Lens questions for the female photographers here...

[SkyBaby]

What long lens(es) did you pick?  Which ones did you find too heavy for hand holding and which ones are hand-holdable? 

I'm hearing largely glowing reviews about the new Sigma 50-500 OS.  It weighs about 4 pounds.  I think most of those reviews I'm reading on other photography sites are from guys.  Do you think 4 pounds would be too heavy to hand hold at various events like plane spotting and air shows? 

I'm shopping around, but without actually being able to see this and other longer lenses IRL, I'm having a hard time making up my mind.

Thanks!

**I don't mean for this to start some kind of debate or fight or whatever, I just want to hear from some ladies on here what long lenses they have.**

[CHILIBEAN]

i have the canon 100-400 L lens and it weighs about 3 lbs..at a air show it dont seem to bad...i dont think a extra pound will make that big of a diffrence...oh wait your arm might start to cramp up a little quicker being its a whole 1 pound heavier...lol   The only thing about that sigma lens is that it appears to be a twist zoom rather than a pull push type,man thats a lot of twisting to get to 500 mm .

[SkyBaby]

i have the canon 100-400 L lens and it weighs about 3 lbs..at a air show it dont seem to bad...i dont think a extra pound will make that big of a diffrence...oh wait your arm might start to cramp up a little quicker being its a whole 1 pound heavier...lol   The only thing about that sigma lens is that it appears to be a twist zoom rather than a pull push type,man thats a lot of twisting to get to 500 mm .

I'm I'm used to twist zooms, but twisting a 28-135 is a whole different animal than twisting a Bigma I'm sure.  I would like to be able to try both out for myself, but not knowing anyone locally kinda sucks.  There is a photo shop in town, but he does mostly old discontinued lenses and supplies for SLRs. 

Thanks so much for the reply!!

[kick Z tail out]

I'm not a female photographer but I had to chime in on the twist thing... I actually feel like the whole push-pull thing sounds weird. I have no problem with the twist.

By the way... I used the Sigma 50-500 (non OS) recently and it did get heavy by day 3. 

[SkyBaby]

I'm not a female photographer but I had to chime in on the twist thing... I actually feel like the whole push-pull thing sounds weird. I have no problem with the twist.

By the way... I used the Sigma 50-500 (non OS) recently and it did get heavy by day 3. 

I'm used to twisting as well.

Lol Anything would be heavy by day 3.  

[NikonGuy]

Lol Anything would be heavy by day 3.  

Yeah, even a 300mm...      

[phantomphan1974]

maybe find a place to rent one or an online rental.  Just a suggestion.   Maybe do bicep curls.  Serious, it helps...