Sigma 120-300mm F/2.8 APO HSM.

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by momji1971

Sorry to jack the thread, but, can you point me in the right direction for a monopod that can handle a 500mm prime.

With a Uniloc tripod you can unscrew a leg to use as a monopod. As the tripod is pretty massively built, I suspect as a monopod it would take at least 5Kg. You can also get a support that clamps on the lower end that sticks out at 45 degrees with a plate on the end that you can put your foot on to steady it. They call this set-up a 'Duopod'.

Jim

[PMG]

Originally Posted by galanthus

Yeah I normally look to canon. I feel the bigma will be too heavy to hold and have toyed previously with the idea of the canon 400mm prime; however, reading some posts yesterday about prime lenses missing out on some close snow bunting shots I feel a zoom is best staying with.

I use the canon 70-300 IS most of the time for wildlife, however, as the sigma appeared to have 2.8 wide open I thought it could potentially be used with an extender.

I suppose if it were that good a lens I'd have heard about it by now Back to the drawing board.

thanx

The 2.8 400 prime is a magnificent lens Lily - but the weight is over 11lbs I've tried to manhandle ours and given up! It does the business in poor light conditions and for quality probably just beats the 500 - which I have and struggle with cos of weight and size - 8.5lbs but ok once I get where I am going - the quality is superb. As for missing stuff you can always keep a close up ring handy and stick that it - then it will focus closer but if the bird is too near to your - then you don't get the whole image. I've come to the conclusion that the 'Bigma' comes a close to an all rounder that its poss to get and if used at F8 and less than 500 its an excellent lens.

My ideal solution would be a donkey and bulging saddlebags! (Might take a while to get to North Wales from Leigh tho )

Pauline