Anybody Shoot the 300 f/2.8 Hand Held?

[Zivnuska]

Typically, I shoot the 300mm f/2.8 for HS football mounted on a monopod. Yesterday, I took a few shots hand held, thought this is OK, and ended up shooting this way for a quarter.

Do any of you shoot this lens (or lens of comparable weight) hand held for an extended period? I'm thinking of trying it as long as the light holds to give a SS of 1/1250 or faster. Is this a recipe for carpal tunnel or no big deal? Are there any sports where you change from monopod to hand held?

[Dan-o]

For football I use a monopod but for cycling I hand hold all day with it but I usually sitting down with it resting on my knee.

[bobbyz]

I find that HH gives you more freedom. It is like when you shooting with 70-200mm f2. I do use monopod as HH for a long time gets tiring.

[Tigershark]

I hand hold my 300 2.8 and MKIII everywhere i shoot, sometimes at the horse track for 6-7 hours it starts to get heavy and long days at the soccer fields but overall it isn't too bad.

[MDteX]

I've handheld it for back to back lacrosse games. My arms and shoulders were tired. I guess if I HH it everytime I would get use to it. But I use it on a monopod mainly when doing football or baseball. I like the stability the monopod provides along with giving the arms a rest. I have handheld it for volleyball too.

[canonnoob]

Typically, I shoot the 300mm f/2.8 for HS football mounted on a monopod. Yesterday, I took a few shots hand held, thought this is OK, and ended up shooting this way for a quarter.

Do any of you shoot this lens (or lens of comparable weight) hand held for an extended period? I'm thinking of trying it as long as the light holds to give a SS of 1/1250 or faster. Is this a recipe for carpal tunnel or no big deal? Are there any sports where you change from monopod to hand held?

yup i shoot it handheld quite often when shooting sports but most of the time I will use a manfrotto monopod. Its not THAT heavy but it does get tiring after about 2 hours lol.

[Adama]

I remember using the 400 2.8 on a monopod on the sidelines of a tennis match for about 4 hours before a sports photographer who I had become acquainted with offered to switch his lens with mine for a game or two. 300 felt like a feather after carrying around the 400 all day!

[primoz]

Constantly... I would actually say, that I use 300/2.8 less then 50% on monopod. It's not really that heavy lens, so it's no big deal... even when shooting for hours :)

[jamesb84]

Constantly... I would actually say, that I use 300/2.8 less then 50% on monopod. It's not really that heavy lens, so it's no big deal... even when shooting for hours :)

Primoz is definitely the mans man! I've handheld the 300 a good few times. It's not something i'd do every week unless I had to but it's definitely something thats easy to do.

[Kincaid Photo]

I have used my 300 both ways. If it is a fairly constant area that I will be shooting, or one with little vertical movement, I will use a monopod. If there is a lot of vertical movement (an airshow) or lots of panning (a race), I will just hand hold it. Gets a little on the heavy side after several hours, but nothing that isn't manageable. Mostly the 300 is hand held though.

[Dan-o]

Most of that lens is hood anyways. It just looks huge but with the hood off it really isn't much bigger then a 70-200 2.8

[RonnieA]

Handheld 100% of the time. I bought a monpod when I got the 300, tried it out one time and hated it. Prefer the freedom of movement handheld offers.

If I haven't shot in a while, my wrists will get sore. However that goes away after a few times out.

[clickclickclick]

I use it handheld for paintball.

[Redfish]

swimming - all day long

[Stuart Leslie]

Hand-held always for soccer. I guess it take a little getting used to, but well worth the effort. I have done this for weekend tournaments of 5 or 6 games sometimes. Get the grip, it helps when holding at your side for long periods and of course when shooting! Just got back from a vacation to the Galapagos islands and had it on my shoulder for 8 days straight- 8 hours a day sometimes. Compared the shots to everyone elses and have no doubt it is worth it! Tried the monopod once and found it too restrictive.