Finally took the plunge

And bought a Sigma 150-500mm from SRS. Wonderful service as always, bought 16:30 Wednesday, delivered 10:15 today.

Here are my first attempts, handheld

[IMG]http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j311/Tinywales/Testof500mm/wood_pigeon_500_w.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j311/Tinywales/Testof500mm/wood_pigeon_500_3_w.jpg[/IMG]

and the ubiquitous robin

[IMG]http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j311/Tinywales/Testof500mm/robin_500_w.jpg[/IMG]

All taken through a window, levels adjusting and a bit of sharpening with the pigeon and cropping with the robin.

First impressions -

1. heavy - I need to find a gym or alternatively buy a tripod

2. brilliant in good light

3. initially very pleased.

4. need to improve my technique with it.

Cheers,


Howard

Well done Howard, I bought one last week, as you say it's heavy so i've just bought a good monopod. Since I bought it the weather has been cr*p

Hi John, nice to hear from you. You OK?

What I think is great is the fast AF so much faster than the 55-300.

What monopod did you buy? As I type this it has begun to rain, so much for my plan to sit in the garden this afternoon while the good lady is out shopping.

Ah well!!!

Cheers,

Howard

I bought a monopod in readiness for the arrival of mine. However I have never used it. Never felt I needed it

Ditto .. same with tripod.

Hi Howard, very nice, glad you finally made the decision. I've 2 tripods in the boot of the car, that never get to play out

John

Nice one Howard.... the lens is capable of a lot better than what you have done so far Pigeons never look very sharp anyway.

Taken with my Sigma 70-200mm f2.8



Pigeon (Can you tell I'm bored?) by Mike.Pursey, on Flickr

The outline looks sharp Mike, but it also looks like you've drawn round it with "White Indian Ink" Nice colours

Re the discusion on monopods and tripods, when you pass your 3 score years and ten like me, you will find out that 2 kilo feels like half a ton.

You took the words out of my mouth. It was in fact an early 70th birthday present. I'll be interested to hear how you get on John.

I definitely hope so. Any suggestions and advice most welcome. The wood pigeon was the only model willing to stay still for more than a few seconds this morning.

Thanks all for your comments so far.

Cheers,

Howard