Sigma 150-500 OS tips??

[wrogers]

Has anyone got a Sigma 150-500 OS??

have you got any good tips??

obviously I will stop down to F/8 or F/9...

and probably stay near 400mm not 500mm (seems pointless doesn't it)

My tip: use the lens strap to wrap around your left elbow, and then tighten until it feels too tight.. If you then try to force our arm outwards, it will hold the camera steady, by making a tripod from your left hand on the lens, the right hand on the camera body, and the lens strap..

any good example pictures would be great... I will try to make a diagram tomorrow

will

Edit: changed 'camera boy' to 'camera body'
I almost got the police around!!

[Geoff F]

Yes, that would have been an unfortunate slip!

I remember when I was a printer, many years ago, I simply dropped a 'd' from one word in a charity balance sheet. So one entry read General Fun £500.

Anyway, back to photography. I am amazed how good the OS is; even down to 1/125. But turn it off when using a tripod. A little bit slow when focusing on flying birds with AI Servo but works OK if you pan a little. If you are uncertain about getting sharp focus on the subject not the background; manual focus ring can be tweaked while in AF mode. Make sure the lens hood is tight as I found it could work loose.

The only other thing I found is that if you are taking that lens, and another size just in case, on a long hike - book in for some back therapy before you start. It does get heavy after a few miles.

[wrogers]

Geoff, thanks for the tip...

luckily I normally carry loads of books to school, which weigh more than double my camera kit!

Another tip, sometimes attaching and detaching the Lens Hood will not work unless you twist by holding the textured bit of the hood, near to the bayonet fitting.

another tip is to double check the tripod mount when you put it onto a tripod, as a loose mount can put strain on the lens, which is partly made of plastic

one question... what exposure settings do you try to use when shooting through glass??

Will

[Bambimcnally]

Ive got the Sigma 50-500mm which is simular. It's a nice lens though somewhat useless shooting without support for the lens. I always use a monopod, its more easily transported than a tripod, they are about £40 for a good one from the camera shop, though cheaper on good 'ol Ebay! - I always use it on a monopod to assist in getting sharp shots, also I increase my ISO to between 400 & 600 on my NIKON D300 and use a shutter speed of 1/60 upwards. Depending on your camera model increasing the ISO will result in increased digital noise. Not really even noticeable on my D300 though really bad on my D80.
Mike - Mike McNally Photography - Images from The Westcountry

[wrogers]

Unfortunately I have a Canon 400D, and at ISO 1600 (only ISO I could go today) noise is awful at times...

apparently, if you overexpose slightly, you can darken the shot down to normal, and the noise darkens too, making noise less noticeable..

I will try that out next W/end if the light is better!!

I wish I had a D300!!

I might try to upgrade to a 50D when funds allow, or maybe just a 40D..

I will try to add some of my shots from today
(first time I have used the lens outside!!)

one thing I have noticed is that this lens is so much sharper than some of the others out there... I have managed to get feather detail and in one shot I can read the metal tag on a goldfinch, only two numbers though!!

can't wait til the sun shines! bring on spring!!
(contrary to physics the sun hibernates in winter!!)

Will

[NickCantle]

Originally Posted by wrogers

I might try to upgrade to a 50D when funds allow, or maybe just a 40D..

I don't know why you sound disappointed at the fact that you might have to get 'just' a 40D when the 50D isn't really a 'next model up'. The higher mega-pixels are the only useful addition, and even then I don't think it justifies the extra price.

The light is abysmal here. I've tried going out with the 70-200mm but it's still too gloomy to get any keepers So I dare not get the Bigma out

[Gaza]

I too use this lens on a 400D
Haven't had it that long, and it seems the only time i get to play with it, It it dull and cloudy
To make things worse, most of the photo's i take, at the moment are of birds that are under or in the tree's
But so far, I am very, very pleased with it

This photo was taken at the full 500mm in the shade under trees
I used shutter priority 1/125th iso 200 Hand held
Not perfect, i know. But i am still pleased with the outcome
The quality of this photo is constant with all the other photo's that i have taken when it is dull

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by NickCantle

I don't know why you sound disappointed at the fact that you might have to get 'just' a 40D when the 50D isn't really a 'next model up'. The higher mega-pixels are the only useful addition, and even then I don't think it justifies the extra price.

dpreview weren't particularly impressed with the 50D compared to the 40D:

"We're by no means saying the 50Ds image quality is bad but it's simply not significantly better than the ten megapixel 40D. In some areas such as dynamic range and high ISO performance it's actually worse and that simply makes you wonder if the EOS 50D could have been an (even) better camera if its sensor had a slightly more moderate resolution."

Jim

[wrogers]

Gaza... that's better than my photo's!!

Jim, thanks for the info... maybe the 40D is a bargain!! costs less, and seems to work better!!

I always liked the 40D, so might have to save up!!!

hopefully I can earn enough during a gap year (as I am no traveling except to the lakes for a little while)

you never know, canon may use the same sensor technology used by nikons in the next camera, the 60D?? hopefully it will be under £1000 as well

Will

[Geoff F]

Here are a couple more unedited photos using the Sigma 150-500 with a Canon 40D. Apart from cropping and resizing they are straight from the camera using Faithfull mode.

Both at 500mm 1/320 F8. The robin was ISO 800 and the redshank were ISO 200, both handheld, spot metering.





And just to make you feel really envious, Will, I bought my 40D last year when, not only was the basic price lower but I received £100 reduction from the Canon Cash Back offer.

I don't understand why now when times are tight, camera manufacturers are increasing prices.