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I've ordered the 100-400 IS, now what?

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Fred Kenney

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I'll be using the 100-400 IS for wildlife on my Dig. Rebel. I would be interested in how others use this lens. Hand held, monopod, tripod etc. Special brackets used or flash etc. I have a monopod and a tripod but the heads are pretty light. What do you think I need to use this lens effectively. Thanks.

Regards, Fred
http://www.pbase.com/floridafred
 
I take off the tripod mount to lighten it a little. I bought it for soccer, but often use it for portraits. -Bruce
 
Maybe I'm not very steady, but I get better results with my zoo shots using a monopod instead of handholding.
 
Congratulations Fred,

I have a monopod that I use when in a situation in which lifting the lens would spook a bird or animal from coming close, like keeping it pointed at a hummingbird feeder in wait. Otherwise I've always used it hand-held - the IS works great for lower light situations. Don't even have a tripod that could support it.

Hope you enjoy it as much as I do mine! Lots of 100-400L wildlife samples in my galleries.

--
Gene - Walk softly and carry a big lens

Please visit my galleries at: http://www.pbase.com/gaocus/

 
I hand hold when ever possible but I always try to use the old 1/focallength rule also. That coupled with the IS makes good photos.

Any tripod head that will keep the camera from falling will be OK I would think. Although the 100-400 is heavy it is not all that heavy. Even if things are bouncing around it is still probably steadier than hand holding.

The cream of the crop of ball heads is the Arca Swiss B1. Others are probably just as good and cost less. Look at the nature forums on Photo.net for some ideas of what works.

--
Ben Lanterman

http://public.fotki.com/benlanterman/
http://webpages.charter.net/benlanterman/Index.html
http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=208093
 
I really only mount it when im using a 2x TC, otherwise the 100-400 is my handheld portable wildlife lens.

Even when i get a supertele which will need a Wimbly head, the 100-400L is going to remain as my "i can only take one lens" lens.

Funny how what some consider small and compact others consider to be big and heavy

http://www.pbase.com/bigbad
 
I usually use the lens handheld or on a monopod; with this lens the benefit of IS is with those methods. If I am going to the trouble of hauling a tripod it is because I am using a heavy lens (400 f/2.8). With these two lens options, I never consider the 100-400 as heavy; carrying it is a relief.
 
Agreed. After one week testing Bigma 50-500, I switched to this 100-400L and it is good relief. I used to shoot handheld and my arms were not strong enough so this was the main reason for choosing 100-400L instead of Bigma. The only time I needed a tripod was once I wanted to shoot the moon...
DaveCol said:
I usually use the lens handheld or on a monopod; with this lens the
benefit of IS is with those methods. If I am going to the trouble
of hauling a tripod it is because I am using a heavy lens (400
f/2.8). With these two lens options, I never consider the 100-400
as heavy; carrying it is a relief.
Click to expand...
--
Nguyen
 
I use this as my hand-held wildlife lens. I like it for flight shots both for the zoom and for the 2-way IS. Low light will challenge the AF. Last season, I used it as a companion to the 500/4. That made it my "light lens". It is light enough that I rarely bother to mount it on a tripod (I use the B-1 with a sidekick). Much of my wildlife shooting is done from a vehicle. For that, I keep a beanbag on the window. I find the push-pull zoom to be a challenge with the beanbag, so often just hold it anyway. It's a nice lens ... enjoy it.
Fred
 
check this out:
http://www.tripodhead.com/

it makes your camera/lens virtually weightless. it can handle lenses up to the 500/4. for the 400/2.8 or 600/4, the full wimberly head should be used. the advantage is that it mounts onto a ballhead. so by removing the sidekick, you can use the ballhead for other uses. the full wimberly mounts to the pod directly as a full time attachment. i use the sidekick and love it.
Fred
 
I just went out and checked your site. I like your work (custom cues) very much. As a former hobbyist woodworker and pool player, I appreciate your efforts and results.

