Opinions wanted
Nov 6, 2013 12:36:06 #
Musket seems to think the Sigma 150-500mm is a bad lens ( according to the reviews he's read )
Took this a little while ago with D3100 and Sigma 150-500mm set on auto focus as I was shooting from the car thru the rolled down window opening .
Took this a little while ago with D3100 and Sigma 150-500mm set on auto focus as I was shooting from the car thru the rolled down window opening .
Nov 6, 2013 12:39:33 #
Nov 6, 2013 12:49:51 #
Hi dooragdragon, although I see your point this doesn't look good at anything beyond web res (small). Looking at the original this does not have much sharpness or microcontrast. Aberrations also appear to be an issue. I would not be impressed with this lens.
Nov 6, 2013 12:56:29 #
I dont recall taking a steaming pile of crap on teh 150-500. I will, however state that the Sigma 2.8 70-200 is a pile of steamy crap compared to older 80-200mm Nikkor glass from the AF-D days.
My opinion on the 150-500? Its a good lens for birding. You have little choices really that are as cost effective. The image you preset though is soft though. Not sure if thats a misfocus on your part or a "feature" of the lens.
Nice bird, good comp, great light. About the only thing I would have done differently is maybe shot it vertically for a different PoV to add a bit more negative space at the bottom and top, rather than the sides.
My opinion on the 150-500? Its a good lens for birding. You have little choices really that are as cost effective. The image you preset though is soft though. Not sure if thats a misfocus on your part or a "feature" of the lens.
Nice bird, good comp, great light. About the only thing I would have done differently is maybe shot it vertically for a different PoV to add a bit more negative space at the bottom and top, rather than the sides.
Nov 6, 2013 13:05:55 #
Musket wrote:
I dont recall taking a steaming pile of crap on te... (show quote)
Happens to be a very grey overcast day here, set to auto focus as I was sitting in the car shooting thru the open window and using manual focus didn't produce good results in prior shots.
Nov 6, 2013 13:07:46 #
Under the new Rules of engagement. I have made some minor adjust to the contrast and clarity. Using Light Room. I might have gone a little to dark. But then it's just to show you.
Nov 6, 2013 13:39:42 #
Next time you may wish to compose by placing the subject somewhere other than in the middle of the image and then compare the two and see what your preference is. Or perhaps fill the frame with a portrait orientation. All subjective, of course. 8-)
Nov 6, 2013 13:41:45 #
1. Only use the centre focus point turn all the rest off.
2. Up the iso on overcast days and download noisware community edition and CUSTOM install to avoid added toolbars.
3. Always set the white balance TO overcast.
Having said that I like the limited DOF, the focis is slightly off the eyes, I assume not centre focus on the eyes and re composed
People, humans prefer to read left to right, and also see things left to right, "mirror" the image and crop some from just the back of the bird allowing more room in front
Nothing really wrong with the photograph at all.
2. Up the iso on overcast days and download noisware community edition and CUSTOM install to avoid added toolbars.
3. Always set the white balance TO overcast.
Having said that I like the limited DOF, the focis is slightly off the eyes, I assume not centre focus on the eyes and re composed
People, humans prefer to read left to right, and also see things left to right, "mirror" the image and crop some from just the back of the bird allowing more room in front
Nothing really wrong with the photograph at all.
Nov 6, 2013 13:53:27 #
You're barking up the wrong tree. The focus looks fine - there's nothing more in focus than the bird. It's clearly a problem with limitations of the lens.
Nov 6, 2013 13:56:56 #
JR1 wrote:
1. Only use the centre focus point turn all the r... (show quote)
Was using center focus,think i was useing autoset white balance, was sitting in car in driveway,no way to get out for better vantage point.
Would have much rather been using tripod and manual focus settings and been back a bit further.
Spur of the moment shots, so I took what I could here just to see what kind of results I got .
Thank you for the polite and helpful reply JR1.
Still on the learning curve with the 150-300mm , so I try to use it as often as possilbe to learn the pro's and cons with it.
Practice, practice , practice .
Nov 6, 2013 15:02:44 #
Jr beat me to the suggestion of cropping some off the right almost to the tail. I believe composition can make or break the impact of a photo. The more you can show a presentation that isn't the 'normal' way of doing things, the better the appeal. There is that optically pleasing calendar shot 'comfort zone' that we all tend to get into. The center of a photo, painting, graphic is not the exact measured center but actually a point higher producing 'optical stability'. I wouldn't flop the photo and would have added more space to the left and top. Depending on whether a person is right or left eyed, I find the bird facing left more appealing.
Nov 6, 2013 19:40:12 #
It might be considered good for the money spent but no detail in the feathers what so ever. I would Not call this a Good Lens. Let me take that back, not a sharp photo, sometimes it's user related and you are still learning.
Nov 6, 2013 20:29:09 #
Bmac wrote:
Next time you may wish to compose by placing the subject somewhere other than in the middle of the image and then compare the two and see what your preference is. Or perhaps fill the frame with a portrait orientation. All subjective, of course. 8-)
Pay attention to the reflections in the water and notice how easy it is to blend the bird into them, I tried some shots at different angles but the reflection in the water and the bird became 1.
Nov 6, 2013 20:36:39 #
Art Grandpa wrote:
You're barking up the wrong tree. The focus looks fine - there's nothing more in focus than the bird. It's clearly a problem with limitations of the lens.
So easy to be bias and always blame the lens,granted there can be a fault with some.
White balance may have not been set for a cloudy day ( think it was set to auto)
Could have tried overexposing a tad
Was using the auto focus as I was sitting in the drivers seat of car in my driveway shooting thru open window (very limited room to try manual focus ( which I had prior to going auto focus )
Had lens resting on window for support ( no car was not running so no vibration )
Last but not least would love to see some of your photos under the same conditions .
Nov 6, 2013 21:00:45 #
Just for comparison, I can't find any photos shot at the same ISO as I never go over ISO400 as it affects the quality of the photo. Just grabbed this one out of the archives because the aperture was wide open on the lens and slow shutter speed. Aperture F/5.6 1/80-sec ISO100 taken under the tree canopy handheld from a canoe. $500 lens Nikon 70-300mm VR. Not the sharpest lens out their but you do get some feather detail. Adjustments in contrast/ lighting in PP but No Sharpening.
dooragdragon wrote:
So easy to be bias and always blame the lens,grant... (show quote)
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