Quote Originally Posted by Kayaker72 View Post
Another question, for those of you that have used big white lenses. Knowing that I am more of a handheld wildlife shooter and that is the primary purpose of the supertelephoto lens for me, which would you recommend?
We've typically gotten together for winter raptors, where patience is key and that means the supertele is on a tripod. But on many occasions, I walk around carrying the 600/4 II (usually with the 1.4xIII) on a Blackrapid strap (the left-handed version), and shoot handheld. I generally bring along a monopod and use that if I'll be standing in one place for a while.

This was on a blustery November day at Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge in Rhode Island:



You may get a chance to compare your rented 500/4 II head-to-head with my 600/4 II on that President's Day weekend shoot...