Some birds with the Sigma 300-800 DG

[Liquidstone]

I'm just starting to learn how to handle a super long lens. Here's sharing some early attempts with the 300D and the newly released Sigma 300-800 DG.

Barn Swallow


Clamorous Reed-Warbler


Plain Bush-Hen (a near Philippine endemic)


More early shots and 100% crops in this gallery:
http://www.pbase.com/liquidstone/sigma300800

Cheerps,

[Big Kahuna]

Nice shots

[Bernard Ong]

The pics are quite sharp, especially the second one.

[Caussway]

Wow, that's a super long lens. How did you spend for it
Btw, the 2nd and 3rd pics are really sharp.

[Zeckson Chow]

My goodness! Such crisp! I love my pictures to be sharp but I can never get such standards... So sad...

[Jeff]

The second shot is good. Exposure is spot on. Like the diagonal composition and how the warbler blends the BG. I am a little greedy here. Would like to have just a tiny more DOF to get the last tail feather in focus too. Nevertheless, still a good shot.

BTW, I think ur images are too big here.

[cy_j]

Nice!!

[nyxx88]

Wow!! #2 is really good!

How did you control camera shake at using such a long lens? And what were the settings you used to shoot?

[Liquidstone]

Originally Posted by nyxx88 Wow!! #2 is really good! How did you control camera shake at using such a long lens? And what were the settings you used to shoot?

Hi,

I use the standard long lens technique of placing my left hand over the lens and pressing my face to the viewfinder (to mitigate shutter/mirror slap), and gently pressing the shutter button. I use the cheapie Manfrotto 3421 gimbal head, on top of the equally cheapie, heavy but stable Manfrotto 475B tripod. Camera is the ancient 300D.

http://www.pbase.com/liquidstone/ima...28735/original

Here's the link to the pics with full EXIF data:

1. Barn Swallow
http://www.pbase.com/liquidstone/ima...45126/original

2. Clamorous Reed-Warbler
http://www.pbase.com/liquidstone/ima...26218/original

3. Plain Bush-hen
http://www.pbase.com/liquidstone/ima...26483/original


Cheerps,

[Liquidstone]

Originally Posted by Jeff The second shot is good. Exposure is spot on. Like the diagonal composition and how the warbler blends the BG. I am a little greedy here. Would like to have just a tiny more DOF to get the last tail feather in focus too. Nevertheless, still a good shot. BTW, I think ur images are too big here.

Hi Jeff,

Thanks for the comments, I'd post smaller images next time.

Cheerps,

[Liquidstone]

Originally Posted by Caussway Wow, that's a super long lens. How did you spend for it Btw, the 2nd and 3rd pics are really sharp.

I got it for a little more than the current US prices for the non-DG version. I'm not sure how Sigma will price it when it hits the market in the coming weeks.

Cheerps,

[1Ds]

I like the first pic, great