Telephoto bird tips and what I should expect

[413x]

So I will have my sigma 120-300 over the bank holiday weekend as it's os unit is going to be repaired next week

I had a quick try hand held using shutter 1/2000

The shots weren't really good to my eyes
I would say the birds today were about 30ft away minimum
They were also small birds.. From starling to crow

I found than none really seemed sharp and a couple that were kind of sharp only seemed to be at a crop where pixellation crept in

To get good shots I guess I just need to get closer due to me currently needing to crop into the pic to far

In thinking this will more likely be my sports and zoo (etc) lens. Which to be fair is its target

It's heavy but Tbh not as bad as I was expecting. I was out for a good while today and didn't notice the weight

 

[413x]

so i figure i think at some point i will get a 400mm prime (anything more is stupidly expensive!).. such a shame it will have to be 5.6

the sigma 1.4TC and this will do for now and it will be a lens i keep. seems ideal for zoo and nothing that serves this range in one lens at 2.8

i know bird behaviour (i have grown up bird watching etc) and i was thinking of 'passive' birds to start with this weekend also. Its one thing just watching birds and another getting pics i have found!

hopefully when the lens is sent for repair of its OS sigma will do a general check etc service

i was hoping using 1/2000 would eliminate camera shake problems tbh