Are you using it handheld? If yes, it is amazing how calm you are even you are exited about the new gear. (Looked at the shutter speed)
I'm actually planning to handhold that lens shooting BIF. I would love to put in on a nice 1,200 dollar tripod with a 400 dollar Gimbal head, but then I would be broke and would have no funds for emergencies, like a broken water heater or sumpin like that.No Michael, I didn't hand-hold the camera and lens. The D800 weighs about 400 pounds and the lens is at least 500 pounds.And, while I'm sure someone on here will tell of their handheld 500mm 200 yard shots, it won't be me.
Actually the lens is just a little over 5 pounds, and the D800 is 2 pounds, for a total of 7 pounds. While that doesn't sound like much, trying to hold that steady on target is more than I can handle.
I wonder if Charlie could manage it......
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For me, this is a tripod-use only, and even then I'll use a remote. I'm sure the VR is fine, but this is not a practical "walk-around" lens.
Get a 400mm f/5.6 with a TC-16a (modified) if worried about handholding.Great shots. I would really like to have a lens like that but the things I would want to shoot with a very long lens like this would be impractical to use a tripod with. Carrying the lens around plus the tripod would require me to hire an assistant. LOL I already have one photography project where I have to have someone with me to shoot and it is a pain to have to rely on someone to be with you when you shoot.
None of those are macro shots. Take a couple of 200 to 500 yard photos with a 20 element zoom and you'll appreciate the difficulty of obtaining super sharp images without a 500+mm prime.Maybe it's just me, or maybe I expect too much, but none of those shots are sharp. Based on the images in this thread it looks like a lens to avoid.
Maybe it's just me, or maybe I expect too much, but none of those shots are sharp. Based on the images in this thread it looks like a lens to avoid.
First of all you need practice shooting a long lens like this. I remember when I first got my 300mm it took a while to figure out nuances, technique and so forth.
You're right ........this was my first day out with the new lens.