Hi Rex,

I have found that handholding is the way to go on the ocean in a small boat. Nothing else provides any real ability to compensate for wave motion. (My experience has been using a 500/4 Mark 1 and a 100-400.) Tripod is out of the question; resting on boat structure (seat back, gunwale, etc.) is hopeless; I don't own a monopod but can't imagine that it would work. But this experience is on ocean swell and small to medium waves with (sometimes) a lot of chop. Essentially, you are providing the compensation for large movements (as the boat rolls and pitches), the in-lens IS is taking care of small ones. It seems to work pretty well, though as you note it is quite hard work with a big lens.

As for a small boat on a calm surface, I reckon you are on the right track with a gymbal head on a monopod. I've never shot from a small boat on a lake or river, but it strikes me as a good way to go.


I'm

In you