imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Yes, this will be the biggest problem - AF speed and accuracy with the 2X ...!

WDCash Loc: Milford, Delaware, USA

You made this?
Using what material. Looks very well done.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

It is AMAZING the W-I-D-E range of opinions in this thread regarding BIF !

d2b2 Loc: Catonsville, Maryland, USA

Thanks very much - on both counts!

splatbass Loc: Honolulu

I generally shoot BIF hand held, with Sigma 150-500mm, but often with a monopod attached to rest it on between shots. That lens gets heavy fast. It is just easier and faster to find and lock on to the bird hand held for me. I have a tripod with gimbal head, but use it mainly for surfing pics - where I know exactly where the surfer is going to be coming from every time.

RRS Loc: Not sure

Why don't you come up to, CdA, ID. in December and count how many tripod shooters there are against the non tripod shooters shooting the Bald Eagles. Then look at the pictures and compare. I'm not saying that you can't shoot hand held but after several hours shooting at temps from 0 to above 32 a tripod with a gimbal sure will be a lot more comfortable. Of the 100 or more of the serious photographers and that includes the professionals that shoot there I can only recall maybe 2 or 3 that shoot hand held. It's hard hand held with a 500mm f/4.0 and even harder with a 600mm f/4.0 with a 1.4 extender. When shooting from a car, hawks, snowy owls and etc. I will shoot from the window with a bean bag even the 600mm. I will and have shot hand held with the 300mm f/2.8 with a 1.4 and get very good results. I think it all depends on what the size of your subject is, lighting, and your ability to handle a large heavy lens. Either way it can be very rewarding.

shutterhawk Loc: Cape Cod

Thanks for the compliment. It's basically just a piece of 3/4" plywood (the butt brace is 1/4"). Quite simple design really. Just takes a bit of rounding off and sanding to make it look more "professional." That and a coat or two of spray on truck bed liner (available at car parts stores or Home Depot). On some of the prototypes I tried a painted on camo design but it it wore off rather quickly in the field.

jaredlr

1st pic: Parent training offspring: WONDERFUL capture of parent's eye on child!
2nd pic: Reminds me of me when too hungry to wait until the table.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Hey, I just spent big bucks on this one!

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Well, for sure, with a few exceptions, that lens is too short!
Use the tripod, so you don't have to hold the pod the entire time, without laying it on the ground! Several hours or more is a long time without a rest.
Good luck
SS

Paulie Loc: NW IL

sholland98 Loc: Benbrook, Texas

I shoot open and fast. Let ISO run. By the time you monkey with a pod the subject is a tail shot, if your lucky.

dhspeck

I'd go with handheld. On a recent boat trip at twilight I was able to pan the camera as birds flew past, capturing an acceptable image and permitting identifying of the bird. However, if spending a lot of time shooting a rookery or nesting site, I'd go for the tripod to ease the burden of holding the camera.

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

I use a tripod with a ballhead (RRS) and a sidekick to pull it all together. Works great for me. Really easy to locate and follow birds in flight, among other things. I've had no problem moving fast enough to get the birds in flight, but it does take some practice. I often also use a second camera, my slow-mo D800 with an 80-400 attached, for hand-held shots. I put the D500 on the tripod with a Nikon 200-500 or sometimes the Nikon 80-400, depending on distance. Occasionally I also use the Tamron 150-600 but not too much anymore; my favorite is the Nikon 200-500. You will get very tired hand-holding long lenses all day and the shots have less of a chance of being sharp.

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

So, lots of opinions on this, obviously. I am showing you some examples of birds shot using a tripod and a long lens to let you know that it can work out for you if you choose to go this way. It does take practice, as does everything in photography. This is not to say that anyone is wrong or that someone cannot hand-hold, which I do sometimes, but instead to show you that using a tripod can work when shooting some birds. I don't normally shoot the little birds zipping past me at warp speed, but instead the larger birds like herons and egrets. The samples below came from both Florida and New Mexico, both great places to find larger birds. All shot with a tripod and either a Nikon 200-500 or Nikon 80-400 (ballhead and sidekick). Please excuse me for posting photos but when I read comments that say it cannot be done I know otherwise and only showing that will tell the story. I cannot imagine accomplishing this type of shot with a monopod! And, my arms would get very tired holding a long lens for hours on end. So, I use a tripod and it has worked fine for me. And, it could work fine for you, too. (NOTE: Whatever is clipped off in the example photo is due to spacing in the collage program, the photo actually contains all of the bird in each photo along with space in front as needed for "moving forward.")