Simply buying a sturdy tripod and head are not enough to insure sharp images. A question I get asked a lot is “How can I get sharper images?” Using proper long lens technique is crucial to sharp images. A long lens has extreme magnification which makes waves out of ripples. Any slight movement is magnified with a long lens. You click the shutter, vibration begins at the camera and travels down the barrel of the lens, gets to the end and travels back to the film plane and by the time it reaches the film plane there can be significant vibration that will degrade the sharpness of your images. Proper long lens technique begins by having the tripod extended to your full height so it is comfortably at eye-level (that’s if you are shooting from a standing position). Rest your left hand on the barrel of the lens, over the center of gravity (don’t push down hard on the lens or use a feather weight pressure, rest your hand comfortably), press your eye into the eyecup ( if you don’t own a rubber eyecup, I’d get one as they cushion your eyebrow and block out extraneous light so you can see through the viewfinder better), grip the camera firmly (again, not too tight or too light) and “gently” depress the shutter to fire the camera…
Resting your hand on the barrel of the lens also helps to guide it when panning with a moving subject.
Tech Facts: A tripod that is sturdy enough to support the weight of your lens/body combination ( I use a Gitzo GT5541LS with my 600mm lens) and a gimbal head (I prefer the Wimberley Head) are a must for any serious photographer who uses long lenses for both stationary and moving subjects.