I also checked out some of the shots you posted. You are in a great area of the country for wildlife. My folks live up near Daytona on the intracoastal. I was there in October and took several hundred handheld shots (all with the 100-400) during a few sunrises. Lots of osprey were out each morning, along with the usual variety of birds. One day the dolphins were putting on a show, with some feeding close to the dock, and others further out jumping completely out of the water. This lens was great for everything except the real early shots well before sunrise. I like flight and action shots, so I keep the IS set to mode 2. You are in a place that will offer many wonderful opportunities to challenge yourself and your equipment.
Fred
 
Fred Kenney said:
I'll be using the 100-400 IS for wildlife on my Dig. Rebel. I would
be interested in how others use this lens. Hand held, monopod,
tripod etc. Special brackets used or flash etc. I have a monopod
and a tripod but the heads are pretty light. What do you think I
need to use this lens effectively. Thanks.
Click to expand...
This is a great lens. Shoots well hand held outside in daylight. I have used a Flash X-tender adaptor on my 550EX flash with the 100-400 at 300 or more with GREAT success. The extender gives you +3 stops and throws the light from the flash out to your subject. If you are using a focal length less than 300mm not all of the frame will be covered with the "projected" light from the X-tended flash.

http://www.synvis.com/FlashXtender.htm

I also use the 100-400 on a tripod with my antique D60. I had one of those Manfrotto pistol grip ball head things. This is ok until you need to shoot at a high angle ..like to photograph the moon. Then the pistol grip ball head will slip with the weight.

Just today my Kirk BH-3 arrived. It works perfectly with the 100-400 and holds it rock solid in any position on my Manfrotto 3021BN legs. This is a qualiy ball head that does not cost as much as the ARCA....plus it is made in the good old US of A.

I was born in Palataka...BTW.

--
CDL

See Profile for gear stuff
 
I wouldnt base my decision simply off that one example. If i bought or sold a lens everytime i saw either a great or a terrible shot based on a lens comparison test id have to exchange my lens probably 10 times a day.

That particular test Ive always had a bit of reservations about. It shows the 400 prime to be a great deal better than the 100-400, however in alot of other test, the difference between a 100-400 and a 300/2.8 for example isnt quite that great even. To me that either means that the 400/5.6 must be as good or better than the 300/2.8 which i doubt or that the test isnt that accurate.

I do fully agree though that the 400 prime is a sharper lens. It is also a great deal lighter and more portable. Those can be as import as sharpness.

The main thing i would suggest you consider though is the lack of IS. no matter how sharp the prime may be, it is still only a 5.6 lens and a 5.6 lens at 400mm needs some pretty high shutter speed.

id say almost half my shots taken with my 100-400 are at no greater than 1/250th and thats at ISO800. Now i use it for wildlife and i dont know your needs but I quite often find myself shooting at 1/125 in any shot thats in the least bit of shade. having IS in that situation will far surpass nearly anyones abilities to handhold a non IS lens at 400mm on a regular basis. Basically with IS your pretty sure you will get a sharp shot and without it you may or may not. It depends on the user of course and your milage may vary.

than IS.

--
http://www.pbase.com/bigbad
 
Dennis Lathem said:
Fred Kenney said:
I'll be using the 100-400 IS for wildlife on my Dig. Rebel. I would
be interested in how others use this lens. Hand held, monopod,
tripod etc. Special brackets used or flash etc. I have a monopod
and a tripod but the heads are pretty light. What do you think I
need to use this lens effectively. Thanks.
Click to expand...
This is a great lens. Shoots well hand held outside in daylight.
I have used a Flash X-tender adaptor on my 550EX flash with the
100-400 at 300 or more with GREAT success. The extender gives you
+3 stops and throws the light from the flash out to your subject.
If you are using a focal length less than 300mm not all of the
frame will be covered with the "projected" light from the X-tended
flash.

http://www.synvis.com/FlashXtender.htm

I also use the 100-400 on a tripod with my antique D60. I had one
of those Manfrotto pistol grip ball head things. This is ok until
you need to shoot at a high angle ..like to photograph the moon.
Then the pistol grip ball head will slip with the weight.

Just today my Kirk BH-3 arrived. It works perfectly with the
100-400 and holds it rock solid in any position on my Manfrotto
3021BN legs. This is a qualiy ball head that does not cost as much
as the ARCA....plus it is made in the good old US of A.

I was born in Palataka...BTW.
Click to expand...
Thanks for all the information. I've picked up a lot here. Dennis, good info on the x tender. I see all the big lens guys use them out in the wetlands. Please provide some info on the Kirk BH3. Where to purchase etc. I'd like to take a look at it.

Regards, Fred
http://www.pbase.com/floridafred
 
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