Snowy Egret at 420mm

So I recently picked up a 300mm f/2.8L IS USM to scratch an itch I've had for about two years now... After much debate I reasoned it would be the most versatile lens for me in conjunction with the two TCs and let me dabble in wildlife/birding. So what better way to break 'er in than a quick lunch hour romp at a local preserve? I lucked out and caught a snowy egret wandering about. These were shot with a 1.4x TC for 420mm, handheld. I'm quite pleased with this first batch.

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I took another trip over the weekend to a different preserve, but the distance was much greater and it was ridiculously hazy, so I'm not terribly thrilled with the results of the day, but here are a couple more egret portraits... These were shot with a 2x for 600mm and sort of handheld - I rested the rig on a telescope on the deck that happened to be there.

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Great start with this lens, I got mine a few weeks ago and it has taken a little getting use to but I really like the results.

dispatchermike21 wrote in post #5731056
Great start with this lens, I got mine a few weeks ago and it has taken a little getting use to but I really like the results.

Thanks! Yeah, it's quite a jump in size/weight, but even still - shooting handheld is absolutely doable (something that can't easily be said about the bigger guns). The results are well worth it and the lens really is a joy to use - I had no problems tracking a dragonfly in mid-flight buzzing around (not even in a hover) or an osprey circling overhead, pissed and squawking that I was near the nest.

A good bag that keeps the lens at-the-ready is key, as is a good strap - two things I'm sorting out now. Looks like I'm going with the Kinesis L511 as it stores the lens, TC and body mated - with the hood in ready position.

Overheard on the trail... "Mike... Look at HIS camera!"