OOf! Right in the wallet.
Discussion
Some of you may recall me constantly moaning about my Nikkor 80-400VR being slow to focus, and how I don't feel like it gets me the results I think I should be getting.
As I'm off on a Safari in the next week, I developed a paranoia that I was going to get there and get no decent shots, and forever wonder if it was because of my kit. So I set about finding an alternative.
Went into London Camera Exchange in Bristol today to do some back to back tests of the Sigma 150-500 against my existing lens, with the intention of comparing them at home.
Suffice to say the difference was obvious even on the screen, before I even considered the HSM and better stabilisation.
So the bank balance takes another hit this month!
I'll post some comparison shots ASAP, but in the meantime, I thought the 80-400 was a big beast...
As I'm off on a Safari in the next week, I developed a paranoia that I was going to get there and get no decent shots, and forever wonder if it was because of my kit. So I set about finding an alternative.
Went into London Camera Exchange in Bristol today to do some back to back tests of the Sigma 150-500 against my existing lens, with the intention of comparing them at home.
Suffice to say the difference was obvious even on the screen, before I even considered the HSM and better stabilisation.
So the bank balance takes another hit this month!
I'll post some comparison shots ASAP, but in the meantime, I thought the 80-400 was a big beast...
I've been messing around with the VR and doing some tests, it really is leagues ahead of the system in the Nikon - no surprises there really as the Nikon is very early 1st gen VR and the Sigma is very recent.
Hand held shots at 1/2 second are possible, but you've got to be pretty steady handed.
Hand held shots at 1/2 second are possible, but you've got to be pretty steady handed.
Simpo Two said:
Quite useful as a weapon if attacked by natives too, I should think. One of those over the bonce and it's 'Goodnight Serengeti'!
I'll just hide behind the wife. I'm a manly man I am.Edited by _dobbo_ on Tuesday 6th October 13:10
I traded in one of those recently, I found it unbalanced and therefore difficult to hold and also soft beyond 420mm. I thought this might be down to the handling but I had the same results when it was on a heavyweight tripod and using cable release. I hope for your sake mine was a 'rogue' and not typical of the lens.
RobDickinson said:
Its bit, but not that big... Should try the 300-800....
Lend us £5k and maybe I could try it!havoc said:
(Where are you off to, by the way?)
Off to Kenya, 4 day safari and 10 days of vegetating (read me getting bored, and the wife getting a suntan)grumpy bear said:
I traded in one of those recently, I found it unbalanced and therefore difficult to hold and also soft beyond 420mm. I thought this might be down to the handling but I had the same results when it was on a heavyweight tripod and using cable release. I hope for your sake mine was a 'rogue' and not typical of the lens.
Thanks for the info. For me handling seems no different to the 80-400, so I hope I'll be ok. As for being soft beyond 420 - the 80-400 never went that far, so again I'm not missing anything!_dobbo_ said:
havoc said:
(Where are you off to, by the way?)
Off to Kenya, 4 day safari and 10 days of vegetating (read me getting bored, and the wife getting a suntan)
I'll wave to you from either the Serengeti or from Zanzibar - we're off on Monday for something similar (although I managed to get more safari and less beach somehow...I know she'll regret agreeing to that!!!).
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