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Herons @ Great Falls, Virginia
Topic Started: Jul 20 2010, 07:45 AM (594 Views)
wk2004
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hi all,

some shots of herons @ great falls, virginia from last few weekends. no luck with "in-action" shots :(

after this few trips to great falls, i'm seriously contemplating to buy either the minolta 300 f4, sony 70-400g or the sigma 150-500 hsm os. anyone has experience with these lenses?

#1 waiting for prey
Posted Image

#2 in-flight attempt
Posted Image

#3
Posted Image

#4 "no fish, dragon also can"
Posted Image

taken with a500 + sigma 70-300 OS

thanks for viewing!
shooting with a850 + some lenses
my smugmug
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Mr.Oink
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So far I've only used Minolta 300mm & 70-400mm. so I can't comment on the sigma lens much.


BTW, how comfortable are you with your current 70-300mm setup at 300mm?
If you are happy with it. You will never go wrong with Minolta 300mm

But if you feel that it would be good for the extra reach...you can opt for 70-400 or 150-500
But do note that 150-500mm is about about 400gm heavier then 70-400.
Also 70-400mm silver lens color might be an acquired taste :)

Edited by Mr.Oink, Jul 20 2010, 08:08 AM.
Something I do when I'm online....FreeRice
[ SGP Birds ]
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kingfishers
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Hahahaha ,I'm using Sony 70-400mm G f4-5.6,this is a surprising lens to me,it is good to use and giving very nice picture in my opinion, it is also sharper than 70-200 f 2.8 and are lighter . Good luck but have to be selective for this lens and check IQ carefully. ;)
Edited by kingfishers, Jul 20 2010, 08:53 AM.
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les40sail
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hi dave,
we struggle when the birds are far away. so length is important. :whistle:
your choices seem to suggest that you will shoot handheld.

if zoom lens, i have used the tamron 200-500 and it is quite good. also it is light....about 1.4kg compared to sigma and cheaper. however at 500mm it is not so good, 400-440mm is useable.
you will almost be shooting at the longest end unless the bird is near. friend of mine has the sigma150-500 ..it's not very good (perhaps he got a poor copy).

min300 f2.8 is heavy 2.4kg so handheld all day is almost impossible. min300f4(1.5kg) is lighter but i have problems controlling the CA and haven't found the sweet spot yet (if ever).

cannot comment on the rest as i haven't used them. 70400g seem to have good reviews but have yet to try.

you can consider min400mmf4.5 (1.9kg). on a tripod it is good for me and you can always add a 1.4tc to extend the reach, 560mmf6.3. (i use this lens frequently). it is also hand holdable for a short while. :sweat:

IMO only...........
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Mr.Oink
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If u r interested with Tamron 200-500mm, U can search for my birding series that is shot with it. It's a good and light lens. Have been shooting handheld most of the time.
Something I do when I'm online....FreeRice
[ SGP Birds ]
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wk2004
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les40sail
Jul 20 2010, 09:08 AM
hi dave,
we struggle when the birds are far away. so length is important. :whistle:
your choices seem to suggest that you will shoot handheld.

if zoom lens, i have used the tamron 200-500 and it is quite good. also it is light....about 1.4kg compared to sigma and cheaper. however at 500mm it is not so good, 400-440mm is useable.
you will almost be shooting at the longest end unless the bird is near. friend of mine has the sigma150-500 ..it's not very good (perhaps he got a poor copy).

min300 f2.8 is heavy 2.4kg so handheld all day is almost impossible. min300f4(1.5kg) is lighter but i have problems controlling the CA and haven't found the sweet spot yet (if ever).

cannot comment on the rest as i haven't used them. 70400g seem to have good reviews but have yet to try.

you can consider min400mmf4.5 (1.9kg). on a tripod it is good for me and you can always add a 1.4tc to extend the reach, 560mmf6.3. (i use this lens frequently). it is also hand holdable for a short while. :sweat:

IMO only...........
very informative! thanks man! :thumbsup1:

weight is definitely a concern for me. i almost drove to the shop yesterday to pick up the sig 150-500 but the weight kind of held me back. i was also considering the sig 100-300 f4, slightly more expensive but lighter.

the tamron 200-500 looks pretty neat.

i'll probably just drive to the shop & see see look look later :sweat:

hmm... decisions
shooting with a850 + some lenses
my smugmug
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wk2004
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Mr.Oink
Jul 20 2010, 08:07 AM
So far I've only used Minolta 300mm & 70-400mm. so I can't comment on the sigma lens much.


BTW, how comfortable are you with your current 70-300mm setup at 300mm?
If you are happy with it. You will never go wrong with Minolta 300mm

But if you feel that it would be good for the extra reach...you can opt for 70-400 or 150-500
But do note that 150-500mm is about about 400gm heavier then 70-400.
Also 70-400mm silver lens color might be an acquired taste :)

thanks man for the info! i find 300mm's reach a bit short... which is why i'm considering the sig 150-500 or the tam 200-500. as for the sony 70-400, price difference is 450usd and yeah, the color.

after reading abt the tam 200-500, the weight is definitely a plus point.

hmm... :go-around:
shooting with a850 + some lenses
my smugmug
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les40sail
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i believe you can test the lenses at the shops in new york. adorama and b&h photo. they have sometimes used ones as well.
good luck to your search.
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wk2004
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went to the shop & tested both the sigma & tamron. the sigma focusing is dead silent and produces slight warmer colours compared to the tamron. but weight wise, the sigma is significantly higher whereas the tamron is more to my liking and i find it produces sllightly sharper image. focusing for both is pretty fast actually.

so, i picked up the tamron :D

thanks all for your inputs! else i would have missed the tamron.

will post pics when i bring it out.
shooting with a850 + some lenses
my smugmug
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Mr.Oink
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Congrats on ya new lens!!!
For tamron 200-500 shooting, I usually shoot between F8-F11 to achieve sharper images.
Something I do when I'm online....FreeRice
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