Rental: Monopod/Tripod?

[Sean]

Ok so I am renting a 100-400 for a weekend, next weekend (Jan 30-Feb 1), but I have no Tripod yet (end of Feb, Birthday). I will be using it to shoot some snowy owls, other birds. Should I get rent a monopod or tripod, or can I hand hold it.

It looks like it will be mostly Sunny that day but I won't know more until then. Is it better to just be sure, and rent a support? They are CHEAP $5 and $8.

[jgrussell]

Definitely get a support. A monopod at a minimum. That lens is heavy heavy heavy, and handholding for any length of time will be tough.

[Orum]

In bright light, with IS, you're probably okay without one. The bigger question is, do you plan on shooting during dawn or dusk, and do you mind holding that much glass for a long time? Personally I'd prefer a monopod just so my arms don't get tired, and to make it easier to hold the lens at the right focal length (the push pull zoom takes some getting used to, but is really nice with adjustable tension). For the price, even if you don't use it at all, it wouldn't be much of a loss, considering what the rental probably costs.

[Sean]

In bright light, with IS, you're probably okay without one. The bigger question is, do you plan on shooting during dawn or dusk, and do you mind holding that much glass for a long time? Personally I'd prefer a monopod just so my arms don't get tired, and to make it easier to hold the lens at the right focal length (the push pull zoom takes some getting used to, but is really nice with adjustable tension). For the price, even if you don't use it at all, it wouldn't be much of a loss, considering what the rental probably costs.

Rental is 40 for the weekend for the lens. Good investment to see if I'd buy it. As for the monopod/tripod, I guess it's true they inexpensive, but I just wanted to determine which is best. I'll be in and out of the car a lot, so I'm leaning towards a monopod.

[Orum]

I'm a bit of a tripod nut, so I don't use monopods all that often, but I have used a friend's and found them to be very helpful when compared to hand held or for action/nature shots. Unless you have a gimbal head for a tripod (Wimberley, Kirk, etc.), they can be a lot slower positioning your camera to catch the action of a fleeting bird. Monopods do take a little getting used to if you've never used one before, but definitely worth the investment.