Testing out new lens - 500mm

jmbrailsford · 18-01-2008, 4:43 PM

Grim day with mist and rain and absolutely no light to speak of, however this Cock Pheasant was happy to pose for me when I had a run out in the car with my new purchase, have 4 or 5 days to test it before its kept or returned so as you can imagine I'm desperate to get out and try it whatever the weather. I don't think they look too bad with the lens wide open to TRY and get some shutter speed.

#1 - 500mm - 400 ISO 1/60th F4.5

#2 - 500mm - 400 ISO 1/60th F4.5

#3 - 500mm - 800 ISO 1/125th F4.5

#4 - 500mm - 800 ISO 1/160th F4.5

Mike.

dfrear · 18-01-2008, 4:57 PM

They look more than just pretty good to me. Might I ask which 500mm lense it is? Bigma?

The first 3 look great, I like the second due to the eye contact - great image.

I guess you could say the 4th was a little soft around the edges, but very acceptable if you ask me.

jmbrailsford · 18-01-2008, 5:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dfrear

They look more than just pretty good to me. Might I ask which 500mm lense it is? Bigma?

The first 3 look great, I like the second due to the eye contact - great image.

I guess you could say the 4th was a little soft around the edges, but very acceptable if you ask me.

Hi,

glad you like them, taken with a Sigma 500 F4.5 Prime thats I have just bought and have up until Wednesday to decide whether to keep it or not, just hoping for some sun

Thanks,

Mike.

dfrear · 18-01-2008, 5:18 PM

Is it the APO EX DG? I was just looking at prices, and damn is that one expensive lense!

jmbrailsford · 18-01-2008, 5:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dfrear

Is it the APO EX DG? I was just looking at prices, and damn is that one expensive lense!

Hi,

it's the APO EX but not DG, but not much difference it's just a lens coating for digital cameras, got it S/H and saved quite a bit

Mike.

dazza74 · 18-01-2008, 5:25 PM

Lovely looking thing. I really like the pose in #2, like sergeant pheasant standing to attention

It's a keeper the lens for me

julian_fraser · 18-01-2008, 5:47 PM

Great colours. #1 stands out for me pose-wise.

onefivenine · 18-01-2008, 7:13 PM

That looks great. Superb dof. Bokeh looks nice. Excellent buy.

Pal of mine has the 300mm sigma and it's like a traffic cone - that thing must be huuuuuuge!

Tobers · 18-01-2008, 7:28 PM

Looking really pretty impressive there, especially with those slow shutter speeds with that length of lens. Very nice

Holowlegs · 18-01-2008, 7:34 PM

Hi ya

Looks pretty good, especially the first one shot at 1/60th 500mm.

Did you have this on a tripod or something.

sbowler · 18-01-2008, 9:49 PM

Very impressive shots and the tech info on the shots.

icemanonline · 18-01-2008, 10:33 PM

Cracking shots at 500mm............tripod or hand held?

Impressive though......

icemanonline

alfienoakes · 18-01-2008, 10:47 PM

Looks like a great purchase. You probably have a good idea how good it is from looking at the 100% crops.

Although #1 has the nicest overall composition, the straight on shot in #2 is a corker for me.

RobDickinson · 18-01-2008, 11:39 PM

IMo that , at those resolutions looks fine.

But do some focusing tests and resolution tests (look at 100%), check the corners etc. Looks a good buy tho, cracking piece of kit.

jmbrailsford · 19-01-2008, 3:27 PM

The Pheasant shots above were taken with the lens on a bean bag out the car window.

These today were just a quick couple of handheld shots grabbed out the car window before he flew off. Not bad but still not convinced its a big enough step up from the Canon 100-400L to warrant keeping or wait to try and save another £1500-£2000 and get the Canon 500 F4 IS. Will need to try the 100-400L side by side to see which one I'm keeping.

They may be a tad warm, but a combination of the Sun and a bit of CA creeping in I had to warm the images up a bit on the Buzzard to remove the purple fringing.

Buzzard #1 - 500mm - ISO 400 1/250th F6.3

Buzzard #2 - 500mm - ISO 400 1/250th F6.3

Kestrel #3 - 500mm - ISO 800 1/8000th F4.5 ( oops! )

Mike.