Canon EF 600mm f4L IS USM

^^^^^^^ Congrats on the new lens am sure you will love it.

Wild Tawny Owl.

Goincarcrazy wrote in post #12957319
I just managed to pick one of these up the other day but sadly have no had a chance to use it. The heat keeps the birds away most of the time and the moon has been rising too late, but hopefully some shots will come this weekend!

It's great seeing what this lens can do from the contributors to this thread and I hope I can even come CLOSE to some of these images!

Well, since you say it's hot there lately, and since you do live in Florida, why not take a drive to the beach (even if it is a fair distance away), and photograph some of the beach "scenery", or "wildlife" with your BIG, LONG, WHITE...lens?

Would be nice to see some other subject matter for a change of pace beside the usual BIRDS BIRDS BIRDS!!

I have to say, I got this lens for the birds, but come here soon it'll be used for an air show and a few races, so hopefully I'll manage something.

Funny you say about the beach. It's about 25 minutes away in good traffic, but that's where I met the seller of the lens and took some test shots. Nothing great as they were just test shots, but if you wish to break up the bird monopoly, here are a couple.

Nice, crazy...but not exactly the type of "scenery" I was thinking, but I'll still take them for a change over birds.

Trust me, there was no scenery this day, the previous own and I were both looking to no avail...This was around 9 in the morning on a Sunday, so I assume most of said scenery was still in bed.

And I apologize...how I could have missed all the innuendo I have no clue! Usually I'm pretty good with that sort of thing! Haha

Haha...I'm sure there'll be brighter, and better days ahead. *nudge nudge wink wink. (there's always Spring Break 2012!)


Of course it would be great to also see some nice close up images of the crest of some waves, esp the bright white surf "foam" contrasted against the beautiful blue/green color of the ocean with the sun "dancing", and "sparkling" off the water. Or some nice golden light images of the sun glistening off the waves at sunrise/sunset etc. (Hey I'm into ALL types of "scenery")

Enjoy the great, white, beast!

Beast is right! Out of curiosity, how does everyone carry this thing? the standard sling the tripod over the shoulder and take a walk or does anyone do something special that I've not seen before?

Well a lot of photographer will put foam water pipe insulation padding around the top portion of their tripod legs, so that they're cushioned as they lay across the shoulders.

Also, a lot of photogs will carry the lens by holding it "upside down" and using the tripod mount as a carrying handle.

They probably just alternate methods if the walk is a fair distance.

I'm sure there are also backpacks available which will house the lens with the hood removed and reversed, so that the lens isn't it's full hood on length.

I will take your advice on the foam pipe insulation as my shoulder still hurts from lugging the tripod/lens around the zoo half the day Saturday. It really allowed me to get a feel for this lens and kinda get the hang of the DOF.

Overall I'm very impressed! I can't believe the sharpness of this thing! I guess I should expect such qualities with the price of the thing... Anyway, here are a couple shots from the zoo. Nothing great as the lighting was a bit extreme.

Great images, Crazy!

You're learning to use the lens very nicely.

Yeah give the foam insulation a try. (It couldn't HURT.)

There are of course commercially made tripod leg cushions, but they're far more expensive. Just go to home depot or a similar place and they should have a wide variety of pipe insulation. Bring your tripod with you, and you should be able to test fit the insulation around the top of the tripod's legs to make sure you get the right size. Secure it at the top and bottom with duct/gaffers tape so it doesn't "slide" down, wrap a few pieces of tape around the insulation to keep it in place as well, and you're all set.

Here's a photo of a set of commercial leg wraps/pads, so you'll have an idea what length of foam pipe insulation to get.

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Thanks! yeah, I dunno how well that'll work with my setup. I have a set of Bogen 3021Bpro legs that have the pads built in/on, but its only rated for 13.3 lbs, but the guy I bought the 600 from threw in an old but famously sturdy Bogen 3046 aluminum/steel tripod with a 501 pro video head (which works really well surprisingly!).

Sadly after buying the lens I have no money to splurge on a nice set of carbon fiber legs or a gimbal head, but they are on my to get list. I will study the 3046 to figure out what I can do to help out.

I'm sure you can fit some insulation around the 3046 legs somehow. Just need to bring out the "McGiver in yourself".

commonjunks wrote in post #12450906

I take it the nagging one is the female.

V-Wiz wrote in post #12979166
I take it the nagging one is the female.

Yes mate you are right, one was male and screaming one was female .