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View Full Version : Nikon 200-400 for flight shots



Rene de Heer
02-24-2008, 12:56 PM
How useful would the 200-400 be for flight shots handheld? I have purchased this lens mainly to be used on a tripod with a fluid head. I have also been offered a 2.8/300 VR which i am happy to purchase but if i can get away with the 200-400 on its own then that would be even better.
Rene de Heer

Gyorgy Szimuly
02-24-2008, 02:17 PM
I am sure you can find many useful information about this lens in this thread (http://birdphotographers.net/forums/showthread.php?t=3658) :)
Szimi

peter delaney
02-24-2008, 02:25 PM
Rene

unless you have super human strenght.....dont even think about it...... your f2.8/ 300 is better lens to walk abouts with...

Alfred Forns
02-24-2008, 08:43 PM
Peter do the math The weight difference is one pound !!!!!

George DeCamp
02-24-2008, 08:56 PM
I use it for flight shots all the time. I guess it depends on how quick you are with it but with practice it is no problem!

Robert O'Toole
02-24-2008, 09:00 PM
How useful would the 200-400 be for flight shots handheld? I have purchased this lens mainly to be used on a tripod with a fluid head. I have also been offered a 2.8/300 VR which i am happy to purchase but if i can get away with the 200-400 on its own then that would be even better.
Rene de Heer


Rene,

As a 200-400 VR owner I can say that it works very well handheld for flight but I wouldnt say that it is ideal for this purpose or recommend that you buy this lens solely for this purpose.
I handhold the 2-4 VR all the time, I did so today, but I would always prefer to use this lens on a Gitzo and Mongoose M3.5 head (http://www.birdsasart.com/mongoose.htm#Now%20Available:%20M%203.5:%20Gimbal% 20Head%20for%20Larger%20Telephoto%20Lenses). This pair is close to the perfect combination for flight shooting with the 200-400 VR.

Robert

Thonnaksar NOP
02-27-2008, 05:25 AM
I'm a lightweight person (58kg !) and use this zoom attached to my D2Hs (sometimes flash and TC) handheld all the time when photographing BIF or small and fast birds.
I really love shooting handheld with this lens !

Andrew George
03-01-2008, 11:42 AM
It's uselfull for flight shots, with the 300mm you miss that extra 100mm en the weight difference is minimal like said above.

James Prudente
03-02-2008, 12:23 PM
I found that the BushHawk 320D shoulder mount really tamed the weight of that lens nicely and made it very pleasant for BIF and wildlife action photos.

Jim