Got a package today and just had to leave work early and give this a few clicks. Unfortunately, I could not get any critters to stay still long enough while handholding...Hopefully, this weekend I'll have more cooperation [attachment deleted by admin]
WOW! You know it's big and heavy when it comes with it's own shoulder strap! Can't wait to see the results.
Yeah...know those well. I'm usually surrounded by those when I'm out birding in the wetlands preserves down here with my 200-500 (which TO ME feels quite big and long, but next to those, looks petite!). The only thing that makes me feel a little better is that 3/4 of the people shooting with those have much more money than skill, and struggle to get good shots (of course, the other 1/4 of them are pulling off stunning shots I wish I could get!). By the way...do NOT drop the lens hood off that sucker into a mucky swamp. Side story: Last year I was shooting in the wetlands from an elevated boardwalk, and a woman beside me tracked after a duck running on the water. I was shooting the same subject and heard a splash rather close to me, and the duck took to the air and bolted. The lady had what appeared to be a much shorter lens than before, and a look of horror on her face like her child had just been eaten by an alligator. She was staring at some enlarging concentric rings in the water beneath her, trying to will herself to see through the 4 feet of water and 3 feet of muck to where her lens hood now rested - a toy for the alligators and fishes to play with. When I asked the obvious question, she confirmed it was her lens hood, and that this was the SECOND time it happened. This was in fact the reason in particular she was so upset...she had already discovered from the first time that those lens hoods run $600. FOR THE HOOD ONLY! My whole lens was only $800! For that kind of money, I might just have dove in.
The text of this message is green in order to communicate the degree of envy which I am now experiencing. I've got the comparatively humble 400 F5.6L myself. You know what's funny? Of course I want everything that that lens of yours offers. The wider aperture, the stabilization, and the extra 100mm of reach. But what I REALLY want... is a strap mount on the lens itself. Comparatively light weight as the 400 is compared to its beefier stablemates, it's still way too darned heavy to be hanging off of a camera that's being supported by a strap. I get unusual sore muscles trying to figure out a way to walk while holding that lens for long periods of time.
thanx everyone. It has been several years since I have shot with a 500 or 600 prime, since way back in my early early college years. I am really looking forward to using this mainly at Air Shows and the occassional critter hunt. Oddly, I did not find the lens to be overly heavy and I should be able to hand hold for a while when I need to, but will use a Wimberly Head II when I can. I agree that the hood is way overpriced, but what camera accessories are not? The hood is made out of Carbon Fiber and is really easy to assemble. The lady that dropped the hood most not have attached it correctly and yes I would have gotten wet to retrieve the hood from the water I think the 400 F/5.6 is a great lens too and just wished that it had IS. It has been years since Canon last updated this lens and I am surprised that they have not added that feature to it yet. I also find it really easy to hand hold and a barrel strap might be overkill for me, but I see how it could help carrying it. This weekend is going to be intense, as I have press credentials for the Tyndall AFB Airshow. If anyone is around let me know and I would love to meetup. Word has it one of the guys coming is bringing his 800 f/5.6. That lens is going to be insane to see, I can only imagine how anyone could hand hold that. It is almost as heavy as the 400 f/2.8 but the length of the barrel would make it a challange.
Wow, 500 for an air show?! That sounds like a lot of work, but fun! Congrats! If anyone is in the Indy area the 7th of June, Robert's Imaging will have it's 3rd annual air show pro day, complete with an area ON the flight line, and all the goodies you could want from Nikon, Canon, and Sony. For $70 (includes lunch and all the soft drink/water you want) the chance to test drive that much pro gear in one place is cheeeeeeep! Last year, Canon had everything from a 500 f4 down to their fish eyes, Nikon had 400 2.8's down to the 10.5 fish eye (and i honestly have no idea what Sony had, but they had a lot!). Oh, did I mention the Blue Angels will be there as well? http://www.robertsimaging.com/events.jsp
you can't handhold the 800, absolutely cannot be done and get anything worthwhile i use my 500 on a wimberly head with a gitzo 1325, and that's heavy enough without the 13 lbs of the 500, takes a lot of practice to get the breath control and technique down, but when you do, it's a real sharp lens, even with a 1.4 extender on it i've never even tried to handhold this lens for more than 1 shot, i've tried a couple beanbag/door edge truck shots, i too am hoping for some osprey shots this year, 2 new nests, much closer to the road, in town this year, plus my resident red tail pair have started a new nest out on the edge of our woodlot, do not know why they discarded their long time nest which was 50 feet in further and no clear shot with summer growth
Our Florida birds let you get pretty durn close. How close you ask? You can go birding around here with a 16mm fisheye! Handholding an 800mm sounds like quite the task...sorry, tripod for me! Even with the 200-500, I find the easiest and most comfortable way to carry the camera for longish walks is to mount it to the tripod, close the tripod legs together (leaving them fully extended), and sling the camera over my shoulder holding the tripod by the legs against my chest.
May have to move to FL if all the birds are that friendly...lol Today was miserable with all the rain and wind. Only got a few shots, but the lens is easily hand holdable. [attachment deleted by admin]
