Craig Gillette Online Upload & Sell: Off
|
mdnoll34 wrote:
Following this thread. On say a week-long trip, do folks prefer to carry a monopod, tripod, or both? I am coming from the sony 70-350 which weighs under a pound and is easily handheld all day. I don't think I can do that any more with this lens.
I'd think it just really depends on the circumstances. I have a decent monopod that I only use infrequently - with anything. I have as yet to decide which head I might use on it with the 200-600. I've also used a rather large ballhead with it dropped into the side "gimbal" slot with some success. Heavily damped pan so high motion subjects might be a problem.
First suggestion: Replace the stock foot with a longer after market foot (I went with Kirk's) or attach a longer qr plate which can allow you to achieve a balanced mounting point. A balanced camera/lens really helps with control and use of any sort of support.
Second suggestion: It's heavy. It's worth spending some time with it freehand and/or exercising with it, so to speak, to build up flexibility and strength for when a monopod or tripod doesn't work out.
In one day on a trip to the California Central coast I used it propped on a fence - monopod or legs together tripod would have worked, too, on a tripod bay side for otters and bobbing around on a boat on a whale watch where it was a bit of a struggle to stay wedged in position to have two hands free to deal with the camera and often it was camera down, two hands holding on.
A tripod has the most stability and support but might have some problems in high or low angles. A monopod can be very good about handling at least some of the weight but it doesn't hold itself up.
Handheld is the ultimate in flexibility and ease of moving around but can be draining.
|