Crested Grebe - one of first with Bigma + EC14

[theMusicMan]

Hey All

Hope you are getting ready to enjoy your Bank Holiday weekend, I am... with the arrival today of my Sigma Bigma 50-500mm lens. So, I went out for a quick walk to a place actually on the Ryder Cup 2010 course just a mile or so form where I live called Bulmore Ponds. I will post a more detailed review of the Sigma 50-500mm once I have had time to experiment with it more and to find the best settings et al, but here's a shot of a Crested Grebe, at 708mm (well, that's what the EXIF said!!), slightly cropped but not much. This was my very first outing with this lens, AND I had the EC14 attached, so forgive me if this isn't the best of images. First impressions are that I am going to like this lens...

[OlyPaul]

Re: Crested Grebe - one of first with Bigma + EC14

Looks good to me John. Have fun with the new lens, I'm betting as well as getting great shots with it you will be building your muscles up.

[steverh]

Re: Crested Grebe - one of first with Bigma + EC14

Very promising, John - was it hand-held?

Lovely colours in the water and plumage.

[j.baker]

Re: Crested Grebe - one of first with Bigma + EC14

John,

Welcome to the Bigma club.

Now remember that a lens is for life not just chri.......the summer

[theMusicMan]

Re: Crested Grebe - one of first with Bigma + EC14

Thanks Steve, yes this was hand held.

There's a significant difference in technique between using the Oly 70-300mm and the Sigma 50-500mm that's for sure, it's a much bigger lens for one. I am going to enjoy the learning curve though...

[Ian]

Re: Crested Grebe - one of first with Bigma + EC14

Hi John, the water contains tones that are rather compressed into a narrow central band of the dynamic range, making it dark and grey. I have tweaked the image to brighten it up - would you like to see it?

Ian

[theMusicMan]

Re: Crested Grebe - one of first with Bigma + EC14

Hi John, the water contains tones that are rather compressed into a narrow central band of the dynamic range, making it dark and grey. I have tweaked the image to brighten it up - would you like to see it?

Ian

Absolutely Ian... go for it.

[Ian]

Re: Crested Grebe - one of first with Bigma + EC14

Absolutely Ian... go for it.

Here you go:



What do you think?

Ian

[theMusicMan]

Re: Crested Grebe - one of first with Bigma + EC14

Oooh, much improved - thanks Ian. A lightroom edit I assume?

[Ian]

Re: Crested Grebe - one of first with Bigma + EC14

Oooh, much improved - thanks Ian. A lightroom edit I assume?

No- Photoshop; just adjusting the histogram levels. It's a bit easier than in LR when you want to make quite large changes to the two ends of the histogram.

Ian

[andym]

Re: Crested Grebe - one of first with Bigma + EC14

John

You will really like this lens.Not sure about using it with the ec14,I've tried it but f 8.9 is very slow.
Also I worry about all the bits between the camera and the lens,feels a little flimsy to me ie dont know where to hold it ,for want of a better term.
Anyway I find 500 mm,1000mm equivalent more than enough for most things.
It's very heavy for walking around with,I went five miles with it the other week and that was enough.
I usually use it at ISO 400 and F7.1 with IS on.As you may know from my previous posts i think IS is good when you need to use it but if you can get the shutter speed high enough would rather not use it.