Bought a 300mm F2.8 VR-any tips on shooting it?

[rooster32]

Well...I came across a really good deal on a 300mm f2.8 VR that the owner had bought at the end of January, but had to sell due to hardship. Too good to pass up so I jumped on it.

So...any tips on shooting this lens? The biggest lens I had prior is a 70-200 f2.8 VR.

I also bought a Gitzo 3530S and RRS BH-55 to hold it in place. Should this work or will I be wanting a side kick or some kind of gimbel (I have no clue about these).

Also think about getting a lens coat to protect it while shooting critters.

Any suggestions, hints or comments welcomed!

Thanks!

 

[kwork]

You will hurt yourself carrying that heavy lens around.
Save yourself the agony and give it to me. :biggrin:

 

[adrianaitken]

Unless you really hate it, I personally would 'shoot with it' :smile:

 

[rooster32]

OK...so if it's too heavy, I know who to ship it to and I now know to shoot with it and not at it:biggrin:

I already ordered a RRS plate for the lens. Wasn't sure if the extra $40 was worth replacing the entire foot.

Has anyone used the Kirk strap with the quick release attachment to carry the lens/camera?

My gitzo 3530S should be arriving today via the brown truck.

Thanks!

 

[chuckkl]

Hi:

Upon my return from our Arizona vacation, where I used my Bigma with the D200...

..... I picked up my pre-ordered AF-S VR 300MM F2.8G ED-IF AND tc17e II
from my local camera store...

... a few days later my package came from Really Right Stuff:

.... Manfrotto swivel head, RRS Pro clamp and a replacement lens collar foot for the 300vr

... have been using these attachments for 2 days only on my velbon carbon fiber monopod.

.... the setup is great for bird photography... i mean following the little guys flitting around in the trees...

... have only shot with the t.c. attached .... at iso 320 and wide open at f4.8


,..... i snapped a yellow-rumped warbler up in a tree at a fair distance
and some ring-necked duck about 100 plus yards away

** even with the teleconverter... i am so far very pleased with my purchase

... i also have a c.f. manfrotto tripod but have not used it yet with the 300 vr, since i currently want to be very mobile , during the warbler migration.

... soon as i get a chance to do the larger marsh birds, i will try the lens alone

*** i found the af to be so quick, that it worked faster than my brain...lol

... as far as the vr , is concerned... it is so good... that at first i had to check back with the store , wondering if it wasn't operating

,,, the combo rocks !

Chuck / Montreal / Canada.

 

[Chris_B]

Chuck - can you post some of your shots?

 

[chuckkl]

Hi Chris b:

Love to show the few i have just taken with the 300vr

... but they are not on any site... i do not use smugmug or pbase

... i can email to anyone who want to see them

... contact me: chuckk@videotron.ca

...... ch