Sigma 150-500 steep learning curve!

Mad Badger

Mad Badger

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I'm heading out in the next few minutes for my second attempt with my new toy, the Bigmos :)

I was really excited about my first trip, to Steart, on the Somerset coast not far from me, BUT................I really struggled to get any usable shots.

Now I know a tripod will make life much easier, but I'm not allowed till after Xmas :bang:

Tell me please how you folks get such good shots from this lens. To be fair, the weather was so windy that I could not hold the beast still unless I was in a hide! Also light levels were pretty poor.

I'm pretty sure I have a decent copy cos even in the wind I did get one or two crisp shots...........so I reckon user error is the main problem, & that's fine, but I just want to get a better technique as soon as poss. I was using f8 & cranking up ISO to try to get a fast enough shutter speed, bracing the lens by the tripod holder on the ledge of the hide............any words of wisdom would be great. Here's hoping for better light today, forecast looks ok :)
 
Can you sneak in (or make) a beanbag?
 
OK, maybe a daft question, but did you have the image stabilisation switch on?

I shot the moon with one of these handheld without any issues.

Cheers Bradders.
 
Certainly not a daft question, yes OS was on, position 1.

Just waiting for the rain to clear now ;)

Will try to post some shots later if I can work out how, bit new to this.
 
My early shots weren't that good, if this is the first 'long' leens you've had it takes a bit of practice. Keeping it steady is a good start and shutter speeds at 500 plus if possible, though I have shot down to 160 handheld and even 80 though you can't guarantee at those speeds :) Also make sure the OS has had time to spin up and settle, you should see this in the viewfinder.
 
Thanks Artyman, love the shots you get with your Bigmos!

Yes it's my first long lens, will def keep shutter at or over 1/500, I like the "whirr clunk" of the OS despite what some people say about it being noisy, it gives me confirmation what's going on & you can definitely see the image in the viewfinder steady up!

Think the tripod is my "missing link" at the moment but hope to shoot steadier today...........the clouds are clearing, will post back later, thanks to all.
 
I'm sorry you're having problems Mad Badger but I'm pleased I'm not the only one. Tripod will help I'm sure if subject keeps still, is OS necessary on a bean bag? Keep us posted. I'm still blaming poor focussing. I'm just going to keep practising. Good Luck
 
I suspect most people are a little disappointed after their first outing with a long lens...I certainly was. It seems to me that once you pass 400mm then there's an adjustment of technique that just needs a little familiarity before everything comes right. A couple of weeks from now you'll wonder what you were worrying about.

Bob
 
I agree Canon Bob, initially I was very disappointed, but the occasional appearance of an in focus shot was reassuring!

Hand holding this lens yesterday I had to wait for at least 10 minutes until I lost the slight muscle tremor in my forearms from the long walk to the hides!!

After that I WAS able to get some good hand held shots, at last, am in the process of cropping them down to show here, nothing special, but a start at least.

What surprised me too was how low light levels are in winter. I was shooting at f8, having read other owners experiences, I found I needed ISO 800 sometimes! Not what I prefer to use on my 450D.

I think a tripod will sort everything out, but in deference to SWMBO, that will wait until 25/12........hope it's the red snapper I showed her :D
 
Mad Badger,

Are you going to show some of the shots you've taken with your new lens. I have a 450D and am thinking about this lens so would like to see what this combo can produce.
 
Whilst nearly all shots on this lens are now keepers, looking back on the early ones, it took me a while to get used to the Sigma 150-500.

A lens of this length and size is difficult to hold steadily in hand and even with the help of the OS there is still a learning/experience curve to get over. The results are worth it in the end, and you will be able to use the 150-500 like any other.

Ed
 
Really appreciate all input here, finally have worked out how to get pics on this site.

Please, I realise none of these are any good but they're beginning to get more in focus & I'm realising the restrictions of no tripod & shutter speed at 500mm! :shake:

BTW big thanks to the 2 guys in the hide on Thursday at Decoy Pool, Shapwick, gotta get me a bean bag :help:

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