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My set-up for hand holding the Canon 400mm prime ...and maybe others
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Feb 16, 2018 22:51:30   #
imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida
 
If you touch this L lens anywhere on the manual focus rings there is a possibility of manually changing the focus - several other Canon lenses are this way also - most notably the 100-400 II. So I have made a "grip guard " so I can hold and point the lens without fear of changing focus from what the AF has given me. The grip is made from 1 1/2 inch schedule 40 PVC pipe and covered with a 3M adhesive non-slip material. It is my opinion, that having the grip well forward aids in pointing accuracy/stability also. The grip/arm also serves as a convenient handle for carry. For now, this is DIY - as no one makes something like this that I am aware of.

I am not an advocate of hand holding this lens in general due to the 400mm magnification and no IS - but I do recommend it for BIF especially.

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(Download)

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Feb 16, 2018 23:25:38   #
BB4A
 
Looks like that works well.

As in my post (Long Lens, Short Grips? - http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-513887-1.html), I’d recommend a medium or long Picatinny/Weaver/Composite rail, to extend the tripod foot of any lens. They are all very light and strong (anodized aluminum, as they are used to mount all sorts of military hardware to the AR15/M16/M4 platform), and will give you all sorts of grip options and fixings; including quick-detachable, foldable, etc.

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Feb 17, 2018 07:17:08   #
Nalu Loc: Southern Arizona
 
You come up with some interesting improvements Larry. I would like to think that movement of the focusing ring is not one of my issues (and I have a lot of them). Also, what is that on the viewer, a head rest?

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Feb 17, 2018 08:51:10   #
Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)
 
imagemeister wrote:
If you touch this L lens anywhere on the manual focus rings there is a possibility of manually changing the focus - several other Canon lenses are this way also - most notably the 100-400 II. So I have made a "grip guard " so I can hold and point the lens without fear of changing focus from what the AF has given me. The grip is made from 1 1/2 inch schedule 40 PVC pipe and covered with a 3M adhesive non-slip material. It is my opinion, that having the grip well forward aids in pointing accuracy/stability also. The grip/arm also serves as a convenient handle for carry. For now, this is DIY - as no one makes something like this that I am aware of.

I am not an advocate of hand holding this lens in general due to the 400mm magnification and no IS - but I do recommend it for BIF especially.

..
If you touch this L lens anywhere on the manual fo... (show quote)


However, Sharron Crocker, 70 yr old woman from NYC, hand-holds her 400mm F5.6 and her newer 100-400 F4-5.6 and her Canon 5DMk III for 100% of her bird shots - no stabilizers, grips, arms blocks to keep from moving the focus ring, etc.

https://untamednewyork.smugmug.com/Birds

There is no doubt that you have designed some cool stuff to help you stabilize your camera to get the images you do - and I can understand your not being an advocate of hand-holding a lens while shooting birds. However, results are what matters, and undoubtedly she has figured out how to get excellent results without any extra accessories. Her work the Puffins was outstanding, given the shooting conditions on Seal Island off the coast of Maine.

There are a bunch of us in the bird photography community that go fast and light. One guy even hand holds his Canon 600mmF4 Fluorite - I should put him in touch with you, as sometimes it seems he struggles a bit. After all, it is a 8.5 lb lens, and with a full frame body it's almost 11 lbs.

I am not saying you are wrong - and you are certainly entitled to your opinion, which I respect, particularly given the quality of your images. I am just saying that it is possible to get great results by other means. That being said, I am an advocate of whatever works best, starting with the simplest setup and moving on up if it proves inadequate.

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Feb 17, 2018 08:51:14   #
imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida
 
BB4A wrote:
Looks like that works well.

As in my post (Long Lens, Short Grips? - http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-513887-1.html), I’d recommend a medium or long Picatinny/Weaver/Composite rail, to extend the tripod foot of any lens. They are all very light and strong (anodized aluminum, as they are used to mount all sorts of military hardware to the AR15/M16/M4 platform), and will give you all sorts of grip options and fixings; including quick-detachable, foldable, etc.


Very worth considering.......most people with larger lenses have Arca/Swiss plates on the foot - and longer ones could actually provide the same function tho.

