canon 300 2.8 walkabout lens?

i have to ask ,why?
its not really a general purpose lens, that would be the usual definition of a walkabout lens. i guess you can walk about with any lens mind:D
 
Depends if you like walking about carrying about 4Kg and what you intend to photograph, never had the 2.8( lack of strength and money) but I had the 300f4 and found the fixed length a bit restrictive so sold it and bought the 100-400
 
I find that somewhere close to 200 is as long as is practical, but only for head and shoulder shots.
Can't imagine carrying a lens of the size you are suggesting. Not exactly clandestine.
 
depends on what you are after shooting, I do walk about with my 300 2.8 but use it with a monopod it makes life much easier
 
Sounds like it would be a very heavy combination. I don't think I would want to carry it for long!
 
Depends what you want to use it for, It can be carried happily around all day depending on your physique, I use my 500mm 90% of the time without a tripod just walking about and handholding all day long
 
Joeturner11 said:
Depends what you want to use it for, It can be carried happily around all day depending on your physique, I use my 500mm 90% of the time without a tripod just walking about and handholding all day long
Click to expand...
But you take pics of birds on sticks :)

Is the OP using it for around a town centre or out in the wilds of Worcestershire...


Edit: just checked and OP is interested in nature photography and camo for lenses.
 
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Yep. I had thought around town originally.
 
I used to carry one around all day shooting handheld but as I got older and weaker, I still think the lens got heavier, I changed to an f4.
 
My pennies worth. I have the Canon 300 2.8 MK11 fitted to the 5D MK111 on a Manfrotto 057 with Jobu Gimbal head. I also carry both converters and a 24-105 in a belt pouch so feel I have four available lenses with me at all times. If weight was an issue then I obviously would carry less it all depends on what gear you can comfortably manage to carry as an individual and no my middle name isn`t Schwarzenegger lol.
 
I used to find it really hard to carry up a local hill the lenses and tripod I wanted for the views at the top. Then I realised I was two stones overweight.

Now that I'm two stones lighter I can easily carry 14lbs of camera gear up the local hill because the gear and I together are still a stone lighter than I used to be.
 
Assuming you need a 300mm F2.8L then the answer is very simple - YES! You can walk about with it all day long but there is a caveat - Get a Black Rapid strap for it.

I have a double Black Rapid and carry a 400 F2.8L on the left side with a 500 F4L on the right side. Fortunately, I don't go walking for miles like that, but the 300 alone on a BRstrap would be childs play. On one occasion, I had the 300 hanging at my back with the aforementioned big beasties at my sides and I never even noticed the 300!!

The only word of caution I'd use is that there may be cheaper straps out there, but what's the point in saving £20-30 on a strap when you are attaching thousands of pounds worth of lens to it.;)
 
LCPete said:
depends on what you are after shooting, I do walk about with my 300 2.8 but use it with a monopod it makes life much easier
Click to expand...

Well this when I had one. If you are shooting a lot of wildlife and the 300mm is your go to lens for zoo or natural environment then yes. It is heavy, you need to carry it by the tripod foot and not hold the body (or you could bend the mount), and ideally you would use a monopod and hike it up on your shoulder (like a bricklayers hod) or use a strap as was suggested below.

FWIW - far easier to do it with a 300mm f2.8 than a 400mm f2.8 which I often find myself doing...

HTH
 
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