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Bigma + 1.4X teleconverter Sigma. (2 BHS imgs)

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brandrx

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A few days ago I mentioned that I was impressed when I gave my screwdrive Sigma 50-500mm (Bigma) + Sigma 1.4X teleconverter a quick try. Today I tried it against some real targets. There were black rainclouds overhead and I was shooting at f7.1, 1/200s, ISO2000 (img #1) and ISO2500 (img #2). I supported the lens on my Jeep side mirror. There was no problem focusing and locking on. The images were ran through NeatImage to get rid of some of the noise. So, now I believe that under better conditions this combination will be quite good in fact.

Both Bighorn sheep (BHS) images below were with the Pentax K-5 + Sigma 50-500mm + Sigma 1.4X with the lens set to 500mm (700mm) and f7.1 (f10).

Image #1 - In the tall grass.



;
Image #2 - Portrait.



;

The Bighorn sheep came in to about 15 feet (4.5 meters) from me. I had to remove the 1.4X in order to keep shooting.

Cheers.

Ron

--
Ron - 'We don't have time to go take pics this afternoon Carl.'
Carl - 'What do you mean? It will only take 1/1000s.'

'Keep your eyes looking forward. However, glance back now and then to see where you've come from. It will put a smile on your face.' ~ brandrx
 
--
Ron - 'We don't have time to go take pics this afternoon Carl.'
Carl - 'What do you mean? It will only take 1/1000s.'

'Keep your eyes looking forward. However, glance back now and then to see where you've come from. It will put a smile on your face.' ~ brandrx
 
Amazingly sharp - I have to try my 150-500 more! Which TC did you use?!
--
tord (at) mindless (dot) com
 
Tord S Eriksson said:
Amazingly sharp - I have to try my 150-500 more! Which TC did you use?!
Click to expand...
My Bigma is the screwdrive type. I used the Sigma 1.4X EX DG.

The 150-500mm, being HSM, will not work with a Sigma teleconverter. One of the 1.4X PZ_Af teleconverters from Tamron or Kenko might work though.

Cheers.

Ron

--
Ron - 'We don't have time to go take pics this afternoon Carl.'
Carl - 'What do you mean? It will only take 1/1000s.'

'Keep your eyes looking forward. However, glance back now and then to see where you've come from. It will put a smile on your face.' ~ brandrx
 
thxbb12 said:
Very impressive shots, Ron.
Click to expand...
Thanks Florent.
thxbb12 said:
The sharpness is surprisingly good and these shots are great.
That's a fantastic combo you've got here: from 50 to 700mm!
Click to expand...
I will know more when I can take images in better light. I want to also see if I can track a bird in flight with this combo. That would be great if I can.
thxbb12 said:
Does the 1.4x converter AF all the way (with no problems)?
Click to expand...
Since the Sigma teleconverters have a protruding element that will hit the rear element of the lens, there is a switch that limits the lens from 100mm to 500mm when the Sigma teleconverter is attached. However, a Tamron or Kenko teleconverter will not hit the rear element so it will work from 50 to 500mm of the lens. I havn't checked image quality with the Tamron and Kenko teleconverters yet.

Cheers.

Ron

--
Ron - 'We don't have time to go take pics this afternoon Carl.'
Carl - 'What do you mean? It will only take 1/1000s.'

'Keep your eyes looking forward. However, glance back now and then to see where you've come from. It will put a smile on your face.' ~ brandrx
 
Both terrific Ron. Colors, framing, clarity etc. Very good results for that combo. When I used to have a Bigma I tried it with a non-Pz Kenko TC and it the results were terrible. Very dark, and AF was painful to say the least.

Nice to see it working so well with a better converter. I don't know that it matches the IQ of your 500mm (f/4.5), but I bet you could have (for fun) told people you used the 500mm (f/4.5) for these and no one would have questioned it.

Pete
 
Hi,

Thank you again for your great tele-experiments ;-D

Now I have to say that these samples are much better than I would have expected with Bigma+TC combo!!

Also really nice to hear that AF works OK...I hope that HSM version works too, if I later upgrade my trusty workhorse Sigma 170-500DG to Bigma HSM OS model...

cheers,

Ari

--


  • Ari Aikomus -
'Why should I feel lonely ? is not our planet in the Milky way?'
 
Ari Aikomus said:
Hi,

Thank you again for your great tele-experiments ;-D

Now I have to say that these samples are much better than I would have expected with Bigma+TC combo!!

Also really nice to hear that AF works OK...I hope that HSM version works too, if I later upgrade my trusty workhorse Sigma 170-500DG to Bigma HSM OS model...
Click to expand...
Hi Ari,

I found this concerning a 1.4X PZ_Af in a previous post made by forum member Fl_Gulfer.
  • Quote from Fl_Gulfer - "I had no trouble auto focusing with the New Sigma DG 50-500 HSM OS and the Tamron PZ_Af 1.4X teleconverter all this past week (on a sunny day)." - end quote
Cheers.

