, holding the lens until my arms ached. I didn’t realize I’d caught a shot (above) that I loved and another that I liked a lot. I could see them more clearly on the computer. This is encouraging; I won’t quit on it. The lens, for all of its weight, is a wonderful lens.
The second bird is below. The focus on these shots is a killer with such a big lens.
Hi Jon
María could fix up a blind for you where you could sit near your chosen location. Inside the blind would be a makeshift shelf or support (even a step ladder would work as a prop for the camera/lens). That way you are hidden but have a way to get closer and not fatigue from the weight. It also stabilizes the camera. It works for me. I hide behind a drape with an opening to poke the lens through and have gotten amazing shots. Mine lens is 70-300.
Thanks, Debbie, that’s not going to happen, but it’s a neat idea…I’ll figure it out. They aren’t running away.
I can sympathize…have a 150-600 mm and rarely use it because of the weight! These are two nice shots!
I’ve often gone on birding trips with people who use these big lenses. I have admired their stamina! I get tired just holding my binoculars, which are much lighter and hang around my neck a lot of the time.
I have a friend with a lens so large he has to haul it in a wheelbarrow