My Sigma 70-200 is here! (pics)

[Jamie.RN]

First, I want to thank the members that helped answer my questions about this lens over the past few days.

Well, I decided to buy the Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 EX DG APO HSM from bhphotovideo.com. Placed my order yesterday afternoon and it arrived on my doorstep this morning!

First impressions: Whew, this thing is heavier than I had expected! Some had warned about the weight, but geesh. I'm not sure I'd recommend this to another small female like myself. Since it's so heavy, I'll probably only be using this for extreme special occasions, like the track and the zoo. It definitely won't be my all-purpose, 'afixed to the camera most of the time' type of lens.

Mind you, I am no photographer, this is only a new hobby of mine, so I know that I have alot of learning and perfecting to do. But, here are a few of my first attempts with my new tank of a lens.

These two were zoomed in at 200mm. The hounds were playing and romping in the yard. You can even see slobber in this first shot. Not sure what I was focusing on, but it definitely wasn't the fawn hound's head, lol.
http://midsouthgreyhound.com/images/030306run.JPG

http://midsouthgreyhound.com/images/030306run2.JPG

Taken at 150mm
http://midsouthgreyhound.com/images/030306back.JPG

Gracee is my most difficult subject. Her coloring is just so hard to work with. All my shots of her with all three of my lenses are either way too contrasty, or two grainy, and sometimes she looks truely blue rather than grey. Maybe it's all in my head. Although, this seems to be a decent shot of her.
http://midsouthgreyhound.com/images/030306grace.JPG

Just some miscellaneous photos resulting from boredom: My own Oreida campaign at 112mm and 200mm, lol. Then, a shot of my Dell in dim light at 112mm.
http://midsouthgreyhound.com/images/030306fry112.JPG

http://midsouthgreyhound.com/images/030306fry200.JPG

http://midsouthgreyhound.com/images/030306dell112.JPG

I'll post more pictures as I refine my skills! :D

BTW - I don't do any post processing except for resizing. I am sooooooo not interested in post processing.

[George Riehm]

Thanks for those shots. I recently purchased the Sigma 24-70 f/2.8, and unfortunately haven't had much time for shooting since I received it. So far it closely mimicks the Nikkor 28-70 f/2.8 (except the AF-S/HSM).

The Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 is next on my list. Again, your shots, and others I have seen, have the same sharpness, color, and contrast qualities of the Nikkor, at less than half the cost. I can live without VR.

When taking pictures of your dogs in action don't be afraid to use higher ISO and and smaller apertures like f/8 for better DOF.

Again, well done. The product shots at f/4 and f/3.2 at 200mm are very nice.

P.S. sorry I answered your question about sigma4less too late. Maybe next time.

P.S.S. You will get used to the weight... and you might want to consider a monopod.;)

[Jason25]

Congrats on the purchase, it got there really fast! The shots look very sharp :) Those fries are making me hungry (love those things!). I'm looking forward to your progress and more shots with the new bazooka :D

[Jamie.RN]

When taking pictures of your dogs in action don't be afraid to use higher ISO and and smaller apertures like f/8 for better DOF.


Oooh, thanks for that tip. I'll try that in the morning and then post here. :)

[Jamie.RN]

I'm looking forward to your progress and more shots with the new bazooka :D

Bazooka - good comparison! Feels like one for sure! :p

[Jason25]

Bazooka - good comparison! Feels like one for sure! :p
I still like the term used for the Canon version - magic drainpipe. :D

[coldrain]

I still like the term used for the Canon version - magic drainpipe. :D
The magic drainpipe is the black 80-200 f2.8 L, I think ;)

Very nice lens, Jamie, nice colours and contrast, and it certainly looks to be nicely sharp. I hope you will get used to the weight, else you will have to switch to Canon for their f4 version :rolleyes: :eek: :cool: ;)

Have a lot of fun with your great new lens :)

[Jason25]

Canon for their f4 version
That's the one lens I'm envious of in Canon's lineup that Nikon is sorely lacking :)

[Bullitt]

Nice pictures Jamie... I remember you wanting to keep the cost down at first, we who own cameras are funny about that aren't we, cost we ask...we'll worry about that later, :p

