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Archive 2013 · Sigma 120-300mm S...My first impressions.

bbourizk
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Sigma 120-300mm S...My first impressions.

G'day all,
Yesterday I received this lens it was between it and the new Nikon 80-400mm.
This is my first Sigma lens so I can't compare it to any other from the company.

Out of the box it is a beautiful thing. Beautifully made and feels great, I hate to say it but the finish to me is better than any of my Nikon lenses, which include the f2.8 trinity and an 35 and 85 f1.4. I don't own any of the Nikon long glass but i'm guessing they'd be similar finish to the ones I have?.

The lens balances really well on my d800/E and grip.

Today I went out for a bit, first in the morning at around 10am but the weather was awful none of the birds we're even in the water lol, that's how cold it was.

Later in the afternoon the sun popped out for a while and it was a little warmer so I went out for about 45 minutes. We have a little park where I live and it has a little lake where some wildlife call home.

I'm the first to admit that I know very little about this type of photography, I'm normally in a studio shooting portraits but have been wanting to get into wildlife etc.

Below are a few images.
One thing I quickly learned is 300mm is not long enough, I have a 1.4 TC coming and I might at a 2x down the track.

A couple form the morning
1
http://www.studio102.net/uploads/sigma/_DSC9308.jpg
2
http://www.studio102.net/uploads/sigma/_DSC9310.jpg

The rest rest are from the afternoon around 3pm
3
http://www.studio102.net/uploads/sigma/_DSC9424.jpg
4
http://www.studio102.net/uploads/sigma/_DSC9423.jpg

I came across this guy and spent a bit of time following him/her around.
5
http://www.studio102.net/uploads/sigma/_DSC9457.jpg
6
I went across to the other side of where he was and as he sensed me he took off.
http://www.studio102.net/uploads/sigma/_DSC9486.jpg
7
http://www.studio102.net/uploads/sigma/_DSC9490.jpg
8
http://www.studio102.net/uploads/sigma/_DSC9502.jpg
9
http://www.studio102.net/uploads/sigma/_DSC9503.jpg
10
http://www.studio102.net/uploads/sigma/_DSC9506-Edit.jpg
11
http://www.studio102.net/uploads/sigma/_DSC9516.jpg
12
http://www.studio102.net/uploads/sigma/_DSC9529.jpg
13
This guy I saw in the morning as I got closer he flew across to the other side of the lake, again as I got closer to him in the afternoon he went for a dip, he was constantly stretching his wings.
http://www.studio102.net/uploads/sigma/_DSC9550.jpg

Not sure if these help anyone looking at the lens but just wanted to share. I should add these were all shot in DX mode on the D800 and all hand held, I had a monopod with me but found it got in my way.

The AF was very fast and Locked on the subject quickly, albeit most were standing still or moving slowly, there really wasn't many doing anything bar some seagulls and small birds flying aorund.

Thanks for looking.

Regards
Bud

Jul 24, 2013 at 11:07 AM

Tommy_D
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Sigma 120-300mm S...My first impressions.

bbourizk wrote:
13
This guy I saw in the morning as I got closer he flew across to the other side of the lake, again as I got closer to him in the afternoon he went for a dip, he was constantly stretching his wings.
http://www.studio102.net/uploads/sigma/_DSC9550.jpg

He is actually drying off. Cormorant's don't have very much oil in their feathers to repel/shed water so their feathers get soaked when they go diving for food. They tend to stand around a lot after fishing to dry off.

Nice photos. The lens looks like a winner.

Jul 24, 2013 at 11:55 AM

Catfur
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Sigma 120-300mm S...My first impressions.

The bird in the pic you quoted isn't a Cormorant, notice the lack of a hooked end on the beak.

It looks like an Anhinga, though I'm not terribly familiar with the Oz species, I know there is one.

Jul 24, 2013 at 11:41 PM

Ghostinz
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Sigma 120-300mm S...My first impressions.

Why did you choose this over the 80-400?

Jul 25, 2013 at 12:29 AM

Creative Edge
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Sigma 120-300mm S...My first impressions.

I have the the original OS Version and absolutely love it. I prefer it over the 80-400 due to the 2.8 aperture. With the 1.4 tc it becomes a very sharp 420 f4 lens.

Here is a shot taken at 300 2.8 at iso 6400 with the D800.


	© Creative Edge 2013

Jul 25, 2013 at 05:34 AM

Chestnut
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Sigma 120-300mm S...My first impressions.

I have my OS S as well, and I love it! However, I'll have to spend a little time fine tuning it, since it's front focusing just a little. I haven't done it yet, since I was hoping for the USB Dock to be available sooner...

It's a gorgeous lens!

Jul 26, 2013 at 05:49 AM

Tim Ashton
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Sigma 120-300mm S...My first impressions.

Tim

Jul 26, 2013 at 07:37 AM

bbourizk
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Sigma 120-300mm S...My first impressions.

Tommy_D wrote:
He is actually drying off. Cormorant's don't have very much oil in their feathers to repel/shed water so their feathers get soaked when they go diving for food. They tend to stand around a lot after fishing to dry off.

