Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 EX APO IF HSM lens (weight issues)?

I shoot my kids sports plus some pro sports (from the stands) with this lens. At Astros games they will not allow in monopods so I hand-hold it (I shot the All-Star game, etc. this way from field box seats). It gets a bit tiring near the end of the game but not too bad for me. Note that I am sitting down and usually resting my shooting arm on my knee.

A truly great lens, one of the first that Sigma has made with good mechanical construction (they have always had great optics but the construction is usually cheap).

I also shot the Tennis Masters Cup with this lens. Had a front row seat for the semifinals. I used a monopod for that as they allowed the monopod into the tournament (was there just about every day with mine).

I do not have any sports yet up on my website but hope to add some next month.

Hope that helps!

Don
http://www.donallen.net

For everything else I use a monopod.

JoeB_UK said:

Will be for tennis (some courtside, some from the stands) so need
the variation of length (i want to be able to shoot face shots too,
not just full body shots). the 120-300 would be the best bet i am
sure, but i wouldnt always be able to use a monopod (eg if im in
the stands). How much would a decent monopod cost me btw?

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Sure thanks

How do you reccomend holding/carrying it when im not shooting?

Yes, the camera rotates around 1 degree, but it is not impacting on the quality. I always support the lens more than the camera.
Dave

JoeB_UK said:

I have heard big lenses on the d70 can make the mount quite loose,
the sigma is a big HEAVY lens, have you had this problem dave?

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I use the 2 x TC about 90% of the time. Settle down, it will arrive soon. I am waiting on my first 20 x 24 inch print to arrive, taken with the 120-300 without the TC.

JoeB_UK said:

Cant wait till my stuff arrives! getting really excited
Do you use the 2.0x converter alot dave?

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Have a look at my gallery if you feel the need.
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You must carry the lens by it's tripod socket. This is the same place you fit the strap. I often have the lens and camera hanging from my shoulder by the strap, but I still hold the tripod mount as well!
Dave.

JoeB_UK said:

How do you reccomend holding/carrying it when im not shooting?

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--
Have a look at my gallery if you feel the need.
http://www.dksphotography.smugmug.com

Sorry for being dumb but where abouts do you mean? do you have a photo you could show it. Sorry for being a pain, i just want to be careful with my equipment and try to keep it in top condintion.

it is an attachment point for when you put it on a monopod or tripod,

but when carrying the lens it makes a nice handle, so with your D70 attached you would carry the assembly by the lens foot to prevent stress on the camera lens mount.

Here is a much bigger sigma lens, but you can see int he pic the lens foot quite clearly

http://www.photofocus.com/showarchive.php?aid=31&cid=1

JoeB_UK said:

Sorry for being dumb but where abouts do you mean? do you have a
photo you could show it. Sorry for being a pain, i just want to be
careful with my equipment and try to keep it in top condintion.

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Ahh yes! thats made me know what you meant! my other lens doesnt have one, so i thought you meant on the camera lmao!! I am always very careful with my stuff, sometimes too careful lol

This morning it got delivered, just had a play around the home and outside. In a minute i am gonna go down the park and test it out. I do find it hard to handhold lol, but ill have to work on it and strengthen my weedy wrists (because it shakes when i hold it lol). I am definately buying a monopod as well

Well done. Did they write anything on the box, like, gift or give it a low value?
You are going to love this lens.

I am thinking of going to the zoo when the cricket season finishes and take some shots with it to see how it compares with the nikon 300 that some of the others have.
Dave.

JoeB_UK said:

This morning it got delivered, just had a play around the home and
outside. In a minute i am gonna go down the park and test it out. I
do find it hard to handhold lol, but ill have to work on it and
strengthen my weedy wrists (because it shakes when i hold it lol).
I am definately buying a monopod as well

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--
Have a look at my gallery if you feel the need.
http://www.dksphotography.smugmug.com

Using a new D70 serial number 60136xx.

I have a brand new Sigma 70-200 EX APO HSM, serial number 50032xx.

It looks soft at f2.8, upon close examination I discovered that at f2,8 it is front focusing as it is closed down to about f4 the focus shifts back to spot on.

So it is useless at f2.8, it way beyond soft due to fornt focusing.

The camera is fine with the Nikon 18-70 kit lenss checked focus using all the angled and staright targets it is spot on.

