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Message: <blockquote data-quote="falconrosephotography" data-source="post: 1928777" data-attributes="member: 74344">I've been seriously considering increasing the range of my lenses.  I'm currently using the 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII.  And I am currently saving up for the AF-S VR 600mm f/4.  Financially, if everything stays on track, I should have "Big Bertha" in my hands in June of 2012; happily, just in time for my 42nd birthday (as luck might have it).  Originally, I had intended to go into wedding photography, professionally, but after some soul-searching and some comparisons of the market, I realized that I was stupid stepping into a over-saturated market and decided on doing a lateral shift to wildlife/aviation stock photography.  I've never been what is known as a "people person"; and some people might even go so far as to call me misanthropic.  My happiest moments have been wandering around the swampy marshes (at George Reifel Bird Sanctuary or Serpentine Fen) shooting whatever I could with my 70-300mm f/4-5.6 (non-VR cheapie telephoto) or at the Abbotsford International Airshow shooting metal birds that make loud noises and shoot flaming JP-8 out their rear-ends.So I've said to myself. "Fiscal responsibility be damned, I'm going to get the 600mm f/4".  As a stop-gap measure, I'm getting the TC-20EIII, which will double my 70-200mm f/2.8 to an 140-400mm f/5.6, good enough, I believe, for stationary birds, such as baldies sitting in a tree.  Regarding the hauling the 600mm around all day, I think it's mind over matter.  In January of 2006, I fell down a set of steps, hitting my back at the base of the neck, the mid-back region and the base of the spine; hard.  My feet went airborne after slipping on some moss.  The steps were not properly maintained.  Could have been paralyzed, but luckily I wasn't.  That provided the impetus to change careers.  There are still days that I have two down 4 Tylenol (200mg each) just to get out of bed.  But the camera gear is sitting there waiting and every day is a new day, just waiting for the opportunities.  If I let my back injury stop me, I'd have to give up photography.  Mind over matter.  Sure, the 600mm may be a good solid 11.2 pounds and the D300s with grip would add another 3-5 pounds to that along with a Gitzo GT5541LS and Wimberley gimbal head, would probably add another 10-12 pounds on that.  I'm just thankful that I'm able to lift anything.  I'll drag it around.  No question.  If I'm doing what I love to do, then I'll take the pain and the weight without complaint.fmhill, have you thought about just getting a double jogging stroller.  Enough room for your camera bag, and the large tripod.  That's what I'm going to do when my two youngest get out of their double-jogger and start walking on their own two feet.</blockquote>

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