Sigma 500mm "Lens P**N"

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mikeyb

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Hi,

was asked last week how my new buy looks on my Canon 30D, so here it is:


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Alongside Canon 50mm F1.4 ( makes me a lens tart seemingly :D ), Canon 100mm Macro and Canon 100-400 IS fully extended.

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Mike.
 
Nice one, I'm surprised how short it is compared to a Canon 500mm, A lot better in my opinion, it looks a nice manageable size.
 
Does it come with a trolley?

I love the results lenses give, but I would never want to cart one around.

Cummon, lets see what it can do.
 
How does it 'feel' on the tripod ball mount ?
I have a sigma 170-500 and I use it on a tilt/pan head. I'd like to fit a ball head to reduce weight, but am uncertain if a ball head would be man enough for the task.
 
How does it 'feel' on the tripod ball mount ?
I have a Sigma 170-500 and I use it on a tilt/pan head. I'd like to fit a ball head to reduce weight, but am uncertain if a ball head would be man enough for the task.

Oops double post! Sorry!
 
JPS said:
:bonk: Quick lads, I'll :bat: him and then you take his gear then leg it......
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he he, nice one, mind you they ARE insured and replacement ones would give me a lot more £ value that what I paid for them all.

Joe T said:
Nice!

I'm tempted by one of these too!
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Yip, very nice lens, not really had much use out of it yet, handholding isn't easy with no IS, but then again that's not the point of a lens like this anyway, more practice will help no doubt.

mho said:
Nice one, I'm surprised how short it is compared to a Canon 500mm, A lot better in my opinion, it looks a nice manageable size.
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A lot shorter even with the hood fitted, I like it being black too and not so obvious 'in the wild' so to speak.

Ally said:
Looks nice

How does it perform? with size like that you would think no problems :nuts: :p :lol:


:coat:
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Well it's tricky, I tried handheld shots and they are fine if filling the frame but once you look at cropped shots you can easily detect camera shake, so a decent tripod/head would be a great benefit, the Manfrotto 055B I have is almost ok for it but the 488 RC2 ballhead is a bit flimsy for it I think.

IanC_UK said:
Blimey that is short !!!

How much does it weigh ?
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It weighs 3150g, spec HERE


KeithH said:
How does it 'feel' on the tripod ball mount ?
I have a sigma 170-500 and I use it on a tilt/pan head. I'd like to fit a ball head to reduce weight, but am uncertain if a ball head would be man enough for the task.
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As mentioned above, this combo is a bit light for it as you can still see a bit of tremble if looking at an object at a decent distance, I plan to upgrade the head soon but for the time being it will have to do, thing is most wildlife, especially birds are easiest gotten from the car, and all I use is a bean bag and/or handhold.

full auto said:
beast
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Funnily enough that's what the wife said, unfortunately she was talking about what I held in MY hands not hers :sulk:




Some sample shots to follow, not many mind you as I've only had it since last Friday and we've been living in the dark up here for months :bang:

Mike.
 
Size wise there isnt much in it.

Sigma

3150g , 123mm x 350mm

Canon

3870g , 146mm x 387mm
 
Here are some shots taken with the Sigma, ok not brilliant, especially the ones taken with very little light but at least it shows the lens at the worst it could/should be.

Kestrel - 800 ISO 1/8000th F4.5 ( Doh ! )
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Buzzard - 400 ISO 1/250th F4.5 ( Handheld, leaning against door post of car )
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400 ISO 1/250th F4.5 ( my dad took this handheld ) - click for full size original



400 ISO 1/400th F6.3 with Monopod - click for full size original



Dad - 400 ISO 1/2000th F4.5 with Monopod - click for full size original


Hope this gives you a little indication of what this lens is capable of.

Mike.
 
Its more a case of what the camera looks like on the lens!!

If they are the worst pictures it can take what are the best going to look like - saying that I'm sure I could get a lot worse than that without even trying :lol:
 
How could he do this to me and without my permission I will have to go in to hiding now.
 
dunedin said:
How could he do this to me and without my permission I will have to go in to hiding now.
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He he sorry dad, but your pic is a perfect example to use as it shows every crease and bit of stubble :D honestly if it had been a pic of me I would have used it just the same.

