First attempts with new Sigma 150-500mm telephoto lens

[graham]

Dug deep, bit the bullet, and splashed out for a new Sigma DG 150-500mm APO HSM lens which fits both my Canon EOS 50D and EOS 650D. Tried it out this morning on a few flyovers and have to say that the image stabilisation is superb. These shots were taken hand held. On maximum focal length this lens is over 18 inches long with the lens hood and weighs two kilos. I have previously had a few goes with a friend's Nikkor 500mm ( which costs double the amount) and the Sigma is crisper right up to 400mm, but possibly loses out to the Nikkor just a little between 400mm and 500mm. The HSM motor is exceptionally quiet and smooth, to the extent that you can barely hear it operating.

The first shot is Arkefly B787 PH-TFL taken as it went OTT the house here at FL380 - you can "almost" read the reg. Second shot is American B777 N725AN heading into LHR, again went over the houe, this shot taken at FL190.

IMG_6751 by brownieboy27, on Flickr

IMG_6760 by brownieboy27, on Flickr

[christoff]

Well done Graham,looks like a good investment,seems your well situated for OTT stuff.

[graham]

Thanks Chris, we sit bang beneath trans-Atlantic inbounds to LHR here in Devizes

[Jeff]

I got one of those ! on the bright side you wont need gym membership anymore :-) that 2 kilo seems like 10 after a couple of hours use !! Ive tended to use mine with the IS turned off especially at airshows as this slows down the auto focusing ! Be interesting to see how you get on wit it :-)

[graham]

BA A380 going into LHR a few moments ago

IMG_6768 by brownieboy27, on Flickr

[denwil189]

Interesting to see your shots I was looking at the same lens yesterday at my local camera shop, hesititated about possible distortion on aircraft pics, but having seen your initial shots, I am well impressed at the heights taken, so think the credit card will used shortly.

Well impressed the Forum Regards

Den Willard

[graham]

Thanks Den, glad you like the forum here. Took a few more shots today at Staverton, I use the 18-200mm lens on the EOS 50D which is 12 million pixels and therefore is taking relatively closer shots and then the new Sigma on the 650D which is 18 million. Those two lenses cover me from 18-500mm but I did really invest in the Sigma for high stuff. My friend whose Nikkor 500mm I've borrowed a few times came round yesterday and was impreseed with the Sigma's performance. Jeff's right though - at two kilos it does get VERY heavy after a while but you can't really carry it around on the camera neck strap or it'll be bashing into everything so I just tend to cradle it. Looking on the web there are super zooms out to 1000mm now, how the hell do you carry that?

If that Arkefly 787 had been 500 ft lower, I could have read the reg off.

[denwil189]

Hi Graham thanks for your comments, I currently use the Canon 85-300mm on my Canon EOS 550D with very good results in most weather lights, but living under the main airways, just north of Portsmouth I get traffic over the House for LHR & LGW at heights from 8000 to 13,000 ft which I feel if get the 150-500mm would certainly give me some reasonable shots. Also a reasonable amount of Midlands and Northwards can pass over the top at 20-35000ft. I note you comments on the weight issue, I may try and adapt my Manfrotto pole slight to steady the camera, I still need to give careful thought to carrying it around ??

Thanks for you comments

Den

[Jeff]

If grahams is the same model as mine the sigmas try pod mount is designed like a handle and fits around the lense with a clamp, putting it around your neck would probably result in a very quick outbreak of back aches !!

Den.....LHR inbounds come over me at around 10k so will take some with mine so you can get some idea of results if you like

[graham]

Yes, that's it Jeff, a clamp with a wheel on it to secure/release it. Den, the image stabilisation on the Sigma is top notch, it was very blowy at Staverton today and I have to say there were a few "chuck away" shots but the majority were very decent. I never thought I would get that many decent shots on such a long & haevy lens but the IS works so well. I did "brace" myself on the open car door for a few shots and that worked fine. Overall, very pleased so far, what I really want now is a good, fine,clear day with stuff trailing to fire off some altitude shots.

