brimull
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: On
|
I guess there's a cost benefit analysis to carrying a REALLY heavy lens when there is lots of hiking involved, whether male or female. Biology still matters and males generally (not always) have far superior upper body strength. Yet, I agree conditioning and the more intangible "motivation" are more important factors regarding the level of discomfort one perceives and is willing to endure. Even the big lenses aren't really heavy in the sense of requiring great, raw power. I've found that even when well-conditioned, both in cardiovascular fitness and strength, lugging and hand-holding big lenses over long distances can aggravate underlying issues that almost everyone has, e.g., arthritis, carpal tunnel, blown rotator cuffs, lower back and neck stiffness, strained tendons or ligaments at joints, tight hamstrings, etc., etc.
And as MOST of us already know, these niggling issues get worse as we get older!
Brian M.
|
why, a lady holding long gear...of course 
) and finding my arms and shoulders not liking the amount of handheld panning I was doing I take my hat off to anyone who can wield one of those lenses handheld for any length of time