Some Birds with the Sigma 500/4.5 EX DG

[shots worth sharing]

<p>I've had this lens for a couple of frustrating weeks: getting some sunlight, some birds, the lens and me together at the same time & place hasn't been easy. It finally came together today.</p>

<p><img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/Nature/Fauna/i-rXqvXxH/0/L/IMGP6427cu-L.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="600" /></p>

<p><img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/Nature/Fauna/i-7MkLzz6/0/XL/IMGP6418ufc-XL.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p><img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/Nature/Fauna/i-SzK9mwJ/0/XL/IMGP6410cu-XL.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>I'm still in the get-acquainted stage but I like the lens a lot--it's very easy to handle (certainly as compared to the A*400/2.8) and very sharp at f5.6 and up. I do wish it had focus-limiting but, otherwise, I'm very happy (also very broke.)</p>

[michael_elenko]

<p>Congratulations Dave, a high quality 500mm lens is on my wishlist. That last shot is very fine. How is the AF and AF tracking with the K-5? Have you humped the lens on a trail for a ways yet? Most shooters I've run across in birding trails seem to have a permanently crooked shoulder from shlepping a 500mm or 600mm lens and tripod for many years.</p>

<p>ME</p>

[snik75]

<p>I think the first one is pretty great too. But I am NOT getting any ideas.</p>

[wolf_weber]

<p>That's a lot of lens there, Dave... Which camera did you have the <em>Big Eye</em> on..? For years now (..!) I have been puzzled why Sigma can't deliver Tele's (other than Zooms) with their rather excellent OS. Moreover it's a mystery why they abandoned the <strong>APO 400mm f/5.6</strong>, never made for Pentax anyhow. For me the 500 is too much to handle, and not even necessary with today's cropped dg sensors.<br>

The main reason for my switching to another system was a; not making good on a <strong>1.4 dedicated converter</strong>... B; other than the 300mm, no long focals to speak of. Too bad.</p>

[shots worth sharing]

<p>Hmmm, I think these may have lost some sharpness in the posting process. The originals are <a href="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/Nature/Fauna/11152245_LnddzD#1548171213_WnR6MLF">here</a>. </p>

<p>So far. I think the AF is pretty good, Michael. I haven't gotten around to any fine focus adjustment, though. I also haven't taken it out for a <em>long </em>walk (and my idea of long is actually pretty short--1-2 miles perhaps) but it's really not all that heavy. I love that I can hold it securely by the barrel with one hand (and even more securely by the generous tripod mount.) I use a monopod while trekking and that's really a piece of cake with this lens. </p>

<p>At this point, I figure I'm really out of excuses as well as cash: if I can't get good bird shots with this lens on a K-5, I might as well stay home and twist paper clips. Above all, the trick is to get close and fill as much of the frame with bird as possible. It's hard to do that on the move--you have to trek to where the birds are and then wait for them to get close This runs against the grain of my ADD but I'm learning to re-brand my laziness as patience ;~). </p>

<p>Here's a shot that could have been really good if it had been good. <br>

<img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/Nature/Fauna/i-WnR6MLF/0/L/IMGP6441-copycxu-L.jpg" alt="" width="480" height="600" /></p>

 

[michael_elenko]

Actually there is a lot to like about that last shot as an impressionistic interpretation. Colors rock too.

 

I would think there is a learning curve with a substantial lens like that, and it will be fun to see your shots in six

months.

 

Pnet compresses the vitality out of many images.

 

Now Dave, patience and wisdom go hand in hand. A simple method for me to extend my stay in a location known for

birds is to pull out my iPhone and check email, maybe read some. It just keeps me there in body. Frequently enough

when I'm done and look around a bird to two has returned.

 

In the field I've run across shooters who've adapted jog strollers to carry the heavy goods.

 

ME

[dorus]

<p>broke but happy, I reckon, as these prove you did very well</p>

[hinman]

<p>I love the 1st and last shot in the 4th. The color in last shot is amazing. It is the green and superb bokeh background that draw me a wow. And the bird is doing its thing with movement and your shot captures the moment beautifully. On the 2nd and 3rd shot, I would have liked a bolder crop as your k-5 and your 'broke but happy' lens can surely make the money worth (or screaming happy).</p>

[stemked]

<p>I just missed out on a Pentax 600mm f5.6 A which would have been my affordable answer to your 500mm. Currently my long lenses are 500mm f4.5 Takumar, 400mm f5.6 Sigma APO (VII) and Sigma 150-500. Each of these lenses have their issues and I think, like you, the logical answer at some point is to sell the whole lot and see if I can get the Sigma 500mm f4.5. It looks like the 500mm f4.5 Sigma is about the right size also on my Question though regarding teleconvertors, is the rear element deeply recessed (like the big Pentax lenses) or is it shallow (I suspect the later)? I have the 1.4X-L teleconvertor which I can currently only use on the big Tak. </p>

