200-400 @ Airshow with/without Wimberly sidekick? Help?

[marc]

I will be taking my D300 and the 200-400VR to a local Airshow for the first time
and would like to know of anyone's experience with this lens & situation?
Should I take my tripod & Wimberly sidekick and/or monopod or just use it handheld, (yes, I'm prepared for a workout!:eek:)
Any help gladly appreciated.

Cheers
Marc

[fozzie]

Marc - this is purely an observation. When I went to the last Avalon Air Show (2007) in Victoria, serious amateur photographers with a long lens were using tripods with either a Wimberley Gimbal or Manfrotto 393 Gimbal. Therefore, I would suggest you take your tripod with the next best thing, the 'Wimberley Sidekick'.

Wimberley Head - Version II™
http://www.tripodhead.com/products/wimberley-main.cfm

The Manfrotto 393 / Bogen 3421 long lens support
http://www.nikonians.org/html/resources ... 393_1.html

fozzie

[Glen]

Marc, having used that lens handheld for about half an hour with a D2X, I could only suggest the same as Fozzie. It would be a long day handheld and I think fatigue would ensure you missed shots otherwise

[robw25]

mark
i used the 200-400 hand held at the jamestown airshow and i was .... (what's the word i'm looking for) knackered at the end of the day, so yes if you have a tripod/momopod USE IT !!

cheers rob

[jdear]

I shoot with the 400:2.8IS with a monopod - I find it easier to move around etc than a tripod. - if you have a QR head even better you can ditch it and go handheld if you need quick captures. (although I think the 400IS is heavier than the 200-400 )

[Matt. K]

Hand holding for more then a few minutes is not really an option. The lens is too heavy. Wimberly side kick is the way to go.