Zoo shots with Sigma50-500/f4-6.3

tomshen · 22nd July 2002

All shots were taken with Canon D60 + Sigma 50-500/f4-6.3 + 420ex (fill-in if necessary). One more time I got the problem of lack of DOF when shooting close to subject at f6.3. It seems that f8 is a sweet point to me. Another important finding is that: Do not always trust the in-camera 'auto' white balancing! I used 'cloudy' WB for lioness and racoon shots under shade and the results really shocked me! With 'atuo' WB the pictures were washed out (very pale) while 'cloudy' WB brought it back to life (pleasing colorful fur). This urges me to start running a complete lens/camera testing soon.

tomshen · 22nd July 2002

tomshen · 22nd July 2002

ninelives · 22nd July 2002

ermm, why green eyes? the lion and racoon i mean.

ninelives · 22nd July 2002

and also, why yours is 4-5.6 and mine is 4-6.3 ????????????

tomshen · 22nd July 2002

Should be f4-6.3, changed already.

Green eyes... like human's red eyes... Anyone can explain why some animals turn out green eyes when flash hits their eyes?

ninelives · 22nd July 2002

Quote:

Originally posted by tomshen

Green eyes... like human's red eyes... Anyone can explain why some animals turn out green eyes when flash hits their eyes?

dunno , i never encounter green eyes before, very strange................did u add any filter??

tomshen · 22nd July 2002

Quote:

Originally posted by ninelives

dunno , i never encounter green eyes before, very strange................did u add any filter??

UV filter, and flash

megaweb · 23rd July 2002

Quote:

Originally posted by tomshen
Green eyes... like human's red eyes... Anyone can explain why some animals turn out green eyes when flash hits their eyes?

ya .... many of my racoon shots in slides also have green eyes ... Y ? green eye balls

This shot is cute ... but somehow its nose is a bit not in focus

Darren · 23rd July 2002

Quote:

Originally posted by megaweb
ya .... many of my racoon shots in slides also have green eyes ... Y ? green eye balls

The greenish glow is due to what is termed the tapetum lucidum aka "bright carpet', which lies behind the light sensing cells of the retina - its essentially a light amplifier, reflecting light that has passed thru the layer of cells back onto the same layer, doubling the light-sensing capability of the eye.

Humans don't have this "mirror" layer, and light reflects off the blood vessels at the back of the retina, thereby causing red-eye.

That is primarily why animals have much better sight in the dark than humans.

For more info >>> Article from Santa Barbara Zoo - Can Cats See in the Dark? - CLICK ME!!

tomshen · 23rd July 2002

thx Darren, think i should study some animal behavior besides photo shooting

Mega: yup the meerkat's nose is out of focus coz i used f6.3 shooting closely. Will go back again, using f8. This one and the racoon are my favorite models, can sit down a whole day to photograph them.

kssim · 23rd July 2002

Hi,

Just wondering how much did you pay for your Sigma 50-500 lens and how did you find it so far...

KS

Quote:

Originally posted by tomshen
All shots were taken with Canon D60 + Sigma 50-500/f4-6.3 +
.....

23rd July 2002

Quote:

Originally posted by tomshen
thx Darren, think i should study some animal behavior besides photo shooting

Mega: yup the meerkat's nose is out of focus coz i used f6.3 shooting closely. Will go back again, using f8. This one and the racoon are my favorite models, can sit a whole day to photograph them.

will it help if you focus on just slightly infront of the eyes?

tomshen · 23rd July 2002

Quote:

Originally posted by kssim
Hi,
Just wondering how much did you pay for your Sigma 50-500 lens and how did you find it so far...

KS

Heavy, solidly built, sharp, contrasty... slow compared to 500/f4 but it's much CHEAPER... Personally I like it... wish it has IS but for its price, it's unbeatable!!! I am very poor now, and Sigma offers me the best performance/price. The day I saw someone shot an eagle with this lens, I knew it would be my lens for nature photography (http://www.bateleureagle.com/index.htm). This will be my last long lens before getting a Canon 600/f4IS or 400/f2.8IS (if there is such a day). No regret so far and I will show all of u my best work with this lens in the future.

My biggest pity is that i am not in Africa... not my present equipment. The background in zoo/JBP makes it hard to get a decent good shot.

