Sigma 150-500-Birding
Jul 5, 2014 14:40:33 #
On a gimbal type head,would you shut the OS off,use OS1 or OS2 if you anticipate movement of the subject? Did a lot of searching and did not see.
Jul 5, 2014 14:42:21 #
DaveO wrote:
On a gimbal type head,would you shut the OS off,use OS1 or OS2 if you anticipate movement of the subject? Did a lot of searching and did not see.
General consensus is...on a tripod, shut OS off. Experimenting wouldn't hurt.
Jul 5, 2014 14:43:12 #
Jul 5, 2014 14:52:08 #
DaveO wrote:
I was trying to cheat beforehand!!
I've brought up the subject in other discussions but that was the answer. That theory comes from the most knowledgeable sources on UHH.
I brought up the possibility of my Sigma 150-500mm mounted on a tripod, in the wind, but the answer was always OS off.
Guess you'll have to experiment.
Jul 5, 2014 14:55:28 #
Thank-you. I have seen the shut off recommendation on tripods,but I thought if you were panning....
Jul 5, 2014 15:07:28 #
DaveO wrote:
Thank-you. I have seen the shut off recommendation on tripods,but I thought if you were panning....
The OS 2 is supposed to be for horizontal movement, but on a tripod...dunno.
Hopefully, MTShooter will weigh in on this.
Jul 5, 2014 18:29:37 #
I will be the odd one out here, but I speak only from personal experience, & not just quoting what I've read. I use mainly Sigma lenses with OS, & have done countless tripod tests with all of my Sigmas, with OS 'on' & 'off'. After carefully studying the results, I could find absolutely no difference whatsoever. I shoot with OS on all the time & it has never been an issue. I only tested Sigma, so I cannot speak for other brands. The vast majority are led to believe that if you forget to turn image stabilization off when you use a tripod, your shot(s) will be ruined. I suspect that this is an overreaction. If you like to turn it off, fine, but I don't think it is a big deal either way.
EDIT. I did all of my tests outdoors on a bright day with fairly fast shutter speeds. I would definitely turn OS off for slow shutter speeds (which I rarely use).
EDIT. I did all of my tests outdoors on a bright day with fairly fast shutter speeds. I would definitely turn OS off for slow shutter speeds (which I rarely use).
Jul 5, 2014 18:55:04 #
Thank you for your response,Dook. I always shut "OS" off on my lenses,but I just picked up a Manfrotto 393 and was thinking that if I'm moving due to following an object,maybe there could be an advantage to using it. I'm a novice and was looking for some experienced feedback to "cut back" on experimenting. Just being lazy!
Jul 6, 2014 05:55:10 #
DaveHam
Loc: Reading UK
If there was breeze causing vibration of the tripod use OS1. If the tripod is completely stable turn the OS off.
Jul 6, 2014 06:14:03 #
Keep in mind 2 sometimes overlooked conditions. If it's breezy, soft images and shutter speed is essential because even a birds respiration can cause plumage to appear soft.
Also long lens technique is acquired through practice. It took me sometimes to get tack sharp images initially with a 500F4 and a 1.4 extender on a 1.3x crop.
Also long lens technique is acquired through practice. It took me sometimes to get tack sharp images initially with a 500F4 and a 1.4 extender on a 1.3x crop.
Jul 6, 2014 06:22:06 #
DaveO wrote:
On a gimbal type head,would you shut the OS off,use OS1 or OS2 if you anticipate movement of the subject? Did a lot of searching and did not see.
If you are shooting birds in flight, OS off, regardless of whether you are on a tripod or not. Most of the time you will be shooting at 1/500 or shorter, and OS will actually diminish resolution and sharpness. If you are shooting at longer shutter speeds, your image will likely have other blurring that OS won't be able to help anyway. If the bird is a slow mover, such as an egret or heron looking for food while wading in a marsh, then OS "may" help if you are hand holding. I prefer to never turn it on. If I use slower shutter speeds the camera is always on a tripod.
Jul 6, 2014 06:50:19 #
lighthouse
Loc: No Fixed Abode
Indi wrote:
I've brought up the subject in other discussions but that was the answer. That theory comes from the most knowledgeable sources on UHH.
I brought up the possibility of my Sigma 150-500mm mounted on a tripod, in the wind, but the answer was always OS off.
Guess you'll have to experiment.
I brought up the possibility of my Sigma 150-500mm mounted on a tripod, in the wind, but the answer was always OS off.
Guess you'll have to experiment.
What about low light situations where you might be down on e.g. 1/13th sec??
Jul 6, 2014 07:01:48 #
The OS seems to slow down focusing on the 150-500. If it were a large, slow bird and I had a shutter speed under 1/250 and was panning I would still use it. If it was a small bird I would consider turning off not only the OS but also the AF, and hope that the bird stays in focus for the first 2 or three shots.
Jul 6, 2014 07:05:33 #
lighthouse wrote:
What about low light situations where you might be down on e.g. 1/13th sec??
Lighthouse- even if you screw your camera and lens into a rock - eliminating all possibility of vibration at your end - the subject will move - ruining a shot - unless it was your intent to deliberately shoot motion blur for creative effect.
Here is a shot of an immature heron taken at 1/10 sec, with a D300, ISO 400, 600mm F4 AF-S (no VR) with a 1.4x TC - mounted on a Feisol 3472 with a Manfrotto 3421 gimbal (no lock down possible) no wind and the bird was moving very slowly
Jul 6, 2014 07:06:03 #
This is the type of feedback I was hoping for. You folks are giving me some good food for thought!
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