Ron

--
Ron - 'We don't have time to go take pics this afternoon Carl.'
Carl - 'What do you mean? It will only take 1/1000s.'

'Keep your eyes looking forward. However, glance back now and then to see where you've come from. It will put a smile on your face.' ~ brandrx
 
Hi folks,

If anyone tries this with the the Pentax K-5 + screwdrive Sigma 50-500mm + Sigma 1.4X or the the Pentax K-5 + Sigma 50-500mm APO OS HSM + a PZ_Af 1.4X, then please see if you can track a bird in flight (BIF). My oportunities for BIF's are few and far between at the moment.

Thanks.

Ron

--
Ron - 'We don't have time to go take pics this afternoon Carl.'
Carl - 'What do you mean? It will only take 1/1000s.'

'Keep your eyes looking forward. However, glance back now and then to see where you've come from. It will put a smile on your face.' ~ brandrx
 
brandrx said:
If anyone tries this with the the Pentax K-5 + screwdrive Sigma 50-500mm + Sigma 1.4X or the the Pentax K-5 + Sigma 50-500mm APO OS HSM + a PZ_Af 1.4X, then please see if you can track a bird in flight (BIF). My oportunities for BIF's are few and far between at the moment.
Click to expand...
Ron

Good question, I hope you get an answer. I been looking at the Sigma 50-500 & 150-500 OS HSM lenses and was also wondering if the PZ_AF 1.4x works since I have one.

Thanks for asking,

John
 
johnat60 said:
johnat60 said:
If anyone tries this with the the Pentax K-5 + screwdrive Sigma 50-500mm + Sigma 1.4X or the the Pentax K-5 + Sigma 50-500mm APO OS HSM + a PZ_Af 1.4X, then please see if you can track a bird in flight (BIF). My oportunities for BIF's are few and far between at the moment.
Click to expand...
Ron

Good question, I hope you get an answer. I been looking at the Sigma 50-500 & 150-500 OS HSM lenses and was also wondering if the PZ_AF 1.4x works since I have one.
Click to expand...
I found this concerning a 1.4X PZ_Af in a previous post made by forum member Fl_Gulfer.
  • Quote from Fl_Gulfer - "I had no trouble auto focusing with the New Sigma DG 50-500 HSM OS and the Tamron PZ_Af 1.4X teleconverter all this past week (on a sunny day)." - end quote
Cheers.

Ron

--
Ron - 'We don't have time to go take pics this afternoon Carl.'
Carl - 'What do you mean? It will only take 1/1000s.'

'Keep your eyes looking forward. However, glance back now and then to see where you've come from. It will put a smile on your face.' ~ brandrx
 
Wow! this is mighty impressive.
--

http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/home#section=ARTIST&subSection=2323984&subSubSection=0&language=EN]MY PPG[ url]
K10D, K-7

Pentax: DA15/4, DA21/3.2, FA31/1.8, FA43/1.9, FA77/1.8, F135/2.8, FA*28-70/2.8, FA*80-200/2.8
Sigma Zooms: Sigma 100-300 F4

'Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming... 'Wow! What a ride!'

 
Hi Ron,

Great detail on the coats of the BHS and just about all around too, nice color. These came came out Top Notch! Be proud my friend :-)

Nic
--
At any given moment, there is a sort of all pervading orthodoxy, a general tacit
agreement not to discuss large and uncomfortable facts… Anyone who
challenges the prevailing orthodoxy finds himself silenced with surprising
effectiveness. - George Orwell
 
Very impressive details, Ron. Recently you also had a session with your Sigma 400/5.6 APO Tele Macro (77mm). As I know it is a very good lens. I'm hopelessly looking for it for more than a year. In the same time I used to think that Bigma is a bit soft at longer end. Regardless of 400mm vs. 500mm does Bigma perform on par with 400/5.6 contrast/details wise (at both 400mm and 500mm)?
 
Thanks for the comments everyone.

I tried again with the combo in a little better lighting.
Cheers.

Ron

--
Ron - 'We don't have time to go take pics this afternoon Carl.'
Carl - 'What do you mean? It will only take 1/1000s.'

'Keep your eyes looking forward. However, glance back now and then to see where you've come from. It will put a smile on your face.' ~ brandrx
 
LaRee said:
Excellent work Ron! They are both beautiful images. I'd love to see that second one in print. I bet it looks awesome! I am glad I dropped by tonight and caught these. --
Click to expand...
Here you go LaRee. Download it and print it if you want to. It is cropped for a 10x8 inch print. It is a 7mb file.
Cheers.

Ron

--
Ron - 'We don't have time to go take pics this afternoon Carl.'
Carl - 'What do you mean? It will only take 1/1000s.'

'Keep your eyes looking forward. However, glance back now and then to see where you've come from. It will put a smile on your face.' ~ brandrx
 
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