Carrying your big zoom

[mart_d50]

Hi, I've been watching these forums with great interest and you all seem quite friendly enough so have decided to take the plunge and say hello !

I am new to DSLR having acquired a Nikon D50 with 18-70 kit lens in the last couple of weeks, and will be using that lens for general/holiday use and landscapes, but am seeking a good zoom lens for wildlife/birding photography, probably 400 or 500mm (thinks Nikkor or Sigma 80-400, or Bigma or little Bigma or Tamron 200-500); whilst I have researched all these lenses online I cannot bring yet myself to choose one; local shops do not have anything above 300mm (!) so haven't been able to try any....

so as a distraction I have currently been thinking about tripods/monopods, and wondered how most people who use them carry them around with their camera and a big heavy zoom (say you're at a reserve with several hides); is it possible to leave the lens & camera still attached to the monopod, and walk around etc. carrying the monopod with it all leaning against your shoulder, or would it stress the whole thing ?

thanks in advance

[rlchew]

Hello Mart_D50

A warm welcome to WAB .

I am sure you will get lots of advice on this one.

Purchasing is very expensive and carrying it all is very tiring .

For what it is worth, I have a short section on my website (see below) with details on my camera, lenses, tripod and camera pack. I am very pleased with all my purchases to date but then again I have had not had the opportunity to compare with other options.

In order to ease the financial pain, I have always used Warehouse Express. Apart from being very competitive on prices and excellent customer service, they also allow you to pay over 9 months.

I am still looking for a solution to the aching back and limbs carrying it all ....

Richard

[glsammy]

Hi mart_D50, Welcome to WAB.
I use a Caon 20D plus the 50-500mm Bigma. I use a Manfretto Mono-pod; I can't get on with tripods. The Bigma is a Heavy lens, but I can't say I've had much trouble with carrying it, either connected to the mono-pod or not. You can do as you say, leave it connected and angle the camera over your shoulder. One point, don't try this combo with a cheap tripod. I had a Jessops 330 before the Manfrotto, and the removable plate deformed under the weight of the camera and lens, and it would fall off when you least expected it to.
No such problem with the Manfrotto, it's a solid metal mount, with a beautiful slick quick release action. ( The quick release plate is extra.)
I'm no spring chicken, and I have a weak back, so if I can manage this combo I'm sure you can!

[Captain Kev]

Iya Mart
here's my two penneth worth to try to help you decide
I pondered over the decision of whether or not to buy a large Nikon lens (500 f4) or whether to buy a good quality smaller lens (300 F4) or (80-400 f4-6.3 zoom)
In the end I chose the Nikon 300 f4 for these reasons :

I could easily carry the 300 on long walks/treks in my backpack.
I could carry it with me as hand luggage at the airports.
The 300 was astronomically cheaper
If I needed further magnification I could just whack on a 1.4 or 2X teleconverter.
Less weight means more fun, too much weight too much of a burden.
I could hand hold the 300 if needed.

I've had this lens for 3 years now and never regretted the decision.

[paulthomas]

Mostly I use a monopod which i leave attached to the lens and have the whole lot suspended by the camera strap around my neck. The two permanent hides on my local reserve aren't well positioned for photography so I tend not to use them preferring to either stalk closer or use either a dome or a bag hide in which case I take the tripod as well. This can amount to a fair bit of kit to carry, especially when cycling to the reserve, so I always have a plan of what photos I want to go for and where I'm going to position the hide. It's just a case then of lugging the whole lot to the pre-determined spot, setting up and waiting.

[Wolfhill]

Hi Mart I like Kev use a Nikon 300mm lens and a 1.7x teleconverter. The weight is so much less than it would be with a 500mm lens. I always use it on a manfrotto mono-pod. I just bought a new mono-pod the other day for £50 and I've used it a couple of times and I can't complain. I have never had a camera fall off of the mono-pod before, but then on my mono-pod I have a specially designed head to spread out the weight of a large lens. So I don't know what it would be like without this type of head. Sorry I can't be of more help.
Fergus

[rlchew]

Originally Posted by Wolfhill

Hi Mart I like Kev use a Nikon 300mm lens and a 1.7x teleconverter. The weight is so much less than it would be with a 500mm lens. I always use it on a manfrotto mono-pod. I just bought a new mono-pod the other day for £50 and I've used it a couple of times and I can't complain. I have never had a camera fall off of the mono-pod before, but then on my mono-pod I have a specially designed head to spread out the weight of a large lens. So I don't know what it would be like without this type of head. Sorry I can't be of more help.
Fergus

Looking at the quality of your photos in the Gallery Fergus, I assumed that you got your Dad to lug all your kit around for you . You know, a kind of Everest sherpa over those Highland peaks .

Me, I sometimes end up breathless at my target and no wonder camera shake occurs .

Richard

[mart_d50]

thankyou all very much for the welcome and advice - it is invaluable !!

[mart_d50]

Originally Posted by glsammy

Hi mart_D50, Welcome to WAB.
I use a Caon 20D plus the 50-500mm Bigma. I use a Manfretto Mono-pod; I can't get on with tripods. The Bigma is a Heavy lens, but I can't say I've had much trouble with carrying it, either connected to the mono-pod or not. You can do as you say, leave it connected and angle the camera over your shoulder. One point, don't try this combo with a cheap tripod. I had a Jessops 330 before the Manfrotto, and the removable plate deformed under the weight of the camera and lens, and it would fall off when you least expected it to.
No such problem with the Manfrotto, it's a solid metal mount, with a beautiful slick quick release action. ( The quick release plate is extra.)
I'm no spring chicken, and I have a weak back, so if I can manage this combo I'm sure you can!

great - this is very good to know, because whilst I have a strong back my neck is weak from arthritis (I'll be blowed if I'll let it stop me tho) so it means I can't carry any weight from my neck at all

so I would like to go for a good quality yet light as possible manfrotto monopod, which leads me to another thought - what head should go on it ? pan&tilt ? ball head ? or is that just really for tripods ?

[mart_d50]

thanks for the suggestion of a prime 300 + TC - yet more food for thought !!!