Am I crazy for trying a 500mm/4.0 on a monopod??

The biggest lens I have used in the past was a 300mm/2.8 with/without 1.4X

This was on a 1.6X DSLR.

This was always used on a bogen monopod with tilt head.

I used my legs and the monopod leg as a tripod.

 

Now...

 

I have a 500mm/4.0 lens. Whats the chance of using that on a monopod.

Anyone do it?

I am using a full frame DSLR now. and I can always bump the iso if needed.

This will be for birds, I want to keep mobil

Since some of us hand-hold the 500 IS, for example, for flying birds, you shouldn't have

any problems using the lens on a monopod at reasonable shutter speeds (wouldn't want to

try 1/2 second exposures, for example, but 1/100 ought to be OK). I'm assuming this is

the Canon stabilized 500 you are talking about since you mention both 1.6X and full-

frame DSLRs.

 

I do lots of bird photography, and what I envision if you rely on a monopod is a very tired

arm. One of the things I like about keeping the lens on a tripod is that you can put it

down and rest every so often. With a monopod, you either have to lay the lens down on

the ground (or snow, mud, ...) or never let go of it.

It's cool .... at 1/2000th of a second or faster. See, it's not just your movement, but the combination of yours and the subject.

 

If you still get camera shake, just stop your heart.

I was actually going to try a Nikon 500mm/4.0 on a Canon 5D

<I>I was actually going to try a Nikon 500mm/4.0 on a Canon 5D</i><P>

 

Then you will be more constrained in terms of the range of shutter speeds and hence light

levels that will 'work' (yield sharp images) compared to a stabilized lens, but still, in bright

light you shouldn't have many problems.

The problem is not the focal length per se, but the fact that it is an unwieldy combination, too long, too much mass and too much inertia. If you move it quickly to follow a bird, it will want to keep going after the bird stops. I've used a 500mm mirror on a monopod, no problem. A 300 f4.0 with a 2X, no problem. A 600 5.6 EDIF Nikkor, if the bird was close to the near focus distance, it was suprisingly difficult just to aim the thing correctly! If you really, really want to be mobile, try the 1.6 crop DSLR - I assume it's a canon - the 1.4x, and the 300mm f4.0 IS.

Greg-

Just saw your comment, it was posted as I was writing. I have used the 600mm 5.6 Nikkor on a Canon 10D and 20D. Remember you have meter stopped down. Don't know about the 5D, but I can tell you the 10D and 20D require increasing exposure compensation as you stop down - 5.6 was fine, but f/8 need -1 stop and f/11 needed -2 stops. If you still have the 300 2.8, why not just buy a 2X convertor? You would have close focus to about 8 feet, and if it's an AF 300 it would still AF.

The 300mm/2.8 and 1.6x DSLR was all minolta.

I have Canon now, and the 300mm/2.8 is too much money.

 

The nikon lens actualy seems rather light.

I do not plan on using a 1.4X on it with the monopod.

 

I normally shoot wide open

500mm f4 IS on monopod will work perfect. I am handholding this lens with 1.4X TC (on 20D) all day long when in field. Like to have 1/300 sec plus but have many good shots at 1/125 sec, below that it is taking chances or have to look for any kind of support. You can always get down or sit and support your elbow(s). You can see most of my newest photos here: http://www.pbase.com/mbb/from_the_field. All are handheld. By using monopod or tripod you will always limit your opportunities. Nothing is free. Your shooting technique is always most important factor no matter what support you are using.

Sports photographers used manual focus 400-500mm lenses on mono pods all the time in football and other field sports. Go to your library and pickup a 1985 copy of Sports Illistrated and thumb thru it to see what is possible.

When I first got my Nikon 500mm/f4P in the early 1990's, for a while I only used it on a monopod. If you always shoot at 1/250 sec or faster, it might work. The problem is when you have dimmer light and need to use 1/60 sec. Even on a tripod, most people would prefer to get some help from IS.

<I>The problem is when you have dimmer light and need to use 1/60 sec. Even on a tripod,

most people would prefer to get some help from IS.</i><P>

 

Agreed. Also, the AF helps considerably.

I have been been messing with the combo using my existing gear.

I think the lens is just to big for what I already have.

 

I might jump down to a 400mm/3.5 Nikon lens.

I need to try this combo out also.

 

These are all a lot different then my old 300mm/2.8 AF lens