5 Things To Do When You Buy A Big Telephoto Lens (and you should buy a big telephoto lens)

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Gear I use:

[andek_foto]

Great video but I had to watch it twice.. I was watching your cute pup on the chair and missed what you said the first time. What a sweetheart. ❤

[Giantcappuccino]

I think that you may have one of the best intros of all YouTube 👍

[hurleygreen]

Glad I found this video! I found a used 55-200mm zoom lens at a pawn shop for only $85 and snapped it up. Although the autofocus was a little sluggish at first, it has now become one of my FAVORITE outdoor lenses! Thanks again for your informtion...

[mzeeshanch]

Absolutely WONDERFUL advice...

I initially got the Nikon 200-500 f5.6 (2.3 kg)... Practiced with it for a year or so before selling it and getting the 400 f4.5 z (1.26 kg)... Have ordered myself a 600 f4 z after using it a little bit... Will be keeping my 400 4.5 as well because of its light weight as the 600 is heavy compared to this one (3.2kg)...

I have been an event/portrait photographer for almost 20 years now... But getting into nature/wildlife (long tele lenses) has taught me how different it is to use such heavy gear... Finding a way to carry these boulders... Is something one needs to figure out (Like you mention)... VERY important...

Also practicing this style of photography was something I had to do a LOT of... As its soooo different to carry and make good images with such heavy gear... And the depth of field point you mentioned... spot on...

[craigpiferphotography]

Crazy expensive describes the main reason why I don't have a 600mm f/4 lens, the other reason is I'm crazy poor.
I was fortunate enough to get a Tamron 150-600 zoom, which has really opened up a lot of shots for me. Definitely has it's limitations, but I just learn to work with them and get what I can.
Great points all the way around Steve, thank you.

[petegruetter]

Great video Steve, thanks a lot!
My wife and I went on a day tour with you in Grand Teton about five years ago and you gave us invaluable pointers at the time for which I remain grateful. Ever since then I have been using my 600mm f/4 regularly and consider myself lucky to know the ins and outs of the lens. But every time I watch one of your videos I learn something new. The lenscoat neoprene cover has been a frustration as it gets in the way when using a backpack. Also it moves ever so slightly at times and makes manual focusing difficult. And the plastic see-through windows for the switches are cumbersome. I have been looking for a thinner alternative and will definitely check out the Alphaguard sleeves!
Thanks for your great help and hi from a fan from Switzerland 😊

[JHKaz]

I’ve been working for years as an event photographer, mostly using a 35, 24-70 and 70-200. I decided to try some wildlife photography, so I got a Tamron 150-600 to start with. This video is definitely helpful, so thank you very much! And, I did sleep a few nights with my brand new parachute rig when I got it many years ago, it saved my life after all, but I think I’ll pass on the lens!

[Narsuitus]

Thanks for the tips.

I tend to shoot more with wide-angle lenses than with telephoto lenses.

At one time, a 300mm f/6.3 Takumar and an 800mm f/8 Soligor were the longest lenses I used.

Later, I replaced those two lenses with a 400mm f/5.6, 500mm f/4, and 1000mm f/11 Nikkor lenses.

I use my long lenses for wildlife, surveillance, sports, and astronomy.

I support my long lenses with bean bags, a Tiltall tripod, an Acratech ball head on a Manfrotto monopod, or a Wimberley gimbal head on a Sokkia wooden surveyor tripod.

I use Arca-Swiss quick release clamps and Arca-Swiss quick release plates.

[central]

Wow! How did you know?!? You posted this video 40 minutes ago. Here I sit waiting for my first MAJOR telephoto lens to arrive at my doorstep. Canon RF 400mm 2.8. Should be here within the next couple of hours. Thanks for the wonderful recommendations! We love your videos!

[pathfindercod]

Good video, thank you. Just received Z600 f4 tc a week ago. AMAZING lens, i shoot sport smore mainly AMA Superbike racing and car stuff. I dabble in some birds hunting on occasion. Amazing how handholdable the lens with z9 is and very slow shutter speed you can get handholding this combo.

[echoauxgen]

Every point is a must do especially the fun and play/work with it! Back when I only had my A7S '15 (no IBIS) I stopped at the Florida Caverns State Park during a trip and found out no tripods were allowed during the tour. Thinking fast I got out my binocular harness AND a yellow bungee cord that I attached to the camera plate on the bottom and my belt, then I became the tripod! The tour guide did not like it because I was clicking away and not in the group much. But using the Voigtlander 10mm I got wider shots with no flash also. Today I have the prize of the Sony FE 200-600mm plus 1.4x and 2x. I use the same method, sorta, at times doing birding when a fast response to a Egret flying out of a tree right in front of me with it on my chest not in a bag on my back or on a stick where I have to plant it first. Also play time is doing a full moon capture at 1800mm in APS-C mode using 2x, this way you get a legitimate moon for it wobbles through the night and upside down in the southern hemisphere. The most fun or challenge is a Lunar Eclipse like in '17 January at 20 degrees for almost 10 hours start to finish or one off my front porch in '22 for you will want every phase. Hint the moon moves fast and settings ISO/SS are equal 125 or faster for ghosting and f/# 8-11 for sharpness adjust, need an head with adjustable screws for up/down and sideways as it moves across the sky up and over your head straight up, camera needs adjustable screen so your not on your back! you will need the same setup for a Solar eclipse. Take a stroll at the zoo on a hot day, they do not like sticks either, you will find the binocular harness a godsend also wear a extra large Photo Vest to hide the lens from prying eyes. The camo skins/rap is also great for a white lens will scare the wildlife, wear camo also but also a white lens says money so it also helps hide from prying eyes another reason for insurance - you may be leaving at your car and get hit in the head!!!! You can drive with it on, get in and out with it on your chest under your vest. I have seen many carry from car to hotel room also to car openly. Yes carry sticks and small folding chair for sit and wait times. Also a bikers mirror on your glasses to see what is happening behind you!

[WRIPRadioAdventures]

Perfect timing for this video. My 400 2.8 is arriving today!

[debrapeasley]

What a nice puppy, to keep you company. Good tips. Thanks.

[patrickmolloy]

Practice Practice Practice spot on !! Great tips

[haydennettleton]

If you're prepared to buy used some of the the older big telephoto primes l have come down in price alot, recently seen a EF 600f4 original image stabilization version for just over 2k usd, so no more expensive than a new 24-70 2.8.

[seantomlinson]

Great advice. I miss my 500 f4 but I just didn't use it enough. Another item for anyone still shooting DSLR - check focus accuracy and tune if required. That matters a great deal with the off-sensor PDAF in a D850 or D500 or 5D IV or whatever.

[cesarm]

Steve great advise. As hobbyist photographer and mainly shoot while travelling I don't typically need a telephoto lens that has lots of reach. My travel camera is the Nikon Z50 with both it kit lenses, so my range is 16 to 250mm which is equivalent to 24 to 375mm for my Z50. So far it's worked well for my travel's.

[thisisme]

Steve thank you for sharing your experience. Sometimes it is things I know but I forget why I do them and those reminders helps me to rethink what and why I do what I am doing. Good shooting!

[keithwilliamson]

Another thing to do initially (although not necessary for mirrorless systems) is autofocus fine tuning for each camera and lens combination.

[ItsAMbutyoutubechangedmyname]

Just got myself a 200-500mm and here come the fun part for me I’m trying to figure out how to carry it since I can’t carry anything on my shoulders butt that’s alright it’s part of the fun to figure it out
Thanks for a great video