First bird pics with the Sigma 300-800 DG

[Liquidstone]

Just got back from trying out the Sigma 300-800 DG in Candaba Swamp, my favorite wetlands.

I'm just starting to ascend a steep learning curve in trying to handle an 800 mm lens without IS. All pics were taken with the 300D, supported with a Manfrotto 3421 gimbal head and 475B tripod, and using jpeg large fine at parameter -1/0/+1/0.

Clamorous Reed-Warbler, 687 mm, f/7.1, ISO 400, 1/200 sec
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Unprocessed 100% crop
http://www.pbase.com/liquidstone/image/41826452


Plain Bush-Hen, 687 mm, f/6.3, ISO 200, 1/400 sec
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Unprocessed 100% crop
http://www.pbase.com/liquidstone/image/41826497


Clamorous Reed-Warbler, 800 mm, wide open, ISO 400, 1/1000 sec
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Unprocessed 100% crop
http://www.pbase.com/liquidstone/image/41826655


When I get better acquainted with the monster, I hope it can get better pics.

Cheerps,

[harlequin]

1st pic looks good !

Welcome to the big lens club.

A strong and steady support is a must. Use cable release if possible for portrait shots.

How is the AF ? Fast enough ?

[joeyao]

The big mama performed well :thumb:

[Arthur]

Good shots Liquidstone :thumb: Love all the pics. Your 'BIG MAMA' is definitely a fearsome weapon! ;)

Cheers

[Liquidstone]

1st pic looks good !

Welcome to the big lens club.

A strong and steady support is a must. Use cable release if possible for portrait shots.

How is the AF ? Fast enough ?

AF is a bit faster than my Bigma. This is relatively fast, but having been spoiled by the AF speed of the 400 5.6L, I won't use the 300-800 monster for flight shots. But at stationary targets, AF is a snap.

The lens appears very sharp even wide open up to 700 mm. At full 800 mm, it's struggles a bit wide open (perhaps equivalent to my 100-400 L IS at f/6.3 or f/7.1) - not really bad, but not as good as the big L primes. At 800 mm and f/11, it's as sharp as my sharpest 400 5.6L shots.

Cheerps,

[erwinx]

lovely pics!

[Liquidstone]

I'm still processing yesterday's pics.

Here's sharing a barn swallow, taken at a distance of over 40 meters, 300D + Sigma 300-800 DG at 800 mm, 1/250 sec, ISO 400, f/11.

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Unsharpened 100% crop:
http://www.pbase.com/liquidstone/image/41849430

Cheerps,

[skfoo]

Looks good to me. :)

[Digiman]

Wow, lovely pics. :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: This is now my dream lens liao! Any idea how much it costs in Singapore?

[Liquidstone]

Wow, lovely pics. :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: This is now my dream lens liao! Any idea how much it costs in Singapore?

I'm not sure how Sigma will price the new DG version. My guess is hovering around USD 5T.

Cheerps,

[Madcat II]

that are very nice pics :thumb: :thumb: :thumb:

and the lens... :drool: :drool: :drool:

[ccplim]

The results from this lens looks good.

[MountainMan]

most most impressive. makes me wanna change my lens now :thumb:

[eric]

Excellent pics... :thumb: All shows such good details... of course it helps without cropping too ;)

MM: Have to build up more muscles first... this bugger weights about 7-8kg, liquidstone: right? with body, tripod and head, can easily hit 9kg!!

[Sree]

Great shots but I love the very first picture the best. The light and the ruffled head. Must be hard work carrying around the MonsterMama but it looks worth it Liquidstone. Barn swallow looks a bit soft though probably due to being at full zoom (800mm) and with bird flying towards you it is always hard to get tack sharp.

[Garion]

Romy,

Great first shots from your new giant lens. :thumb: The first shot especially looks stunning, lots of detail in there. I had a look at the 100% crops, you are right in your assesment, seems like this lens is a little soft wide open at 800mm. However at around 700mm and stopped down a little the crops looks pretty good, as good as it gets for a hyper zoom, which says a lot about this lens. Looks like you got yourself a good copy of this lens. As harlequin had mentioned, good support and good long lens techniques are needed to squeeze the best results from it. A cable release is mandatory equipment when shooting at such long focal lengths w/o IS/OS/VR.

Look forward to seeing more pics when you master the learning curve. :)

[Liquidstone]

Romy,

Great first shots from your new giant lens. :thumb: The first shot especially looks stunning, lots of detail in there. I had a look at the 100% crops, you are right in your assesment, seems like this lens is a little soft wide open at 800mm. However at around 700mm and stopped down a little the crops looks pretty good, as good as it gets for a hyper zoom, which says a lot about this lens. Looks like you got yourself a good copy of this lens. As harlequin had mentioned, good support and good long lens techniques are needed to squeeze the best results from it. A cable release is mandatory equipment when shooting at such long focal lengths w/o IS/OS/VR.

Look forward to seeing more pics when you master the learning curve. :)

Thanks, Garion. I just tested the monster lens against my venerable 400 5.6L. The Sigma blows away my 400 prime at any equivalent aperture and focal length (with TCs for the prime).

Here's the thread at DPR:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1029&message=13037102

Cheerps,

[Mervin]

only one word.... :drool: :drool: :drool:

:thumb: