Playing Around With The Sig 150-500: When I first got this lens I was a bit disappointed in it. Realizing that the problem may not have been with the lens, I left it with a friend for...

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

When I first got this lens I was a bit disappointed in it. Realizing that the problem may not have been with the lens, I left it with a friend for several weeks. He actually knows how to take photos! He gave me some tips and I finally got a chance to play a bit. The first 5 are all fairly close range. The last 2 were shooting across the Hudson River to Athens, NY. Of the last 2 shots, the first was with IS turned on. In the second one it was off. Darned if I can see much difference, but the shot with it off seems slightly better. (For you movie buffs, if you saw "War Of The Worlds" with Tom Cruise, the scene where everyone is running to the ferry was shot in Athens. The street is to the far left behind the willow tree. There was no ferry. It was CGI, as was a train that I think they showed in the village. Never watched the movie.) Any comments on the lens performance would be appreciated. Any comments on my performance will be forgotten! :-D Canon 6D. No processing done.

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IS Turned On

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IS Turned Off

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Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

LFingar wrote:

When I first got this lens I was a bit disappointe... (show quote)

Definitely, shots 2, 4 & 5 tell me hang onto that lens!

Especially when zoomed in the download!

:thumbup:

Audwulf Loc: Golden State

Like mine also.

bcheary Loc: Jacksonville, FL

LFingar wrote:

When I first got this lens I was a bit disappointe... (show quote)

When I first bought my Sig 150-500mm I shipped it along with my camera (Canon T3i) to Sigma and they tweaked the lens to match up with my camera. All I had to pay was the shipping cost to Sigma.
When using a tripod the IS should be turned off.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Dngallagher wrote:

Definitely, shots 2, 4 & 5 tell me hang onto that lens!

Especially when zoomed in the download!

:thumbup:

Thanks. I was surprised at the clarity. Especially 2 & 4.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

bcheary wrote:

When I first bought my Sig 150-500mm I shipped it along with my camera (Canon T3i) to Sigma and they tweaked the lens to match up with my camera. All I had to pay was the shipping cost to Sigma.
When using a tripod the IS should be turned off.

Thanks. All shots were handheld.

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

LFingar wrote:

Thanks. I was surprised at the clarity. Especially 2 & 4.

I thought 1 was way off - but soon realized that the lens was focused on the farther wall - the brickwork came out sharp. :)

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Dngallagher wrote:

I thought 1 was way off - but soon realized that the lens was focused on the farther wall - the brickwork came out sharp. :)

I shot 1&2 just for comparison. In 3 the leaves were being blown around by the wind but under the conditions I think it was pretty decent. 5, the seagull, seems a bit soft. I'm not sure about the 2 village shots. They seem somewhat soft, but I have little experience with a lens this long so I'm not sure what to expect.

dleaoh Loc: Dayton, OH

LFingar wrote:

When I first got this lens I was a bit disappointe... (show quote)

Earlier this year I had the opportunity to spend two days birding with one of the world's most famous birders. Obviously we talked about optics and photo gear, in addition to birds, of course. His recommendation for the best affordable lens for bird and wildlife photography is the Sigma 150-500. I don't have one yet, but it's on my wish list. I'm very interested in the comments here.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

dleaoh wrote:

Earlier this year I had the opportunity to spend two days birding with one of the world's most famous birders. Obviously we talked about optics and photo gear, in addition to birds, of course. His recommendation for the best affordable lens for bird and wildlife photography is the Sigma 150-500. I don't have one yet, but it's on my wish list. I'm very interested in the comments here.

Here are the 3 tips I was given on how to use this lens:
First, it likes light so use the lowest aperture number you can.
Second, use a fast shutter speed. 1/640 - 1/800.
Third, use Al Servo focus mode, even on static subjects.
Using his tips definitely improved the lens performance for me. In checking the auto focus I did find that it focuses a little short, unlike my Canon lenses. I put corrections into my camera but I'm not sure I have it totally dialed in yet.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

dleaoh wrote:

Earlier this year I had the opportunity to spend two days birding with one of the world's most famous birders. Obviously we talked about optics and photo gear, in addition to birds, of course. His recommendation for the best affordable lens for bird and wildlife photography is the Sigma 150-500. I don't have one yet, but it's on my wish list. I'm very interested in the comments here.

Here are 3 more shots I took. I was about 20 ft away from the sign. All were taken handheld with auto focus and stabilization was on. The only difference in the tree shots was the shutter speed, and you can easily see the difference.

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1/640

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1/200

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bob_71 Loc: Severna Park, MD

As has been demonstrated by numerous posters, this camera is a real performer...your own results appear to be quite adequate. As with all equipment, your results will continue to please you more as you get more comfortable with it's operation and start to concentrate on the aesthetic value of your topics.

I hope you get to enjoy it far a long, long time!

Bob

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

bob_71 wrote:

As has been demonstrated by numerous posters, this camera is a real performer...your own results appear to be quite adequate. As with all equipment, your results will continue to please you more as you get more comfortable with it's operation and start to concentrate on the aesthetic value of your topics.

I hope you get to enjoy it far a long, long time!

Bob

Thank You!

sailorsmom Loc: Souderton, PA

I like the last three most, LFingar! Good shots!

dleaoh Loc: Dayton, OH

LFingar wrote:

Here are 3 more shots I took. I was about 20 ft away from the sign. All were taken handheld with auto focus and stabilization was on. The only difference in the tree shots was the shutter speed, and you can easily see the difference.

Thanks for sharing your Sig 150-500 tips and photos. I'm keeping them with my other photography literature in anticipation of getting the lens in the coming months.