I laso have a Sigma 24-20 EX DG MACRO, my second one, the first one was out of focus on the top right quarter, this one is oute of focus on the entire left side, serial number 30026xx and 30018xx.

My faith in Sigma lenses is about -10 and dropping like a lead balloon.

Back to the 70-200 from f4 onwards it is very very sharp, at f2.8 it's fine if you can aim it at what it is focusing on, or manually focus it.

I am having difficulty getting my head around how the AF system can be fooled, if I can manually focus it, isn't that exactly what the AF is doing, it is aligned correctly as the 18-70 Nikon kit lens works and the 70-200 focuses correctly from f4 onwards.

Is this an occult science or does someone actually know or can explain what is going on here?

Do the bad ones get fixed by rechipping or is it an optical alignment problem?

tarkan said:

depending on who you buy from (in Hong Kong) you may be able to get
them to test it for you before sending it out. I had my SB800
tested before being sent to me from HK.

Also make sure they send you an invoice with the Sigma warranty
card - Sigma operate a international warranty for their lens. Sigma
UK are pretty nice bunch as well - so I would not worry too much.

regards,
Tarkan

JoeB_UK said:

Forgot to say, i plan on buying from hongkong. so i bet this
increases risk of getting one of those bad ones

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A Nikon D70 Owner

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what the guy did is put no value on the forms, they didnt even open them up. I dont think he even put what was in it! In the form, inside the plastic he put item for testing! and they didnt even bother to look, the plastic was still sealed. (I had thought what a good idea this would be before he actually done this, if you put the item is for a review/testing)
My parents will be taking me to monkeyworld hopefully next week, should be good!

Ok went to the local park and tryed some shooting, found handheld so difficult and i kept shaking (most images were blurred). Although when i rested on a fence or something they were ok, but i have never used a big lens so i am not used to it. Although i found when i shot at 800 of a second or faster they were sometimes ok handheld (800 iso). Here is just a quick shot from today
http://img32.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img32&image=dsc00613lt.jpg

Any reccomendations on which Manfrotto and head to get?

It is a bit soft. You definately need a support. That way you can go manual and shoot at say, f/4 and 1/1000th second, ISO around 400. I have found these to be the best settings, try setting the camera to sharpen more as well. The bokeh at the f stop you used is excellent, just gotta get the little critter a bit sharper.

I use a monopod, but not a head, it only takes a second to unscrew the pod from the lens.

Have a look here, http://www.mis.net.au/stanton/Tripods%20and%20monopods.htm , this is the monopod that I have.

And just to make you feel part of the gang, here is my enigma with it's own carry strap fitted to the tripod mount collar.



One thing with hand held shots. Don't try to adjust the zoom on the go, get a good hold of the lens and drop your elbow down against your body, this way you won't wobble around as much.
More shots please,
Dave

Thanks for your advice! when you say sharpen the settings, which settings do you mean?

Ok here are some more on pbase, havent touched them with any software as you can see

http://www.pbase.com/joeb_uk/inbox

Nice to hear what needs changing, and then ill go again tomorrow and try

In your menu on the camera, go to optimize image. You can select sharper, vivid etc. there is also a custom setting. use that one and increase the sharpness to plus 2 and tone plus 2, sturation moderate, see how it goes.

I just had a look through a few of mine and have thrown them up to show what the lens is capable of at 300mm and also 190mm. I normally shoot at 600mm, (with the 2 x TC fitted), so they can look a bit soft. These are much sharper.

first one is at 300mm, resized photo for the web, full image, 1/2500th sec at f/10



Next 2 are 100% crops from that pic, full sized pixels, but qualtiy reduced for speed





last one is at 190 mm , 1/2500th sec, f/4 100% crop and quality reduced for speed.



These pics are part of the reason that I still love this lens. These guys were moving around very quickly.

I also have one at f/2.8, which is excellent for wide open. this one at 270mm. Her nose is on the money, but even back at her eye, the shallow depth of field of f/2.8 is obvious.



Dave.

Hey dave, thanks alot buddy great stuff! i have chosen those settings and just shot a few shots out of my bedroom window (leaning against the window seal, so quite steady). Both at f2.8, are these sharper? or still not very sharp? Have abit of the flu so my eyes are abit dodgy and heady lol! so hard for me to see that well

http://www.pbase.com/joeb_uk/f28_shots