;)
 
Hi,

any recommendations for head and possbile tripod upgrade, the head first probably and then maybe tripod later, or is my Manfrotto 055B good/sturdy enough for the 30D - 500mm combo?

Any advice greatfully received.

Mike.
 
Mike

the Manfrotto 055 can take approx 9 lbs.

so 6.93 + 1.5 + ballhead + sidekick = about 9 lbs.

I would be tempted to change the top plate on the ball head for a QR dovetail version like RRS or Kirk make. And buy a Wimberley sidekick.

Then when funds allow buy a Gitzo Carbon Fibre tripod.

If you were to buy a new ball head I would suggest either a RRS BH-55 or Kirk BH-1, 2.

I dont see a full gimbal head being necessary for the sigma.

I used a sidekick and an RRS BH-55 with the Canon 500mm and it was superb.
 
So, you're keeping it then Mike?

I reckon a 055B will be fine. They're heavy but I used my Canon 500 and a 1D on it fine. I use the Wimberley Sidekick a lot and it is great. I use a Kirk BH-1 but would have no qualms about that or a RRS one.
 
Ian c can we see that lens on your camera, (is it virtually lost) and also alongside the 50mm, is it like a ant against a giant!!

nice lens mikey it looks great,
 
visualisetheworld said:
Ian c can we see that lens on your camera, (is it virtually lost) and also alongside the 50mm, is it like a ant against a giant!!

nice lens mikey it looks great,
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Here's mine next to a 70-200 f2.8

HODKINSON_20060910_0267.jpg


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Nice shots - especially impressive to hold them steady after carrying all that weight around :)

I take it the photos were taken in Fife? Can I ask where? I'm curious where are good places in this area to watch raptors.

Edit : Incidentally, I can highly recommend the Manfrotto 393. I've used it in the past with the Sigma 300-800, and it's beautiful to use. Very quick, solid, and silky smooth.
 
Moadib said:
Edit : Incidentally, I can highly recommend the Manfrotto 393. I've used it in the past with the Sigma 300-800, and it's beautiful to use. Very quick, solid, and silky smooth.
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Good call. I prefer my BH-1 and Sidekick, but it did cost 5 times as much. The 393 is a good alternative and excellent value. I used mine on a 055 tripod for some time before I went upmarket and, although heavy, it worked well.
 
Hi,

thanks for all the tripod/head info, sorry never replied earlier but was nightshift last night. I will have a look around at prices etc but might be too much for me just now to replace the 488RC2 head but it costs nothing to look ;)

As for where in Fife to look for raptors, best thing to do is just get in your car and drive the side roads as Fife is now swamped with Buzzards especially, where I took the one posted earlier we saw 6 or 7 within a 5 mile radius and all were within a few feet of the road.

Mike.
 
IanC_UK said:
For 99 quid the Manfrotto 393 is very good value for money :) if you look on warehousexpress look under monopod accessories for some reason lol
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Hi Ian,

will have a look at this one, have seen it mentioned before, funnily enough the Manfrotto site says "Specifically developed for use with very long lenses on Monopods" so that's maybe why WHE have it in their Monopod section, but it must be a b****r on a monopod at 1.6kg

Mike.
 
mikeyb said:
Hi Ian,

will have a look at this one, have seen it mentioned before, funnily enough the Manfrotto site says "Specifically developed for use with very long lenses on Monopods" so that's maybe why WHE have it in their Monopod section, but it must be a b****r on a monopod at 1.6kg

Mike.
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Yeah it seems quite ungainly for a monopod head, it is fine on tripods, Matt one of the moderators has one and uses it with his 800mm Sigma with no issues whatsoever ! :)

As is usual with me lol they have now moved the 393 into a new section of View tripods and birdwatching etc http://www.warehouseexpress.co.uk/?/binsandscopes/tripods/manfrotto.html#view
 
Joe T said:
Might get one. :)

Been looking at these for a while actually. :)
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Me too,

seems to get great reviews for the money and only problem I have seen is that the rubber cap falls off the knob on the bottom bracket, but it only covers a small headed screw so most users drill/cut a small hole in the rubber cap and then glue it in place ;)

Not the prettiest of gear, but if it does the job who cares.

Mike.
 
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