Results trying out a lens

The try before you buy decision proved very helpful. The images were handheld (a major criteria for me). Wanted to be able to get the eye in focus as well as compose for the entire bird both in flight and stationary. Both images were shot with my Canon 50D. The Heron was at Prospect Park earlier this week f.9, 1/400 at 400mm cropped significantly. The Laughing Seagall shot last weekend at the Outer Banks in Rodanthe from our balcony at f.8, 1/640, 100mm.

Think I need to lift some weights to strengthen my upper body if I buy this lens but do love its flexiblity and sharpness. Feedback welcomed as I try to improve all aspects of my photography. Thanks for looking.

Well, I guess I don't know how to post more than one image with a single posting so I will have to wait until tomorrow to post the Laughing Seagull unless someone can tell me how it is done. I think I will try to post it on this reply and hope I have not broken any guidelines. If this doesn't work and you are curious about what a laughing seagull looks like, come back tomorrow.

You didn't tell us which lens. Everything but.

Both of these shots look exceptionally tight to me, you could definitely stand to pull back on either your position or your crop.

So sorry about leaving this info out. The lens is a Canon 100-400L IS. The Heron is a very tight crop as it was quite small in the frame. The gull was right on top of me so fills the frame at 100mm. Looking to get good focus handheld both close in on the fly and distance that allows me to enlarge and still retain clarity and sharpness. Practice, practice, practice. But I do like the using a zoom instead of me being the zoom. What I wanted to test was more being able to get a sharp image handheld when necessary. Think this lens might do the trick for my style of shooting. What do you guys think about the pros and cons of this lens?

I have heard a lot of good things about this lens. I know quite a few photographers who use this lens for flight shots. I know I would like to get one myself. I like the sharpness in the gull image. By the way, where did you get the gull image?

Took this last week in Rodanthe, North Carolina. Laying flat on my back hoping to get a shot as they took flight rather than flying past me. Never saw a laughing gull before this. Thanks for the feedback

Not seeing a thrid one if you posted, but that lens looks to be just fine to my eyes.
Gotta watch the exposure on those white birds, though!

I would just ditto what everyone has said. Looks like it will be a keeper lens though.