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| Click photo for more images taken by the Olympus Zuiko 300mm f/2.8 Super Telephoto lens. |
Yes, the Sigma 300-800 f/5.6 EX APO HSM AF DG is huge and bulky, but we love it. And it is available for the Four Thirds mount. And when the Sigmonster is mounted on the E-3 (or any Four Thirds camera) it is an effective 600-1600 f/5.6 zoom lens! It won't fit into a carry-on bag, but wow, what reach! And on the E-3 or E-510, it's a stabilized 600-1600 f/.5.6!
Handholding such a big lens? Are you crazy?
There are times when a tripod, even a monopod, isn't practical, or even possible. But with some practice, many photographers will find that it isn't all that tough to balance a 10-12 pound camera and lens.
Don't "chicken wing" the lens with your left hand. Keep your elbow tight and anchored against your ribs, with your thumb facing out and your palm towards you. This is the easiest way to hold a big lens comfortably for extended periods of time. Many supertelephotos feature lens barrel buttons for focus-stop or other customized functions, depending on the manufacturer. It'll probably be positioned perfectly for a quick thumb-tap, should you need it.
Whenever possible, keep shutter speeds fast to minimize camera or subject movement, which is amplified in the field of view during supertelephoto shooting. Holding your breath as you squeeze a blast of shots can also help nail a winner.
We've shared a number of photos that we shot at ridiculously slow shutter speeds for such a long lens to prove it's possible. What we didn't share are the "outs." Long-reach, low-light, handheld photography is a gamble, and you'll want heaps of memory cards for all the shots that are just a touch too soft, or simply framed wrong, because the tiniest little twitch can be the difference between a tight shot of a bird in flight with wings spread wide and a shot of a blue sky with nothing but a lonely partial wing poking out of a corner.
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