Handheld vs. tripod with the Great Whites

[AlanF]

I'm completely in agreement as far as this idea having merit! I will be trying to come up with some ideas this winter and if I do I'll post. I have an upholstery machine so I can experiment quite a bit.

I like to brag how strong I am too but after refusing to put the 300 X2 down for several minutes because something exhilerating is about to happen, my arms have nearly collapsed.

Never the less, after a good season of shooting I, like AlanF, like my freedom too much to go to a pod unless there is a very compelling reason. And as much as I'd like more reach I simply won't be going heavier than 300. I wonder if we could fill our lenses with helium.

Actually I'm wondering what a 7D2 might achieve with my preferred light 300 X2 - any comment AlanF?

Jack

Jack
My own experience, which matches that of others, my 5D3 outperforms my 7D for bird photography for much of, but not all, the time, despite the the crop factor disadvantage. Some of that better performance is due to the far superior AF of the 5D3. If a 7DII with an AF performance equal to that of the 5DIII and a better sensor does appear, I will definitely buy one as it should come into its own when you get close to pixel-limited shots.
Alan

 

[M.ST]

I am only willing to handheld lenses up to the 300 2.8 II or 400 2.8 II.

The 500 and 600 mm lenses I use with a Monopod or Tripod. The 800 mm and the 1200 mm lens I only use with a heavy tripod.

I like to play with Cheetahs, but they don´t have enough humor to get stabilised. Good Photoshop job Canon.

The Cheetah IS and the Canon price builders are very innovative, but where are innovative new products (cameras and lenses) that can compete with the products from other brands?

Maybe we see next year the innovative white 1D X or 5D Mark III.

 

[Click]

Cheetah IS....now that's something I never thought I would ever see ;D

That's it !!, Cheetah IS, and for all those Canon Knockers saying Canon are no longer being innovative, Canon have brought "Cheetah IS" to the Market first, Take that Nikon !!! & Sony to.

;D ;D ;D

 

[mackguyver]

Jack
My own experience, which matches that of others, my 5D3 outperforms my 7D for bird photography for much of, but not all, the time, despite the the crop factor disadvantage. Some of that better performance is due to the far superior AF of the 5D3. If a 7DII with an AF performance equal to that of the 5DIII and a better sensor does appear, I will definitely buy one as it should come into its own when you get close to pixel-limited shots.
Alan

I couldn't agree more and after a couple of months of using the 5DIII and 7D side-by-side, I opted to keep my 5DII as a backup body and sell my 7D. No regrets.

 

[jhpeterson]

Using the Great Whites from boats and helicopters, I find the bandolier option a little scary, especially when things get bumpy!
I generally go hand-held, but sometimes use an Ergo-Rest reconfigured so it braces against the chest or shoulder. There's not much room up in the air for anything else.

 

[Vossie]

I am only willing to handheld lenses up to the 300 2.8 II or 400 2.8 II.

The 500 and 600 mm lenses I use with a Monopod or Tripod. The 800 mm and the 1200 mm lens I only use with a heavy tripod.

I like to play with Cheetahs, but they don´t have enough humor to get stabilised. Good Photoshop job Canon.

The Cheetah IS and the Canon price builders are very innovative, but where are innovative new products (cameras and lenses) that can compete with the products from other brands?

Maybe we see next year the innovative white 1D X or 5D Mark III.

Can you post a picture of your 1200mm rig on tripod? I would love to see it.

 

[WPJ]

I am only willing to handheld lenses up to the 300 2.8 II or 400 2.8 II.

The 500 and 600 mm lenses I use with a Monopod or Tripod. The 800 mm and the 1200 mm lens I only use with a heavy tripod.

I like to play with Cheetahs, but they don´t have enough humor to get stabilised. Good Photoshop job Canon.

The Cheetah IS and the Canon price builders are very innovative, but where are innovative new products (cameras and lenses) that can compete with the products from other brands?

Maybe we see next year the innovative white 1D X or 5D Mark III.

you have a 1200mm, can I ask how much you paid, and if you ever think of selling it ping me.

 

[Jack Douglas]

Thanks AlanF. I am now patiently (as opposed to others not enjoying what they've got as much as me) waiting to see what my second camera will be. Once the 7D2 is out (assuming), if that doesn't seem to offer what we hope, then I'll probably go 1Dx to get me the best AF and FPS. I'm convinced that I'm not quite getting with my 300 X2 what others are with their longer primes but the difference is not enough to phase me. In other words if I'm creative and persistent I can still compete to a fair degree.

I do have great admiration for those who pack the bigger lenses and of course great salivation when I see some of the shots they only can get, but at my age I won't be going there.

Jack

 

[JPAZ]

Hmm. The "cheetah IS" got me thinking. If this can lift a cat, then it can lift a 600 f/4.

