what lens.......Nikon content

[Furyous]

Went to donington for the world super bikes over the weekend.

Apart from the jesus, they're bloody fast, I think my sigma apo really struggled to keep or get focus.

Mate was with me using a 40d with 100-400 L glass.

Bugger me, that focuses fast!

So, what's the sigma or nikon equivalent?

Any recommendations?

[RobDickinson]

Nikon dont realy have an equivelant.

They have a subpar(ish) 80-400 and a superb 200-400f4.

IMO sigma equivelants are lacking apart from the 120-300f2.8 and 1.4 tc. Thats HUGE.

[Dogsey]

RobDickinson said:

Nikon dont realy have an equivelant.

They have a subpar(ish) 80-400 and a superb 200-400f4.

IMO sigma equivelants are lacking apart from the 120-300f2.8 and 1.4 tc. Thats HUGE.

Just hired the 80-400VR for an airshow (from lensesforhire.co.uk), focus speed is ok but not brilliant and it's also a little soft at 400mm wide open (5.6), however switching focus mode to AF-C (I think that's what the continuous focus mode is called) on the camera did make a fair difference so it might be worth the OP checking that first.

Edited by Dogsey on Monday 29th June 11:14

[Furyous]

Dogsey, I always use AF-C when shooting motorsport.

I know the sigma is huge world apart from L glass , I'm just trying to see the way forward.

Right now, given the budget, I would sell all my nikon gear and buy canon.

[CVP]

I'd hang in there a while yet. I hear rumors that the 80-400 is finally to go AFS and so you'll get the same focus speed as your mate's 100-400. It's a complete disgrace that it has taken Nikon this long, the Canon 100-400 is so widely used and well regarded that not to have AFS in the 80-400 is incredibly poor

Chris

[Major Bloodnok]

Dogsey][... said:

switching focus mode to AF-C (I think that's what the continuous focus mode is called) on the camera did make a fair difference so it might be worth the OP checking that first.

Isn't that down to the fact that AF-C will allow the shutter to fire even if it hasn't gained focus, whereas AF-S won't release the shutter unless it has got focus?

[Dogsey]

Major Bloodnok said:

Dogsey][... said:

switching focus mode to AF-C (I think that's what the continuous focus mode is called) on the camera did make a fair difference so it might be worth the OP checking that first.

Isn't that down to the fact that AF-C will allow the shutter to fire even if it hasn't gained focus, whereas AF-S won't release the shutter unless it has got focus?

As far as I know AF-C continuously refocuses whereas AF-S allows you to focus and will then hold that focus point as long as you keep the trigger depressed.

Obviously as a married man I accept that I'm probably wrong.

[CVP]

Major Bloodnok said:

Dogsey][... said:

switching focus mode to AF-C (I think that's what the continuous focus mode is called) on the camera did make a fair difference so it might be worth the OP checking that first.

Isn't that down to the fact that AF-C will allow the shutter to fire even if it hasn't gained focus, whereas AF-S won't release the shutter unless it has got focus?

In AF-C you can set the camera so the shutter will not fire if focus lock has not been reached. The big difference between the two is AF-C continually adjusts focus as it is tracking.

[VxDuncan]

CVP said:

Major Bloodnok said:

Dogsey][... said:

switching focus mode to AF-C (I think that's what the continuous focus mode is called) on the camera did make a fair difference so it might be worth the OP checking that first.

Isn't that down to the fact that AF-C will allow the shutter to fire even if it hasn't gained focus, whereas AF-S won't release the shutter unless it has got focus?

In AF-C you can set the camera so the shutter will not fire if focus lock has not been reached. The big difference between the two is AF-C continually adjusts focus as it is tracking.

On my D300 the shutter not firing till focus has been locked is a separate setting in one of the menus, not linked (directly) to the AF-S / AF-C selector.

Is the Sigma an HSM lens? I'd be surprised if the HSM is massively behind the other ring motor lenses. Maybe not quite as good, far far, far better than a conventional lens or body motor?

[Furyous]

The sigma isn't HSM, its only a cheapy 70-300 APO .

I've got the focus set to take focus and non focus pics when constant shooting, but my pics are a world apart from the canon set ups.

I'm well aware its not the best glass in the world, but really had my eyes opened yesterday.

[CVP]

I suspect then the majority of the difference in image quality you're seeing is the Sigma v's Canon L glass. That 100-400L can be really really good.

