Sigma 150-600mm contemporary

Well I've had my 150-500 for a few days and am getting to grips with it. Test photo's are looking good so far. I have been hand holding and also using a monopod which I bought a ball and socket head for from Jessops on `Saturday - that has made a lot of difference. Looking forward to trying it out in anger later in the month.
 
Going to the isle of may tomorrow,really looking forward to the boat trip.:D:banana:
 
Some more from the 7d2 ISO6400

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activeuk said:
want to use for wild life and aircraft
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Should be fine straight out of the box, otherwise I'd set one custom setting for fast AF and the other for accuracy. Dynamic OS on both I'd say.
 
AndyB1976 said:
Some more from the 7d2 ISO6400
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If you don't stop posting such fine images, you and I are gonna fall out, ( and that includes a few others I could mention)
As I really can't afford one at the moment :p
 
AndyB1976 said:
I see this link is for the Sport, I take it its a close enough fit on the Contemporary?

Is the material relatively quiet in use or does it rustle quite a bit in use?
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I just sent him a message after i ordered it & said i needed the contemporary one,i find it quiet.
 
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Cobra said:
If you don't stop posting such fine images, you and I are gonna fall out, ( and that includes a few others I could mention)
As I really can't afford one at the moment :p
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It's got so many great attributes;

  • Focal length + aperture. Most affordable 400mm's begin at f5.6, add on an extender (plus apprx £390 for a Canon x1.4 mk3) and you are 560 @f8 - You have an extra 40mm and 2/3rds of a stop in hand of aperture. This lens is pretty sweet at 600mm F6.3 (most of my shots are at the long end)
  • Size and weight. Fits into my Lowepro Flipside 400 attached to 7d2. It's supplied with a decent Sigma padded pouch, which is how I usually store it the car, only switch to the Lowepro when I'm heading out (landscape lens, filters etc live in the Flipside typically.)
  • Custom Settings & Sigma Dock - anything with a dock and settings you can fiddle with are automatically a good thing :naughty:
  • Cost. Bought it last year from Amazon for about £800 plus the dock.
  • It's black, a bit more discrete than a Canon big gun.
  • Zoom Lock - stops lens creep, especially handy at 600mm with shooting the Moon.

Best bang for buck lens available I'd say! Only wish I'd bought it sooner (as you will the longer you leave it :) )

**edited extender focal length miscalculation**
 
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AndyB1976 said:
It's got so many great attributes;
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Oh do shut up :p

TBH I'm a bit of a brand whore but looking at the results you are getting with the 7DII ( that's my main camera ) I am seriously tempted!
Especially as the MKII handles iso so much better than the MKI, f/6.3 seems almost of no consequence.
 
Cobra said:
Oh do shut up :p

TBH I'm a bit of a brand whore but looking at the results you are getting with the 7DII ( that's my main camera ) I am seriously tempted!
Especially as the MKII handles iso so much better than the MKI, f/6.3 seems almost of no consequence.
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(Just realised my maths were wrong above, I wrote 640mm. 400mm + extender, I used crop factor x1.6 rather than extender x1.4, should have been 560mm.)

It's my first Sigma but was a bit apprehensive about buying it after reading about some quality issues Sigma had maybe 5 or so years ago, currently have the 10-22 , 17-55 and 100Lmacro so also went with Canon in the past. I had this on my 7D but the high ISO was the killer, those shots above where in a forest so light (ISO 6400) under the canopy really stretches all but the big f2.8 guns, even then to get close to 600mm you are still at f4.

Shooting the Canon 100-400II + Canon x1.4mk3 vs SIgma 150-600 both at F8 (you still have the option of a 2/3rds of stop on the Sigma)
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/...meraComp=963&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=7&APIComp=2


CameraPriceBuster has the 100-400II £1781, extender x1.4 £387 = £2168
Sigma £799


The Canon extender is almost half the price alone.