 

[AlanF]

Thanks AlanF. I am now patiently (as opposed to others not enjoying what they've got as much as me) waiting to see what my second camera will be. Once the 7D2 is out (assuming), if that doesn't seem to offer what we hope, then I'll probably go 1Dx to get me the best AF and FPS. I'm convinced that I'm not quite getting with my 300 X2 what others are with their longer primes but the difference is not enough to phase me. In other words if I'm creative and persistent I can still compete to a fair degree.

I do have great admiration for those who pack the bigger lenses and of course great salivation when I see some of the shots they only can get, but at my age I won't be going there.

Jack

Jack
You don't have to be polite to those rich buggers with rippling biceps who scale Everest with a 600mm and 1Dx under one arm and a 500mm with 5DIII under the other in reserve.

 

[LetTheRightLensIn]

Nice! Monopod isn't enough?

monopods can get in the way

I know for sports, I much prefer to hand hold my 300 2.8, easier to track, especially for football and if going up and down sidelines too.

I wonder how much extra freedom the bandolier gives compared to a monopod.

 

[Eldar]

I wonder how much extra freedom the bandolier gives compared to a monopod.

The bandoleer does not work without a monopod. And its not meant to be used with a 300mm. Have you seen the picture at the beginning of the thread?

 

[Northstar]

Nice! Monopod isn't enough?

monopods can get in the way

I know for sports, I much prefer to hand hold my 300 2.8, easier to track, especially for football and if going up and down sidelines too.

Totally agree

 

[Vern]

Great idea Eldar. I often use my 600 w the monopod folded back and braced against my leg, but the bandolier would be much better - I'll have to track one down.

 

[Jack Douglas]

I am not sure because I haven't started to work on this yet but I'd be thinking along the lines of my hands holding the camer/lens with support in some way for my elbow(s) augmented by a modified neck strap. However, in my case I'd be working 300 X2 and only wanting a little extra help.

My limited time with the gimble had me constantly finding birds located at very awkward angles relative to how I was set up and I'd be pulling the lens off the tripod more than leaving it on, in frustration. However for more distant shots with more reach I can imagine this problem doesn't factor in??

Jack

 

[Jack Douglas]

Hmm. The "cheetah IS" got me thinking. If this can lift a cat, then it can lift a 600 f/4.

I'm surprised this got by the animal rights activists! Wonder if anyone has actually used helium assist - I've heard of a guy launching himself so ..... All you'd need is to pack an 80 cu ft cylinder along with you.

Jack

 

[eml58]

I wonder how much extra freedom the bandolier gives compared to a monopod.

The bandoleer does not work without a monopod. And its not meant to be used with a 300mm. Have you seen the picture at the beginning of the thread?

I do a reasonable amount of shooting from a Helicopter, doors off, when I'm on Safari, especially in the Okavango Delta area, the Bandolier is almost the perfect solution, alternative is simply hand holding, the Helicopter harness keeps you attached to the chopper when your standing out on the skid, but this makes it impossible to use the Monopod attached, I've tried a harness from the top door edge but it's restrictive even using a line that has a tension brake included (similar system to car seat belts) the Bandolier is an almost perfect solution in this situation, and light weight easy to pack.

Thanks Eldar.

 

[Nishi Drew]

According to a majority of white lens owners here in Japan, you apparently cannot be recognized past amateur level unless you use a giant tripod, from "big white" to a 70-300 with IS, even if what you're shooting absolutely doesn't need any such support, but you're willing to lug around an F/2.8 zoom all day but shoot at F/16 only... err....
Seriously it's insane, was just at a nice place for autumn leaves viewing and I lost count past 50 of people with the 70-200 series of lenses, mostly 70-200LII too, and few of them are any sort of pro, just part of a photo group/club. It was interesting to see that a majority of users are Canon here, and more Olympus/Panasonic mFT users than even Nikon.

 

[Jack Douglas]

Nishi Drew,

That's an eye opener! It's whatever makes you happy, and they look happy!!

New thread maybe? - psychology of photography. PhD thesis anyone?

I've often wondered if people (or creatures) watching me aren't getting a big laugh, but hey that'd be great in that I'd be contributing to the good of humanity (wildlife).

Jack

 

[LetTheRightLensIn]

I wonder how much extra freedom the bandolier gives compared to a monopod.

The bandoleer does not work without a monopod. And its not meant to be used with a 300mm. Have you seen the picture at the beginning of the thread?

Yeah but the monopod is not being used like a monopod here that is what I meant. Here it is just attached to you and you are not stuck messing with it on the ground.

And I was just using the 300 as an example of how hand-holding can be nice (plus, who is to say you couldn't use this with it if you were tired?).