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Feb 17, 2018 09:04:25   #
imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida
 
Nalu wrote:
You come up with some interesting improvements Larry. I would like to think that movement of the focusing ring is not one of my issues (and I have a lot of them). Also, what is that on the viewer, a head rest?


Yes, a head rest - or as I call it "facial stabilization" - you can read about the development of it here - http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-236741-1.html

The one you see here is a modification to my original which provides better support for being left eyed and shooting in vertical orientation which is also the main reason for having the grip.

I do also recommend a facial stabilizer on the bottom of the camera anchored in the tripod socket that rests on your chin - but this is not feasible with cameras that have an articulating LCD.

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Feb 17, 2018 09:22:24   #
imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida
 
Gene51 wrote:
However, Sharron Crocker, 70 yr old woman from NYC, hand-holds her 400mm F5.6 and her newer 100-400 F4-5.6 and her Canon 5DMk III for 100% of her bird shots - no stabilizers, grips, arms blocks to keep from moving the focus ring, etc.

https://untamednewyork.smugmug.com/Birds



All I can say is more power to her - but the real question is - is she happy with her success rate ?? - I do not think ANY honest photographer is ! IF she used any or all of the things you mention, her rate might improve - or has she tried them ALL already ??

Putting a crop frame 24 MP body behind the 400 also becomes more challenging than using a 22MP FF !

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Feb 17, 2018 10:02:07   #
DaveC1 Loc: South East US
 
Do you like that better than a good monopod?

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Feb 17, 2018 10:12:53   #
imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida
 
DaveC1 wrote:
Do you like that better than a good monopod?


Strictly for BIF - yes.......Although, with heavier lenses and a perched bird and you are waiting for him to fly, I would probably go with my bodypod first and monopod second.

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Feb 17, 2018 10:27:41   #
DaveC1 Loc: South East US
 
imagemeister wrote:
Strictly for BIF - yes.......Although, with heavier lenses and a perched bird and you are waiting for him to fly, I would probably go with my bodypod first and monopod second.

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It just seems like somewhat of an awkward position for the left hand. I would think something more vertical (pistol grip) or at at a 45 (at the same spot relative to the lens length) would be more comfortable. Maybe its just me and my carpal tunnel syndrome.

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Feb 17, 2018 10:54:38   #
imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida
 
DaveC1 wrote:
It just seems like somewhat of an awkward position for the left hand. I would think something more vertical (pistol grip) or at at a 45 (at the same spot relative to the lens length) would be more comfortable. Maybe its just me and my carpal tunnel syndrome.


Dave, I have thought the same thing - and I have tried it -

but I did like it as well - it may be a personal thing - and others may prefer it.....

I am also showing my "crutchstock" as another solution - but I have mostly abandoned it now. It does provide a very comfortable left hand positioning tho ! IMO, works better with lighter/smaller lenses - Maybe food for thought....

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(Download)

Crutchstock
Crutchstock...
(Download)


(Download)

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Feb 17, 2018 11:31:16   #
bullethole
 
Interesting. You have basically created a collapsible stock (in rifle terms) that you can adjust. I think if (as others have recommended) you out a pictanny rail on your horizontal aluminum section, the you could add any number of grips used on firearms to stabilize wuth the left hand. You could also rig up a shutter release on the grip

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Feb 17, 2018 11:35:06   #
DaveC1 Loc: South East US
 
imagemeister wrote:
Dave, I have thought the same thing - and I have tried it -

but I did like it as well - it may be a personal thing - and others may prefer it.....

I am also showing my "crutchstock" as another solution - but I have mostly abandoned it now. It does provide a very comfortable left hand positioning tho ! IMO, works better with lighter/smaller lenses - Maybe food for thought....

..





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Feb 17, 2018 11:35:41   #
DaveC1 Loc: South East US
 
bullethole wrote:
Interesting. You have basically created a collapsible stock (in rifle terms) that you can adjust. I think if (as others have recommended) you out a pictanny rail on your horizontal aluminum section, the you could add any number of grips used on firearms to stabilize wuth the left hand. You could also rig up a shutter release on the grip


Good points.


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Feb 17, 2018 11:40:08   #
imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida
 
DaveC1 wrote:


It is large and somewhat cumbersome tho

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