Not able to handhold with my Sigma 70-300?

Tobyh · #1 (**permalink**) 27-08-2006, 05:29 PM

Hi all,

Had another trip today, lots of great opportunities wasted as most of the shots out of this lense were poor. I think Im trying to hand shoot with it when i really can't. If it's got a 1.4TC attached also I assume it's a no go. I was using a monopod for some shots but mainly it didn't work out.

Should I be only using this just on a tripod?

glsammy · #2 (**permalink**) 27-08-2006, 05:37 PM

I've no direct experience of the 70-300mm , but I do use the Bigma 50-500mm. What I remember from when I first got it, was that it took some time to get used to the handling of it.
I never use a tripod, I mainly use a Mono-pod, but I can hand hold quite effectively down to about 1/400 sec. With the mono-pod I've had good shots down to 1/125 sec. You may get the odd miracle shot at lower speeds, but you shouldn't rely on it.
I've also found that there's a technique in using the mono-pod successfully, and I usually shoot at least two shots, with the second one often the best of them.
Keep trying, I'm sure you'll get there in the end, just remember to watch your shutter speed, keep it above 1/300sec and your shots should improve.

nightshade · #3 (**permalink**) 27-08-2006, 05:58 PM

My 70-300 handholds fine but you do need a high shutter speed

Bushcraft · #4 (**permalink**) 27-08-2006, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tobyh

Hi all,

Had another trip today, lots of great opportunities wasted as most of the shots out of this lense were poor. I think Im trying to hand shoot with it when i really can't. If it's got a 1.4TC attached also I assume it's a no go. I was using a monopod for some shots but mainly it didn't work out.

Should I be only using this just on a tripod?

They can take some getting used to. Remember on a digital body your 70-300mm lens with a 1.4 is (at 300mm) actually 672mm and this will be harder to hand hold. It can of course be done but many shots will be blurry unless you have a good support from a mono, tripod or even a beanbag. It is, as already mentioned a good idea to keep above 1/300 for hand-helds. If the lens is new try it on a tripod first as I have had a fault with the focus on a Sigma 800mm lens although for a Sigma lens this is rare!

Kris

Tobyh · #5 (**permalink**) 27-08-2006, 07:27 PM

No, im trying to do something silly, thanks for the replies. I'm trying to use the monopod and attempting 1/100 shots etc. The odd one comes out as i hope but the rest are just a little blurred.

Next time I'll put it on the tripod and do it properly and then see how I do.

glsammy · #6 (**permalink**) 27-08-2006, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tobyh

No, im trying to do something silly, thanks for the replies. I'm trying to use the monopod and attempting 1/100 shots etc. The odd one comes out as i hope but the rest are just a little blurred.

I'm not surprised. At 1/100sec your pushing your luck too far. At least you've got the comfort of knowing why your shots aren't working out.

Tobyh · #7 (**permalink**) 28-08-2006, 10:47 AM

Exactly so Graham.

I've only had my camera around 10 weeks so still got a huge amount to learn. Thankfully each trip I seem to work out why something isn't getting the results I think I should get. Very frustrating to miss some of the shots especially as I saw some things I'd never seen before - Wasp Spiders, Common Lizard!! (didn't know we had these in south east) and chances to get flight shots for dragonflies.

Like they say - learn something new every day.

TobyH

eeyore · #8 (**permalink**) 28-08-2006, 05:20 PM

The generall rule of thumb is that you need 1/ the focal length (or nearest possible) to hand hold ie 1/300 (nearest equiv 1/250) for just the lens , 1/420 (1/500) with the TC. Experienced folk can hand hold slower than that - for instance I hand hold little bigma down to 1/250 but its to be avoided if poss.

also with the 1.4tc on it wouldnt suprise me if your AF isnt working right - dont forget that it makes your lense essentially at 420mm f8 at the fat end , and AF needs a max apperture of f5.6 to guarantee to function correctly.

carlj · #9 (**permalink**) 29-08-2006, 09:14 AM

This is one of the areas where the KM7 and 5D excel. Have successfully handheld, got a reasonably sharp shot, at 1/20, and 300mm using the Tamron 70-300. But the advice to bump the speed to about 1/500 is probably wisest. Don't be afraid to up the iso to 400 to keep those speeds up too - noise shouldn't be a concern with a DSLR.