<p>Nice images by the way.</p>

[shots worth sharing]

<p>I have it with a K-5, Wolf, (but you probably figured that out from my subsequent post.)</p>

<p>I agree there's a lot to like about that photo, Michael, but it's not sharp enough and the exposure was really problematic (even though it was seriously underexposed, there's a small bright patch on the bird's breast which was really hard to keep from blowing out.) </p>

<p> </p>

<blockquote>I would think there is a learning curve with a substantial lens like that,</blockquote>

<p>And you're right: I've found that's always true with long lenses. To pass the time while I wait for birds, I've invested in a smali portable radio with ear buds to pass the time. Next on the list is a really lightweight folding chair. </p>

<p>Thanks, Hin! I'm really wary of overly bold crops, though--that woodpecker is already down to 6MP. Here's a 100% crop:<br>

<img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/photos/i-3wgk7rp/0/XL/i-3wgk7rp-XL.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p> </p>

[andrewg_ny]

<p>Dave, that's pretty impressive for a 1:1 crop. I like that first one too.</p>

<p>The last one with the green background seems to have a lot of banding in the OOF areas, even when viewing on your site at larger sizes--I wonder if you somehow introduced this during your PP.</p>

[miserere_mei]

<p>Looks like you're climbing the learning curve rather fast there, Dave. I like 'em all, and if they're going to get better, I should buy a new computer screen to do them justice.</p>

[shots worth sharing]

<blockquote>The last one with the green background seems to have a lot of banding in the OOF areas, even when viewing on your site at larger sizes--I wonder if you somehow introduced this during your PP.</blockquote>

<p>Yeah I probably did--my pp is pretty ham-handed (which is probably a good thing in that it makes me more careful about getting good captures.) I was trying to tone down the colors a tad but did a pretty crude job of it but by that time had concluded that there was no way I would be able to pp it into the shot it could have been. I may take another whack at it though.</p>

 

<blockquote>Looks like you're climbing the learning curve rather fast there, Dave.</blockquote>

<p>Appreciate that, Mis! I owe a lot to my Long Lens 101 instructor, Takanita ;~)</p>

[ian s. forsyth]

Congratulation on your recent purchase. Once you get settled down with the lens I may have a few questions for you. My major concern with the 500mm does it have an issue with a focus shift as you step down the lens. I know with my sigma 300 2.8 going from wide open to f4 I would start to see a back focus but once around f5.6 it starts to correct its self. Thank you ahead of time for the review.

[hagar]

<p>Congrats on the purchase Dave.. I assume you cleared it with Clara's college fund first? LOL<br>

Well done.. I like them.. and they do look much better on your site. </p>

[shots worth sharing]

<p>Thanks, Haig. Clara's college fund is intact: the vehicle replacement fund that took the hit. I figure the Forester's good for 5 more years (and, if not, I'll buy used r/t new.) </p>

<p>Interesting question, Ian, but I'm not sure you should look to me for that sort of diagnostic--my assessments tend to be pretty subjective, based on field performance, and short on analytics. I'll keep an eye out for that issue, though. </p>

[garry_young1]

<p>Hi Dave - long time since I was around, but I love the shots here! Great work! My longest lens is currently the DA70mm - ok I'm joking! But only because I am so impressed!</p>

[MattB.Net]

<p>Wow, that's a lot of lens! Congrats and nice shots.That 100% crop looks pretty darn good to me!<br>

I don't have anything over 300mm (DA L 55-300) and would like a bigger tele at some point. I'll be interested to hear how you like it over time.</p>

[lauren_macintosh]

<p>in photography these two words always follow each other constantly, broke follow by broke:<br>

Nice series of Photo's there</p>

[shots worth sharing]

<p>Oh, sorry, Doug, I missed your question. Yes, you're right: it's shallow and wouldn't accept the 1.4x-L.</p>

[ukhov]

<p>Congratulations !</p>

[shots worth sharing]

<p>Thanks Yury!</p>

[bob_marz]

<p>Dave,</p>

<p>Nice. I really like #1, but agree with the others. The last shot is nicer than you think and the bird's face is plenty sharp as well as the fluffy breast feathers. You're not gonna get nature more real than that.<br>

I once caught a black bear eating. He looked up at me somewhat surprised with a blade of grass sticking out of his mouth. My best wildlife shot so far.</p>

<p>The preening bird rocks.</p>

[shots worth sharing]

<p>Thanks, Bob!</p>