Went to the Central Florida Zoo

[Switchblade906]

So today My wife, 5 month old son Aiden and I went to the Central Florida Zoo (AKA the Sanford Zoo) to test out my new Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 zoom lens.

Here are some of the better photos that i shot, most of them were either through glass or cage.

ISO:320, f/2.8, 1/160, at 105mm

Cougar by Switchblade906, on Flickr

ISO:125, f/2.8, 1/320, at 200mm

Squirrel by Switchblade906, on Flickr

ISO:100, f/2.8, 1/400 at 200mm

Iguana by Switchblade906, on Flickr

ISO:100 f/4, 1/500 at 200mm

Flowers by Switchblade906, on Flickr

ISO:100, f/5, 1/250, at 150mm

Kangaroo's by Switchblade906, on Flickr

And to save my favorite for last the Chetah stalking its prey

ISO:125, f/4, 1/320 at 200mm

Chetah by Switchblade906, on Flickr

So far I am very happy with this lens.
Let me know what you think!

[kgosden]

I like the Cheetah best.

[Switchblade906]

Yeah me too, and then the Kangaroo's

[Switchblade906]

Here are a couple more photos that I took while I was at the Zoo

ISO:400, f/6.3, 1/200 at 120mm

Kangaroo by Switchblade906, on Flickr

ISO:1000, f/5, 1/200 at 120mm

Leopard by Switchblade906, on Flickr

ISO:1600, f/2.8, 1/30 at 70mm

Fat Frog by Switchblade906, on Flickr

[Panda Bear]

You are going to find you love that lens anytime you can't control distance.

The Cheetah is a beautiful shot.

[Switchblade906]

Thanks Panda.

[Rooz]

shame about the bars in the leopard pic, that could have been a really strong image. strange settings you used there aswell.
when shooting thru cages or wire or glass always try and use max focal length and max aperture to give you the best chance possible to eliminate the bars and or smudges etc. also try and get as close to the wire as you can. a can of black spraypaint at events never goes astray either. lol

[Switchblade906]

With the Leopard shot they had a good 5-6 feet of barrier so i couldnt get any closer.

[Peekayoh]

With the Leopard shot they had a good 5-6 feet of barrier so i couldnt get any closer.

Yes but Rooz is also pointing out the wrong choice of settings.
ISO:1000, f/5, 1/200 at 120mm could so easily have been ISO:320 @ f/2.8 which may well have lost the mesh or at least given you the best chance at doing so.
Better still ISO200, f/2.8, 1/320th would have given a faster shutter although not an issue it seems in this case.
Letting the camera choose the settings in Auto is not the best way forward.
ISO200 (the cameras base ISO) is always the choice for best detail.
Max aperture (F/2.8) best for least DOF but may sacrifice some detail.

[Switchblade906]

yeah i understand now, i just had the camera on aperture priority mode. I need to get better at remembering my ISO, i always forget about that setting.