Couple of negatives are minimum focus distance is longer on the Sigma or less mag on small critters like butterflies, dragons etc, filter size is 95mm - 77mm would be ideal for my Lee foundation kit, Its not weatherproof either.
 
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I also have this lens with a 7Dii and for somebody as fussy as me I have to say it is pretty unbelievably. I'm sure the Canon 600 f4 is better but unfortunately I cannot avoid to spend £10k on a lens.
 
AndyB1976 said:
(Just realised my maths were wrong above, I wrote 640mm. 400mm + extender, I used crop factor x1.6 rather than extender x1.4, should have been 560mm.)
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I knew what you meant :thumbs:

AndyB1976 said:
It's my first Sigma but was a bit apprehensive about buying it after reading about some quality issues Sigma had maybe 5 or so years ago,
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I had a couple of sigma lens's years ago, and yes that's the only thing that's putting me off at the moment, but it certainly seems like they have smartened up their act in the last couple of years,
going on a lot of the images posted here!

I usually shoot with a 70-200 2.8is MKII I also have the 1.4 and 2x MKII converters.
I've used the 1.4 with my 300 f/4 too, but TBH for what I do, a zoom would be better, and thinking of ditching the 300 f/4 in favour of the sigma.

AndyB1976 said:
Shooting the Canon 100-400II + Canon x1.4mk3 vs SIgma 150-600 both at F8 (you still have the option of a 2/3rds of stop on the Sigma)
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/...meraComp=963&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=7&APIComp=2
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Interesting link, thanks I'll have a proper look in a bit. I certainly couldn't justify the the 100-400 mkII anyway.
 
Cobra said:
I knew what you meant (y)



I usually shoot with a 70-200 2.8is MKII I also have the 1.4 and 2x MKII converters.
I've used the 1.4 with my 300 f/4 too, but TBH for what I do, a zoom would be better, and thinking of ditching the 300 f/4 in favour of the sigma.
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Having down to 150wide available on the 600 zoom is particularly handy when in a hide and a bigger bird or squirrel approaches. I think the Sigma is f5.6 at about 380mm, can't say I've tested the lens fully wide open at its shortest to mid focal lengths however.
 
I usually shoot with a 70-200 2.8is MKII I also have the 1.4 and 2x MKII converters.
I've used the 1.4 with my 300 f/4 too, but TBH for what I do, a zoom would be better, and thinking of ditching the 300 f/4 in favour of the sigma.

Tricky choice. I also have a 300L IS f4 and to me it is great. It is one of my oldest lenses, perhaps not used as much as it was, but I would hate to sell it, however I don't have the 70-200 2.8.

Depends what you shoot.
 
Archie747 said:
Depends what you shoot.
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Zoo stuff mostly and I wouldn't be without the 2.8 for deleting the wires, thats for sure, but of course they don't all have fine mesh or "stand off" barriers.
 
Great football shots Jim.:)
 
Dave70D said:
Cracking football shots Jim, just goes to show how great this lens can be and not just for wildlife (y)
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Indeed, it's a great sports lens!
 
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I have used the dock to set my custom switch, 1 is set for "fast" autofocus and 2 is set for "Accurate" autofocus but in the field I am struggling to see any difference in the settings.
 
I went on the May Princess, http://www.isleofmayferry.com/may.php
It was quite windy blowing about 16mph,so the sea was choppy & a lot of people were being sick using bags.:eek:
I would definately take a tripod,if it,s windy i found it gave me a more stable platform,more to carry but i found it worth it,gimbal as well.:)
When you get off the boat the people there give you a little talk just asking you to keep to paths as you may stand on nests & burrows in the grass.
I just used quite a fast shutter speed to help with the wind,if you need anything else just ask.:)
 
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Just bought a £30 monopod from the forum and WOW what a difference.

Screwed straight in to the lens and so much easier to use.

Its a bit dull outside and these were from the inside of the conservatory.


Goldfinch by Tony Keogh, on Flickr

Goldfinch by Tony Keogh, on Flickr
 
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