chemara

I need help managing this lens on n a Nikon D500

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

What sort of help?

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Sherpa?

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Invest in a gym membership ....

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

I understand it's a touch chilly in your neck pf the woods

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Chilly? Nah!!!!

Quixdraw Loc: x

And in Central Montana today, just north of 50° F. We have hit -41° before.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Suck it up buttercup . . .

Actually I use a D810 with that lens, hand held. I've found that a good shooting position is where you have your left shoulder pointed towards the subject so that your chest is away from the lens-subject axis, left elbow planted firmly into your left ribs, left hand cradling the lens from the bottom, right elbow planted into your right ribs. Breathe normally, and if possible squeeze the shutter down at the end of an exhale. If shooting a burst, just be aware that some will be out of focus. Use F7.1 or F8 and 1/1000 (or faster if you have good light), and let the ISO float (auto ISO).

Things get a little dicey when using a 600mm lens on a cropped sensor camera - hand holding a 900mm lens is very challenging. I would use a solid carbon fiber tripod with a gimbal or a really solid ball head. If using a ball head (which I often used to do when I had a 600mmF4 - double the weight of the Sigma), just adjust the friction so that there is some resistance when you move the lens and camera around. I use an Arca-Swiss z1 ball head, but Markins, Really Right Stuff and others make high quality, smooth ball heads. I would skip over the cheap junk.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

For hand holding: with my left hand I hold the under side of the lens just behind the lens hood, my elbows are drawn tightly into my body, my right arm supports the camera.
I shoot at a shutter speed of at least 1/000 sec. or higher.
Good luck and keep on shooting until the end.

Marilyng Loc: Lorain,Oh.

Ha,this little,old, lady can handle her 150-600 contemporary,which I think is a little heavier than the sport,so can you,lol! They are beasts but I love mine! Enjoy!

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Actually the Sport is almost 2 pounds heavier than the contemporary due to the sealed metal barrel and metal hood.
I used the Sport for 5 years, but have since switched to the newer Sigma 60-600mm Sport model. It's a pound lighter than the old Sport and offers the same sharpness over a longer range.
The Sherpa comment was sarcasm for those that did not see that.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

I use a facial stabilizer on my camera and a special holding bracket on the lens. Then, If I am serious about having mobility and speed over long distances, I put the lens on my bodypod. If I am not serious, I will just use a monopod with a fluid video head. Of course, if mobility and weight are not a concern, as around a nest site, feeding station or in a blind, then a tripod with a fluid video head or a gimbal can work well.

PM me for info on the Facial Stabilizer and Bodypod - but I do have prior threads dedicated to these........

I continue to be amazed by how light the Tamron G2 feels - relative to the Sigma Sport and 300 2.8's with extender !
.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

What subjects are you shooting? Can you use a tripod for support? Do you have a tripod already and need a gimbal?

hrblaine

My advice? Sell it and buy a 70-300. Even with an extender it's easily holdable. Harry