70-200 2.8 hand holdable?

AshleyC

AshleyC

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I was thinking of hiring one of these out for my sisters wedding in Sep but its got a tripod collar which would tell me its too much of a lens to shoot hand held. I dont really want to wander round with a tripod or mono pod all day so would just stick with my 35-70 2.8 instead. I wont be shooting the wedding, just a happy guest there for the food and drink and getting in the wait of the main tog no doubt :D

iv seen them in shop windows but never had one bolted on my body and it does look a bit of a brute to hand hold.
 
Sorry that's nonsense. They are perfectly handholdable, in fact I had a couple days with 300 f/2.8 and that's a whole new level.
The tripod collar mount is exactly that - to keep lens camera combo well balanced on tripod as opposed to having a very front heavy and unstable system
 
I hand hold my 70-200 (canon btw :-)) and its fine.
 
daugirdas said:
Sorry that's nonsense. They are perfectly handholdable,
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The OP is 83 yrs old and riddled with athritis.. you sure about your answer?

:)

My point being.. its relative..I have seen the same question with other heavier lenses..
 
It is a light lens, hand holding won`t be a problem for the majority of people.
 
No problem holding the 70-200mm f2.8 also the tripod collar can be removed.

Edit: Sorry the foot on the tripod collar can be removed.
 
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in normal condition the lens is easily handheld. Some have shaky hands so they will use the IS/VR to assist the hand shake.
 
Pop into a shop and they'll probably let you stick one on your camera - should give you a good idea!
 
Get an Op/tech strap and it will be neck-hangable as well :)
 
It is a lot of lens to have at a wedding. Depending on the venue I'd perhaps skip bringing it and have something shorter and fast (e.g. your 35-70) and perhaps a single prime of 100-150mm depending on what you have?
 
True.. I'd probably go with a full frame + 135/2 for candids and a compact for the rest. And enjoy the party.

The pro will get the must have shots anyway.
 
My hands are a bit too shaky for the f/2.8 version and found the f/4 much more manageable

Think my technique could be improved upon, but the shakes are a right nuisance and sold my 400mm f/5.6 for the same reason
 
It is a lot of lens to have at a wedding. Depending on the venue I'd perhaps skip bringing it and have something shorter and fast (e.g. your 35-70) and perhaps a single prime of 100-150mm depending on what you have?
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True.. I'd probably go with a full frame + 135/2 for candids and a compact for the rest. And enjoy the party.

The pro will get the must have shots anyway.
Click to expand...

yeah i know what you mean, but this is my one chance to do a wedding without the pressure of doing a wedding so to speak :) I was going to stick the 35-70 on my d300 and get the 70-200 for the d800 (unless im still on the waiting list by then!) Although thinking about it , by the time you add in the crop factor the 35-70 will be encroaching on the 70-200 anyway! so i might just stick a 50mm on there instead.

Thanks for all the comments though.
 
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You don't even have to remove the collar/foot.

If it is uncomfortable underneath the lens just rotate it until it is on top.
 
It is noticably heavy to lug around all day - and believe you me I do that a LOT. You wouldn't want to just go out for a stroll and think "i'll take my camera with me" - unless you'd cancelled your gym membership to balance out your exercise regime :D

The Optech type strap does help massively - I can't believe I ever lived with it before I got one!

However for shooting handheld, its not unmanagable, I can't think when I've ever used it with a monopod/tripod - but can imagine if you did have a need (ie landscape, archutecture) then its there because its too heavy to use the camera body tripod mount screw - you'd never get it to balance.
 
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