Just bought a new lens

[mister c]

I've bitten the bullet at long last & have bought a new lens, just waiting for it to be delivered.
I was going to buy a Canon USM, but read reviews on the Sigma & they came out just as good, if not better in some respects for half the price, so roll on the weekend....It'll be play time :)
http://www.dpreview.com/news/2008/1/31/sigma120400

http://www.dpreview.com/files/news/9887267912/sigma_120-400.jpg

[Brettus]

Wow cool! Can't wait to see what you get up to with it (that zoom length should be ideal for peeping tom pictures LOL)

It'll be interesting to see what you think to it after having tried the manual method on the other lenses and such.

Hope the delivery gods are kind

[timwilky]

Slightly off topic.

I am currently trying to justify to myself the replacement of my little used finepix S8000 with its 18x zoom with a DSLR, the physical size of lens needed to give that, (Yes I know totally different technology/quality than my bridge) scares me for the simple reason that I have bad shakes at the best of times. I doubt stabilisation methods would work sufficiently with all that extra weight and amplified movement with the length?

Please tell me I am wrong and these big lenses are just as managable

[Sir Trev]

Firstly - Col, enjoy your new lens and keep us posted. I have the Canon 70-300 (not the L series) and find it rather soft in terms of focus when wide open so unless the light is excellent it can be disappointing. May change it but I'll wait until later in the year as I'm still getting to grips with it and may get better with it.


Tim - just as a lightweight bike can be skittish compared to a heavier one (my GSX is way more stable than my old SV) you may find a heavier camera suits your alcohol-related shakes better. Curry's/PC World usually have DSLRs on display so try one for size and see how they feel. I traded up to a DSLR from a compact at Christmas and apart from the physical size I had no issues. The IS is pretty good on my tele-zoom and you soon get used to holding the camera to minimise shake.

[mister c]

Well, the seller actually dropped the lens off at my work today, so thought I'd go have a play this evening. I need a lot more practice with a big lens I think. I've used it on fully automatic, so looks like I'll also go back to Manual as I took 60 odd pictures & most of them have turned out slightly blurred. I know that the light isn't brilliant, so will try properly at the weekend to see if the results get any better. Looks like I may have to invest in a better camera to go with the lens lol.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y177/croozenooze/Untitled-1_zps0698f1b1.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/croozenooze/media/Untitled-1_zps0698f1b1.jpg.html)

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y177/croozenooze/IMG_8150_zps9edc87e9.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/croozenooze/media/IMG_8150_zps9edc87e9.jpg.html)

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y177/croozenooze/IMG_8162_zps4eb3ade3.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/croozenooze/media/IMG_8162_zps4eb3ade3.jpg.html)

[maviczap]

Which Cannon have you got at the moment Col. Is it the 350D, I can't remember, I was looking at Cannon bodies today.

[mister c]

Got the 450D Mav, might have to update when I can afford it I think lol

[Viney]

I want the 500mm version of that. Cant justify any lens at the moment as my camera hasn't really let its bag for months now.

[mister c]

I looked at the 500 but thought the 400 would suit my needs better. I might be swallowing those words later on

Sent from my HTC One mini using Tapatalk

[Bluepete]

Get thee to a hill in welsh Wales where the Eagles soar and the Hawks fly. Just mind the Tornado's!

It always takes time to get used to a new lens. The beauty of digital is the lack of processing costs. Keep snapping away.

Pete ;)

[Richie]

sexy...

[mister c]

Get thee to a hill in welsh Wales where the Eagles soar and the Hawks fly. Just mind the Tornado's!

It always takes time to get used to a new lens. The beauty of digital is the lack of processing costs. Keep snapping away.

Pete ;)
That's what I love about digital Pete.... Practice makes perfect so they say :)

sexy...
Looks the Biz Rich, just need to get snapping :)

[kaivalagi]

Lovely lens, I have a 450d and the 500mm sigma and don't use it enough, still not got used to it but I think atleast a monopod is needed for decent pics even with stabilisation...

I need to get the camera aout and about with me on the bike again me thinks, just need to find a way to carry the monopod too! You get some serious looks carting that big lens around, just wish I could find the time to get some serious photography under my belt! So far I've used it at rugby games and it worked well for those action shots but have had much less success with wildlife...I still find I need to be closer to the subject.

[Littlepeahead]

I find if you have a top box on for the camera gear then you can bungee a mono pod on to the rear seat wedged up against the top box no problem. I do that for cricket all the time with my F2.8 70-200IS and I chuck a 2x extender on if I need it too. Would be nice to get a 600mm L.series but can't see me using it enough to justify the cost of every buying one though hiring is an option as work would pay as it would only be for matches.