[Jeff]

Fast shutter speed should prove beneficial mate :-)

[graham]

Thanks Jeff, yes, have been experimenting a bit, the 650D goes down to 1/4000th second. Here's G-XLEE heading for LHR this morning at FL180, still needs a faster speed I reckon

IMG_6847 by brownieboy27, on Flickr

[denwil189]

Thanks Jeff and Graham, I think I am now almost convinced this is the way to go, so will be going to the Camera shop this weekend, and try to test drive the Sigma for couple of hours, I have used this shop for years, normally they are quite helpful. Jeff I would be interested to see any shots you gef subject of course to weather!!

Thanks again Den

[graham]

Hi again Den

Needless to say, these shots I took have been cropped, but the combinaton of long lens and 18m pixels makes the end result quite acceptable. I fired off several high altitude shots today and all were pretty good. I altered the shutter speed from shot to shot and the higher speeds definitely favour the long lens, even with IS there's always going to be a bit of "shake" with such a small field of view.

[Jeff]

Graham, as ypu get more blue sky than me.. Lol, can you take a pic with the 300 and then the 500 of same aircraft then crop the so they are the same size, it might give Den an idea of the difference between them

[graham]

Morning, yes, of course, unfortunately it's all a bit murky here this morning but should clear up according to the forecast

[Jeff]

Had a little play this morning while the sun was out, not the clearest of morning even though the sky was blue, not too impressed with my results, I was trying different settings though, the lower ones were at 11k the higher between 36 and 39k.There must be a knack to this...and I will keep trying













and a Pidgeon who just seemed to be posing for pictures !! lol

[graham]

LOL love the pigeon...;0) Maybe try setting the ISO rating higher Jeff, might eliminate the graininess a bit?

[Jeff]

The ISO was high, 1600 high!! Thats what causes the grain :-( i think the lower the better on ISO, if you find any tips on the net on how too it would be appreciated :-) had a quick look but couldnt see anything

The pigeon was at the top of the tree at the end of my garden and was sort of in line of sight of the flyovers, I'm sure it thought i was potographing him all morning and thought he was in a photoshoot !!

[graham]

Sorry, I put higher, meant lower, still waking up. Carnage here this morning, the puppies somehow got out from their crate overnight and have used the dining room as their personal toilet. Lovely start to the week...;0(

[graham]

Some stuff here

photographyblogger.net/10-tips-for-using-long-telephoto-lenses/

digital-photography-school.com/10-tips-for-great-telephoto-photography/

[KyleG]

Mar 4, 2015 17:29:50 GMT graham said:

I use the 18-200mm lens on the EOS 50D which is 12 million pixels and therefore is taking relatively closer shots and then the new Sigma on the 650D which is 18 million.

The 50D is 15.1MP, so 15 million 100 thousand pixels, not 12 million

[graham]

Thank you for the correction, I shall go to a corner of the room with the dunce's cap on immediately

[zz]

Love these shots guys- I'm also going to have to seriously consider a decent new camera and lens!

[graham]

Thanks zz, it's the longest lens I've ever had, so it does take a bit of experimenting to get things right. The image stabilisation is very good, and more than compensates for the narrow field of vision, especially at the full focal length. The shots I've taken have all been hand held. The Canon 70-300mm lens I have doesn't have IS and although the Sigma is a much longer focal length, the difference is amazing. It's a question of getting the right ISO/shutter speed really so I'll keep on experimenting. But on light stuff going across here, I can in most cases read the reg straight off with the Sigma.

[Jeff]

In fact, while in vegas last year i was spotting using that lense, a telecope was hopeless so a few shots of each aircraft by the camera was good enough to read the regggies easy enough

[graham]

Gulf 6 N652CH going over the house at 22000ft today

IMG_6961 by brownieboy27, on Flickr


and N732AN heading for LHR at 19000ft

IMG_6944 by brownieboy27, on Flickr

[Spotter]

<<If that Arkefly 787 had been 500 ft lower, I could have read the reg off.>>

Fantastic pics Graham. Have you tried sharpening them with software? I use Corel Paintshop Pro, which I find as good as Photoshop for a fraction of the price.

[graham]

Thanks spotter. I've never used any imaging software so will take a look at Corel as you suggest

[carmedic]

My advice when shootting OTT aircraft, shoot in aperture priority mode using the largest aperture for your lens, ie F4, f5.6 ect, adjust the exposure bias down by a third ( this will darken the sky but not the subject ) and use ISO 100 and spot metering. Finally dont crop to close as it reduces the quality