I wish I would have known about the Sigma 24-70 f2.8 George, it would have given me a little more range than what I now use, but then, there is always that 70-200 f2.8, and we can always worry about the cost later can't we, :rolleyes:

[George Riehm]

Nice pictures Jamie... I remember you wanting to keep the cost down at first, we who own cameras are funny about that aren't we, cost we ask...we'll worry about that later, :p

I wish I would have known about the Sigma 24-70 f2.8 George, it would have given me a little more range than what I now use, but then, there is always that 70-200 f2.8, and we can always worry about the cost later can't we, :rolleyes:

The 24-70 f/2.8 runs $354 at sigma4less. All I can say is wow. I will try to post some of the shots I took today, at a Cactus League game in Tempe, and was very pleasently surprised. I always thought that the Sigma 18-125 was pretty sharp, although quirky where vignetting is concerned, but the 24-70 is head-and-antlers above.

HSM would be nice, but in normal lighting the 24-70 was quick and accurate, and the 9 blade iris... smooooth bokeh.

Here is a new sample:

[jcon]

George, I love that picture, very sharp and clean! I cant wait to see some of your baseball pictures with the 24-70. I am deciding between this and the 18-50 2.8. Have you had the chance to test it in not so ideal lighting? What teams did you go see? I am hoping to get down there for some Cubs games with my brother.:D

[coldrain]

George, I love that picture, very sharp and clean! I cant wait to see some of your baseball pictures with the 24-70. I am deciding between this and the 18-50 2.8. Have you had the chance to test it in not so ideal lighting? What teams did you go see? I am hoping to get down there for some Cubs games with my brother.:D
It depends on whether you want the more wide angle range, I did (for landscapes and city/town views). If you tend to not make any wide angle pics, the 24-70 (or Tamron 28-75 f2.8) are very interesting options.
The f2.8 18-50 EX DC does exhibit some CA at 18mm. But it is a nice lens, especially on a Nikon.

[George Riehm]

George, I love that picture, very sharp and clean! I cant wait to see some of your baseball pictures with the 24-70. I am deciding between this and the 18-50 2.8. Have you had the chance to test it in not so ideal lighting? What teams did you go see? I am hoping to get down there for some Cubs games with my brother.:D

Daiblo Stadium in Tempe is the Angels home base for spring training, and they played the Padres.

Here is a sample. About 3X crop from the original (remember this is only a 70mm lens) and resampled to original size (~3008 x 2000). No post processing (other than crop).

I'm savin' for that 70-200...

[Stoller]

Here is a couple I took with my D50 and Sigma 70-200mm. Just resized and taken with UV filter.
10241

10246

[George Riehm]

Here is a couple I took with my D50 and Sigma 70-200mm. Just resized and taken with UV filter.

Very nice. And the settings were...?;)

[Stoller]

Very nice. And the settings were...?;)

1st Picture
120mm, 1/800 sec - F/6.3, ISO 200

2nd Picture
200mm, 1/800 sec - F/9, ISO 200

I have more examples if you would like to see them.

[Stoller]

Few more with D50 and Sigma 70-200mm

180mm, Auto 1/1250 sec - F/4.5, ISO 400
10247

200mm, 1/400 sec - F/6.3, ISO 200
10248

150mm, Auto 1/60 sec - F/4, ISO 400, SB800 i-TTL (ceiling bounce)
10249

[George Riehm]

Thanks. Very (very) nice. The color and contrast are as good as the Nikkor. You are helping me spend money I don't have yet... but only less than half as much as the Nikkor. ;)

You have got to be a happy camper...

And...You have to love the SB800. Nikon has really spent some quality time on their speedlights, and interface, and it shows. I am always amazed by mine.

[coldrain]

Very nice indeed, that 70-200 Sigma is a steal! And the D50 sure has a very nice colour balance too, I keep noticing it. I personally do not like what the D200 does, but this combination of lens and D50 is very attractive.

[Stoller]

Thanks Guys. I like the Sigma lens. Now I'm thinking I need a 30mm lens. Then I'll be happy, well that's what I'm telling my wife...:D