Nice photos. The lens looks like a winner.

Thanks for the Id Tommy. Thought he was doing as such but wasn't aware why.
Hope to get a few more of him.
Regards
Bud

Jul 26, 2013 at 09:06 AM

bbourizk
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Sigma 120-300mm S...My first impressions.

Catfur wrote:
The bird in the pic you quoted isn't a Cormorant, notice the lack of a hooked end on the beak.

It looks like an Anhinga, though I'm not terribly familiar with the Oz species, I know there is one.
Thanks Catfur,
it's an interesting looking animal, I watched it for a bit swimming around and it only kept it's head above water from a distance it looks like a snake poking it's head above water, then it would perch somewhere not far from the water's edge and dry off.
Now to brush up on my bird ID.
Regards
Bud

Jul 26, 2013 at 09:09 AM

bbourizk
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Sigma 120-300mm S...My first impressions.

Ghostinz wrote:
Why did you choose this over the 80-400?
G'day mate,
Same reason Creative Edge mentioned the constant f2.8 and adding a 1.4TC will work well too.
Hope to have the TC soon.
Regards
Bud

Jul 26, 2013 at 09:10 AM

bbourizk
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Sigma 120-300mm S...My first impressions.

Creative Edge wrote:
I have the the original OS Version and absolutely love it. I prefer it over the 80-400 due to the 2.8 aperture. With the 1.4 tc it becomes a very sharp 420 f4 lens.

Here is a shot taken at 300 2.8 at iso 6400 with the D800.

Very nice mate,
Have you had a chance to use it with a a 2xTC, from what i read the new S and the one before it are optically the same, was thinking of adding the 2x if image quality doesn't deteriorate too much.

Read this article earlier and he seems to indicate it works well with the 2x
http://www.cardinalphoto.com/blogs/david-cardinal/2013/jul/24/new-sigma-120-300mm-f28-lens-nikon-and-canon-200-400mm-killer

Regards
Bud

Jul 26, 2013 at 09:15 AM

bbourizk
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Sigma 120-300mm S...My first impressions.

Chestnut wrote:
I have my OS S as well, and I love it! However, I'll have to spend a little time fine tuning it, since it's front focusing just a little. I haven't done it yet, since I was hoping for the USB Dock to be available sooner...

It's a gorgeous lens!

She is a beauty. I haven't really used it a lot to notice anything and at the moment and I will put most as user error as I get used to it and also this style of shooting. I own a few lenses and have never fine tuned any so I'm hoping the Sigma will be fine as well.

Regarding the dock I contacted my supplier today and she mentioned that they had one in stock so I will pick one up and see what it has to offer, I read a post on another forum here and the user reported he was able to increase focus speed even more so it sounds interesting.

Hope to see some shots from your lens.
Regard
Bud

Jul 26, 2013 at 09:28 AM

bbourizk
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Sigma 120-300mm S...My first impressions.

Tim Ashton wrote:
spot on

Common name is a "darter"

Now how in the h3ll does someone from New Mexico get so good on our birds

Tim
Thanks Tim
The name fits, it kept darting it's head around.
Now to brush up on my Australian birds, we have another larger lake near me and it too has a good range of wildlife, which in the past I never paid much attention to. Looking forward to popping out there, although I fear a longer focal length might be needed.

Regards
Bud

Jul 26, 2013 at 09:35 AM

Creative Edge
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Sigma 120-300mm S...My first impressions.

Very nice mate,
Have you had a chance to use it with a a 2xTC, from what i read the new S and the one before it are optically the same, was thinking of adding the 2x if image quality doesn't deteriorate too much.

Read this article earlier and he seems to indicate it works well with the 2x
http://www.cardinalphoto.com/blogs/david-cardinal/2013/jul/24/new-sigma-120-300mm-f28-lens-nikon-and-canon-200-400mm-killer

Regards
Bud

Bud,
I have only used it with the 1.4 Sigma tc and IQ is top notch as well as focus accuracy.
You did a great job on your first outing with the lens.
best wishes,
Michael

Jul 26, 2013 at 10:34 AM

Desmond79
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Sigma 120-300mm S...My first impressions.

Hi was wondering if anyone had any pics posted of people\portraits with this new lens. Also would this lens be a good replacement for a Nikon 70-200 vri?

Jul 31, 2013 at 09:38 PM

bbourizk
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Sigma 120-300mm S...My first impressions.

Desmond79 wrote:
Hi was wondering if anyone had any pics posted of people\portraits with this new lens. Also would this lens be a good replacement for a Nikon 70-200 vri?
Hey mate,
Haven't had a chance for any shooting with the lens as the weather has been awful here.
It's not a lens I would use for portraits to be honest, it's big and heavy and the 70-200 is a great range for that sort of work. I have the VRII and love it for that sort of work, I used to own the Vr I and it too was a stellar lens.

Hope to get a chance to shoot with it soon with the weather hopefully getting better. I had planned to do a few portraits with it especially wide open to see how it goes.

Regards
Bud

Aug 01, 2013 at 09:59 AM


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