Advice

Would I be crazy for thinking of trading a Canon 500mm F4.5 for a Canon 300 F2.8? I love the 500 lens but it's so heavy. I shoot everything & anything but also a lot of nature, animals, birds. I find with the 500 that because it's so heavy & bulky that I miss a lot of good bird shots. Handholding it is near impossible for me. I weigh 98 pounds. I thought maybe a 300 F2.8 with 1x4 extender would work just as good, if not better. I have a Canon 300mm F4 (non IS) that I love & use a lot. Yesterday I used it to get a shot of a Mockingbird nearly landing on a chick on my fence, I was hand holding it. No problem! I have to pretty much always use a tripod with the 500 & just about get only static shots of birds. I have a Canon Mark II & think the 300 F2.8 would utilize the AF better. Can I get any thoughts on it please!
Thanks, Hazel

well if its getting in the way of the shots you want to take then go for the 300 f2.8 ,it does work very well with a 1.4tc and can give good results with a 2x tc too so you can still get to 500mm infact 600mm also IS will help on many shots. go for it from what your saying about the weight it makes no sence to keep it.
Rob.