I would dive into the menus and set the AFC shutter release to only firing when it has focus lock as it'll cut way down on the number of out of focus images.

The other thing to consider depending upon whcih model you have is the focus sensor pattern you are using. If you are only using one sensor then it gest tricky with fast moving subjects. if your camera has the ability to use a group / all of the sensors, activating this mode will help.

Chris

[VxDuncan]

Furyous said:

The sigma isn't HSM, its only a cheapy 70-300 APO .

I've got the focus set to take focus and non focus pics when constant shooting, but my pics are a world apart from the canon set ups.

I'm well aware its not the best glass in the world, but really had my eyes opened yesterday.

Too be fair you are comparing £150 glass with £1200 (?) glass, especially as the sigma is reliant on the body to focus. Which camera is it on? There are Sigma HSM lenses, but no direct match for the 100-400L. Personally I'd be looking for something faster, but without the IS (which is less critical for motorsport use, esp. on a monopod.

[Simpo Two]

CVP said:

In AF-C you can set the camera so the shutter will not fire if focus lock has not been reached.

Yep, it's called 'focus priority' and 'release priority' - a custom menu setting.

[Furyous]

VxDuncan said:

Too be fair you are comparing £150 glass with £1200 (?) glass, especially as the sigma is reliant on the body to focus. Which camera is it on? There are Sigma HSM lenses, but no direct match for the 100-400L. Personally I'd be looking for something faster, but without the IS (which is less critical for motorsport use, esp. on a monopod.

Duncan, Im all to aware of the price differential, I just wasnt ready for just how good the set up was tbh.

Im using a D200 body, and will definately change the focus menu setting to focus only next time out.

Short on time currently, but will post a pair of pics fom both us to show what I mean.

The *only* other major difference is my mate shoots raw and i only shoot HQ Jpegs.

[CVP]

if you're using the D200, do take the time to read the manual with regard to the sensor points in use when using continuous focus AF mode. Honestly it can make a real difference.

Chris

[V8Dom]

use a 70-200 vr 2.8 with 1.5 converter...expensive but just as fast as any canon

dom

[RobDickinson]

V8Dom said:

use a 70-200 vr 2.8 with 1.5 converter...expensive but just as fast as any canon

dom

And 1.4 shorter than the 100-400.

You can use a 2.0tc but the quality will suffer, has been proven prepetedly the 100-400 is significantly better at 400/5.6 than a 70-200+2.0tc.

[Major Bloodnok]

VxDuncan said:

CVP said:

Major Bloodnok said:

Dogsey][... said:

switching focus mode to AF-C (I think that's what the continuous focus mode is called) on the camera did make a fair difference so it might be worth the OP checking that first.

Isn't that down to the fact that AF-C will allow the shutter to fire even if it hasn't gained focus, whereas AF-S won't release the shutter unless it has got focus?

In AF-C you can set the camera so the shutter will not fire if focus lock has not been reached. The big difference between the two is AF-C continually adjusts focus as it is tracking.

On my D300 the shutter not firing till focus has been locked is a separate setting in one of the menus, not linked (directly) to the AF-S / AF-C selector.

Is the Sigma an HSM lens? I'd be surprised if the HSM is massively behind the other ring motor lenses. Maybe not quite as good, far far, far better than a conventional lens or body motor?

According to the D200 book I've got, AF-C uses release priority by default, AF-S uses focus priority. These can be changed, but that's the default. YMMV. Mind you, I still find the whole thing a bit confusing, even after reading it a few times...

BTW AF-S will follow focus, as long as the object is moving at the time focus is obtained.

[CVP]

Major Bloodnok said:

According to the D200 book I've got, AF-C uses release priority by default, AF-S uses focus priority. These can be changed, but that's the default. YMMV. Mind you, I still find the whole thing a bit confusing, even after reading it a few times...

BTW AF-S will follow focus, as long as the object is moving at the time focus is obtained.

Correct, quite why the default setting for both is not to release without focus lock is beyond me. You're quite right on the AF-S comment but I find I get a higher success rate using AF-C with focus release, especially for subjects moving in a non-linear fashion through the frame e.g. some birds in flight.

As with many things there are lots of ways of skinning the proverbial cat, so whatever works for each person is the best method for them

Chris

[_dobbo_]

I'm about to flog my Nikkor 80-400 because it's too slow to focus for me. Reasonably sure I'm going to go with the Sigma 50-500 instead.