Would a better lens give me sharper results?

[jwallphoto]

<p>Another nice thing about using the tripod (w/ quick-release plate to keep your options open) with a 300/4 and 1.7X (much smaller than the 2X), is that in the case of your swallows, you could have let them fly away, then moved in closer with your tripod and awaited their return without straining yourself. Birds don't always return to their perch, but they often do. The point is that, as you learn the habits of your subjects, as you learn to move less obtrusively in their habitat, you can alter your technique to get better images. </p>