The "New Gear/Willy Waving" thread

Forgot to touch on that :). It was handheld and the stabilisation is very good out of the box. I will see what the Sigma USB dock can do, as from what I've read the stabilisation can be improved upon with it.
 
Just dusted off (badly) my Sigma dock for the 150-600 C. It was like something out of the docking scene of 2001, a space odyssey ;)

Wm4gJhp.jpg


MNeBOZJ.png

Applied the above settings to Custom switch setting 1. AF Speed: Focus accuracy-priority. OS Settings: Dynamic View Mode.

A quick test now shows that the OS setting change is like night and day compared to how the lens is shipped in standard mode. Sigma are plain and simply money grabbing here with requiring the dock to enable this better mode, why they couldn't just program one of the custom switches to this faster OS setting is just cheeky. If you do not own the dock which enables you to make this stabilisation change, you'll only be experiencing around 25% of the OS potential. It now kicks in and locks almost as good is the IS on my 70-300L.

The AF setting change also makes the most sense to me, I want the most accurate focus. I've not noticed any slow down in AF speed with this setting.
 
Personally I can't say I noticed much difference when I tested the settings on the 120-300 I had.

Without any kind of guide from Sigma on exactly what effect a setting should have, it's difficult to say how much difference is just placebo.

Maybe someone out there has actually done some testing? That being said, I'll never buy these lenses so I can't be bothered to check lol
 
TBH I also shrugged it off as the placebo effect when I read that many reported the IS setting change made a huge difference. But it does make a huge difference on this lens, it's staggering.

Shall try and capture the difference :)
 
2StepSteve said:
Just dusted off (badly) my Sigma dock for the 150-600 C. It was like something out of the docking scene of 2001, a space odyssey ;)

Wm4gJhp.jpg


MNeBOZJ.png

Applied the above settings to Custom switch setting 1. AF Speed: Focus accuracy-priority. OS Settings: Dynamic View Mode.

A quick test now shows that the OS setting change is like night and day compared to how the lens is shipped in standard mode. Sigma are plain and simply money grabbing here with requiring the dock to enable this better mode, why they couldn't just program one of the custom switches to this faster OS setting is just cheeky. If you do not own the dock which enables you to make this stabilisation change, you'll only be experiencing around 25% of the OS potential. It now kicks in and locks almost as good is the IS on my 70-300L.

The AF setting change also makes the most sense to me, I want the most accurate focus. I've not noticed any slow down in AF speed with this setting.
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wow thats a beast!

has it got the same IQ and build as the ART lenses?
 
To be fair, the dock is peanuts in the whole scheme of things in the world of photography.

I have UV filters costing more that don't use....
 
jonneymendoza said:
wow thats a beast!

has it got the same IQ and build as the ART lenses?
Click to expand...

It's not built as well as the Sport version of this lens. Can only compare it to the 35 Art that I have. It's not a million miles away build wise to the 35mm Art, IQ wise definitely not in the same league as the 35mm Art. Can't really compare a prime to a zoom.

It's an impressive amount of reach and IQ performance for the price though, nothing out there can touch it in that respect. It's extremely close in IQ to the Sport model, so close that you have to ask yourself is the extra £600 worth it. If you require weather sealing and dust proofing, definitely. But if not... is the slight extra sharpness at 600mm worth the £600 extra? It's surprising how good the Contemporary model of this lens is for the price.

I'm itching to get out there tomorrow with it. I've booked a days annual leave to head to a nature reserve. :)

Raymond Lin said:
To be fair, the dock is peanuts in the whole scheme of things in the world of photography.

I have UV filters costing more that don't use....
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I guess it's their attitude that is annoying me more than the cost of the dock. It should ship out the box with IS that is set at its best.
 
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wish you guys would stop posting them 150-600 lenses, really does make me want to replace my 70-300vr with one.
 
New tripod + head (Gitzo 1542T and an Arca Swiss P0):

cRM3P2g.jpg


Solid as a rock. It's so much nicer coming from my older Manfrotto 190XB and three way head. The single ring design makes it really easy to adjust and tighten quickly.
 
2StepSteve said:
My Sigma 150-600 Contemporary arrived today after a mere 48hrs after ordering from China. Probably the fastest DHL experience I've ever had, it only landed at 7AM today, but was sent quickly to the local depot and was placed on a late delivery van at 12:30PM, and by 2:30PM I had it! Love it when the expected delivery date on the tracking shifts forward by a whole day. :D



First thoughts: It's a beast. I could only play with it after getting home from work and doing a BBQ. By the time I got it out the box light was starting to fade. I took it for a quick spin and I am very impressed so far.

Firstly, it looks like I have a very good copy, it is sharp, especially so when stopped down to F/8. Focus speed is extremely good and fast, it has no problem keeping up with tracking fast moving birds, actually very impressed by the focus speed, it's a lot of glass to shift and it does it effortlessly. Build quality while not up there with the Sport model is very good also and the lens hood is decent.

Waited in the garden for something interesting to appear and was greeted by the local robin patrolling its territory.

600mm f/10 ISO1000 (around 50% crop, subject is approx 9 metres away)


Tiny subject needed some heavy cropping and the light was fading and had to bump to a not ideal ISO1000, but I am very happy with the level of detail and sharpness of the above. Sigma have a winner here, price/performance ratio is incredible.

Going to take it out properly to a reserve on Friday.
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How much did that set you back? UK sellers seem to be ~£900, according to camerapricebuster the sports version has been as low as little under £900 back in April tho I think it might have been a mix up with the contemporary model.

Can't afford(or justify) either model at the moment, just upgraded my ~11yr old 300D with a 70D which came on Tuesday(from jessops on their 12month interest free which has now ended). Will have to make do with the 70-200 f4 non-is until I can afford a better wildlife(mainly birds) lens.
 
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I'm usually very low profile.. but felt like showing off my weird Olympus/Canon fusion kit today.

Olympus OMD EM1 with cheapo China knock-off battery grip
Olympus 25mm F1.8 lens & 12-40mm F2.8 lens
Canon to Micro 4/3 adapter
Canon 50mm F1.8 & 28mm F1.8

Will be adding some manual prime lenses to the collection in the next week :)

2015-07-18%2019.08.41.jpg
 
fowler002 said:
Half a tb not enough for you? How much do you need?
I have 3x 32gb sd cards, bought two and the third one came free with the new 70d.
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A set for each 5D. I wouldn't fill it but I always stay on the side of caution so get more than enough. 64G each would've been enough if I shoot 50/50 even for each camera but the fact that I shoot more with the camera that has the 35mm on so I alway end up one camera having more and one less. Now with this i don't need to worry.

I also have a bunch of smaller CF cards and 2 x 128 SD...the reason for this is I have 2 back to back weddings (so 4) this year and I don't have time to back up the shoot in between. This way, the back up is done on the fly.
 
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