Anything worth upgrading the sigma 120-300mm to?

[Phal]

I can't recall. I don't think I had enough light for above 1/1000 f4 at any point without iso being above 1000

If the 300mm f2.8 can't take a 2xtc well then it isn't worth the outlay over the sigma really


One option I have looked at was 500mm f4 mk1 but the weight is extreme for hand held. I could hand hold it maybe, would have to try it. Looks like 3.8kg. But carrying it around I'd need it on some sort of backpack vs over shoulder
A 500mm f4 could probably take a TC and push it all way to 700mm

Usually the light has to be pretty dim and the subject in be in some shade for ISO to get over 1000. These shots are ISO 3200 and ISO 4000 but that's mostly due to the way the auto exposure calculated for all the dark bits of the seawed and mussel shells

Action Turnstone by Phal44, on Flickr

Draining by Phal44, on Flickr


They were a fair bit over exposed due to that so I was able to lower the exposure which helped with the noise but they were 1/1250 on a cloudy day.




As for how well a 300mm F2.8L mk2 takes a 2x TC, you'll have to be the judge of that I guess! I only have the Sigma 120-300 F2.8 Sport as a benchmark of how well a 2x TC works but it wasn't great.

mk1 500mm lenses would be good but you'd definitely get fit lugging it around hehe

 

[D.P.]

The 300mm f/2.8 primes cope way better with a 2xTC and gives usable results but I wouldn't want that to be a permanent solution.

I think you are a little hung up on ISO. I set auto iso with a max of 6400 and ignore it. Getting the photo is more important.

The 50mm f/4 is the next step up from a 300mm f/2.8, but you aren't hand holding it! Factor in the tripod and gumball weight. And since you are tripod bound you can then consider the 150-600 options

 

[Phal]

Looked at the weight of the 500mm mk1 and it's not much heavier than my 200-400 (3.8 something vs 3.6 something) so it's hand holdable to some degree not for too long mind but enough to walk about with.

 

[413x]

I might go for a 500mm mk1
The situation I was in the other day.. If I had had a tripod. Would have been fine

Because I really like twitchy birds (and would love to get some still wing in flight shots) I think the aperture in UK weather may well be important

Stick it in my monopod and weight shouldn't be such an issue
I'm hoping can find a 'backpack style carry system - or basically some way to spread the weight across both shoulders.

The main issue with the 120-300mm that 8hr day was weight distribution

 

[Phal]

Yeah a good system should let you carry it without too much stress.

I kinda want something that I can clip onto my rucksack but I can't say I've really looked to see if such a thing exists!

For shorter sessions I just use the single strap on the lens with a smaller shoulder bag but the problem is that it sits on my left shoulder which is also where the strap of my small bag goes so it gets a bit tiring after a while.

 

[D.P.]

I also want some kind of system like black rapid but with straps over both shoulders. Better stil would be a framed backpack so the weight can be held over the hips. I feel my D800 and 300mm F/4.0 after a few hours even with a shoulder strap.

 

[Phal]

Yeah my rucksack has those molle webbing straps all over it so some kind of system that clips into those would be good! just need to find one :/