Strongly recommended if u don't mind using tripod at all time. Otherwise can consider Canon 100-400IS. I got it for about S$1550.

tomshen · 23rd July 2002

Quote:

Originally posted by xeon

will it help if you focus on just slightly infront of the eyes?

The condition was like that: poor light so my lens was wide open, camera on tripod with cable release, ISO400, fill-in flash -1EV, evalutive metering no compensation. Focused on the meerkat's eyes when he looked ahead. In this case he turned his head so got more 3d distribution, DOF was not large enough to get all his face critical sharp. Sometimes also motion blur cos this guy turned his head now and then.

Will go back to shoot again

Simon · 23rd July 2002

There's a second hand Sigma 50-500 Nikon Mount going at around $1150 at TCW now.

ninelives · 23rd July 2002

so now got 3 persons own this lens, me, tom and extreme2.

extreme2 · 23rd July 2002

Quote:

Originally posted by ninelives
so now got 3 persons own this lens, me, tom and extreme2.

Yeah! 3 different type of mount. Minolta, Canon and Nikon.

ninelives · 23rd July 2002

Quote:

Originally posted by extreme2

Yeah! 3 different type of mount. Minolta, Canon and Nikon.

how much u guys bought the filter? Uv or skylight? normal or HMC ?

Maybe each of us should wirte a review. who want to start 1st? my english sucks, i don't want to start 1st, how about Tom?

tomshen · 23rd July 2002

Quote:

Originally posted by ninelives
how much u guys bought the filter? Uv or skylight? normal or HMC ?

Maybe each of us should wirte a review. who want to start 1st? my english sucks, i don't want to start 1st, how about Tom?

I got a non HMC Hoya UV filter since a 86mm HMC one requires special order overseas so no choice

I bought the lens and the UV for about 1.6k from John3:16.

Technical review of a lens is quite hard and I don't think I am able to do it now. All we can do here is to give comments through our experience. I have used it for two full day shootings in JBP and zoo. Still need some time to get familiar with it and, by the time, will be able to find out its pros/cons. Anyway, first impression to me is good, especially the sharpness aspect. But you need a good tripod and a pair of steady hand with excellent handling technique to get the juice out (which I am still learning).

22nd July 2002	#1
tomshen Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 3,719	Zoo shots with Sigma50-500/f4-6.3 All shots were taken with Canon D60 + Sigma 50-500/f4-6.3 + 420ex (fill-in if necessary). One more time I got the problem of lack of DOF when shooting close to subject at f6.3. It seems that f8 is a sweet point to me. Another important finding is that: Do not always trust the in-camera 'auto' white balancing! I used 'cloudy' WB for lioness and racoon shots under shade and the results really shocked me! With 'atuo' WB the pictures were washed out (very pale) while 'cloudy' WB brought it back to life (pleasing colorful fur). This urges me to start running a complete lens/camera testing soon. __________________ Visit http://www.tomshenstudio.com Last edited by tomshen; 22nd July 2002 at 08:02 PM.

22nd July 2002	#2
tomshen Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 3,719	__________________ Visit http://www.tomshenstudio.com

22nd July 2002	#3
tomshen Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 3,719	__________________ Visit http://www.tomshenstudio.com

22nd July 2002	#4
ninelives Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: BB Posts: 2,622	ermm, why green eyes? the lion and racoon i mean. Last edited by ninelives; 22nd July 2002 at 11:09 AM.

22nd July 2002	#6
tomshen Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 3,719	Should be f4-6.3, changed already. Green eyes... like human's red eyes... Anyone can explain why some animals turn out green eyes when flash hits their eyes? __________________ Visit http://www.tomshenstudio.com

23rd July 2002	#11
tomshen Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 3,719	thx Darren, think i should study some animal behavior besides photo shooting Mega: yup the meerkat's nose is out of focus coz i used f6.3 shooting closely. Will go back again, using f8. This one and the racoon are my favorite models, can sit down a whole day to photograph them. __________________ Visit http://www.tomshenstudio.com Last edited by tomshen; 23rd July 2002 at 12:37 PM.

23rd July 2002	#16
Simon ClubSNAP Admin Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: ClubSNAP Town Posts: 1,793	There's a second hand Sigma 50-500 Nikon Mount going at around $1150 at TCW now.