Breitling65 wrote:
Thanks, you were right this lens fine to handold, monopod max I need so far. I guess gimbal will help if I shoot something in flight. Tenba 400 also holds this lens with 2x + mk III fine.
Would you suggest good window bag for car?
Glad to see that everything seems to be working out OK with the lens.
I shoot very seldom thru my car's window. However, when I do, I keep an old small pillow in the car for that purpose.
I remember that thread comparing the 7D with the 5D2 as well as some online full size samples. IIRC, at ISO1600 the 7D has surprisingly little noise. I wouldn't say you need to do "extensive" NR on it.
Anyway, I was just wondering because the TC would degrade the IQ a little bit and the 7D has almost double the MP while at the same time not that far behind the 1D3 in terms of noise.
n0b0 wrote:
I remember that thread comparing the 7D with the 5D2 as well as some online full size samples. IIRC, at ISO1600 the 7D has surprisingly little noise. I wouldn't say you need to do "extensive" NR on it.
Anyway, I was just wondering because the TC would degrade the IQ a little bit and the 7D has almost double the MP while at the same time not that far behind the 1D3 in terms of noise.
Remember in RAW, without any in camera NR applied. IQ lost with the converter on with a 500L? Hardly noticeable, if at all. Most 500L users would have the converter on all the time because of the extra reach and there is little or no IQ lost at all.
How do you find its weight from the standpoint of camera/lens steadiness and physical effort ?
I believe I have reasonably steady hands and those shots were handheld, and of course they would have been much sharper had I used my tripod. I am 6' 2" and 220 lbs and the weight was not too bad for me. I wouldn't handhold it for more than 10 shots handheld at a time though.
does any body know if the Older non HSM version is as good optically?
As I see these crop up sometimes at very attractive prices.
The one I got is a used HSM, but non-DG model.
Hopefully I'll get better at my long telephoto technique. Yesterday was the first time I've really shot with such a mini-monster. I can't imagine how intimidating the 500L and 600L can be to bird photography novices like myself. If I had more money to spend on a lens, I'd probably have got a 500L non-IS, but the Sigma 500 seems to be the poor man's birding lens for now.
n0b0 wrote:
How about AF speed? Does the TC affect it? If it doesn't, I might get this combo instead of a 600L and save me a bundle and a back.
Yes, is a bit slower. Not an issue when the sun is out. A lot of time you have to anticipate the location and movement of the subject earlier. You just don't point and shoot.
What camera are you using and what is your tripod head?
With 40D on AI-Servo, and clear sky as background I use all focus points and center point only if the background is busy. I found that using the center point only, without TC, gives me more keepers.
I also use the focus limiter switch for better tracking.
A 30D .. I shoot with center point only mostly and only occasionally on AI-Servo as I focus on the eyes and then recompose and find it a pain to switch the focus point. But, even when I focus and shoot while the eye is centered, I never get the tack sharp quality I see all over FM.
Tripod - Bogen 3221WN
Head - not sure which model .. it's a dang heavy pan/tilt bogen one though
