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  • First shots with the Bigma and...

    So I get the lens at Ffordes.
    Excellent service. I'm on one side of the counter, he's on the other. I pass money one way, he passes the lens the other.
    Out of the shop and 20 minutes down the road I'm on the shore of the Beauly Firth and its threatening rain and a bit murky (Scottish summer).

    First off a Herring Gull, hand held (the camera not the bird) through a car window, aperture wide open (F6.3) at ISO 800. Range about 40m.
    Its a bit soft but I'd expect that and not sharp but its the first at 500mm.



    Across the Firth. Same settings. Range 2km. Both show that I need to use a tripod or beanbag. And get better weather.



    These were taken on Monday. The rest were taken today Wednesday.

    First, Ardclach Bell Tower, the smallest towerhouse in Scotland. Taken from Ferness 900m range. ISO400, F8.



    Ruthven Barracks, range 1600m. Zoom of 390 as 500 crops the buildings.



    Then something different. I tried to catch the shimmer of the Aspens with a 10 stop filter on the 12-60.The camera, on tripod, was also set to 5" @ F11 ISO 200 with the eyepiece blind closed.



    I left the camera set up thus and walked off to find a fresh viewpoint. The path was festooned with small brown butterflies and loads of dragonflies. As I'm walking along a dragonfly decides to land on my hand. Panic!! Can I take a photo? Carefully remove filter, open eyepiece cover, switch to Aperture from Manual and twist the camera on tripod. All one handed (the right and I'm left handed) and hoping that it wont fly. Got it! Not perfect but I'm happy. Its a Female Black Darter (Sympetrum Danae).
    A bit of fun on the way home.

    Duncan

    Lots of toys.

  • #2
    Re: First shots with the Bigma and...

    Duncan,
    Nice first shots. Want to know the shutter speeds as well.
    On first photo I would have used center weighted or spot metering @ ISO100 or ISO200 max ISO400. Would give a shutter speed of 1/125 or 1/250 sec. Would be enough to prevent camera shake when shot handheld. About shooting handheld with this lens, that's just practice, practice, practice.
    Actually, the Bigma 50-500mm is a much used lens in aviation photography. Wished I could afford one.
    André de Wit
    The Netherlands

    Oly OMD E-M 1 Mark II, Oly OMD E-M 10 Mark II, Oly E-420
    Oly M.Zuiko 14-150mm, Oly M.Zuiko 100-400mm, Oly ED 40-150mm, Oly EZ 14-45mm, Delamax 650-1300mm

    Website: https://www.ahhjdewitaviationphotography.nl
    Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/andr_wit
    Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/a_dewit

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    • #3
      Re: First shots with the Bigma and...

      Congratulations Duncan! Good you brought that beast to life. I can't see anything wrong with your first shots. They are as expected - and the train at 2k distance is really good, if this was also wide open (as you wrote). I found, that in almost every case, I use the Bigma two steps closed. Thanks to IS it works most of the time.
      Have a great time with your Bigma and show us lots of photos

      I am proud of myself that as I was able to tell it should be a Sympetrum danae, by looking at your photo (I only see one every second year). Good thing you managed to get a shot off, with all the wrong hands etc.
      I am not afraid of Tits

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      • #4
        Re: First shots with the Bigma and...

        Duncan, Wow! You dont hang about, fitting that there BIG bitta kit on and getting it "Run in" I share the following with you : hoping to benefit you

        PeterD, suggested to me that f10 he found optimum and ISO 1800 - to get the shutter speed up on the E-5 ( later getting rid of the noise,) to capture a sharper image of BiF or on the "ledge" and foreshore

        Tripod with Giotto head worked best for me or the Trek pod on a fence or wall even the neck pod !

        BEWARE the BIGMA have a weak spot and can move around and disengage with the camera body Which is REALLY SCARY when you just "catch it" it is something to do with the tiny locating pin and the metal ??? whatever you call the end that fits on the body ... words escape now (RARE I KNOW ) - There is a tread about this problem and other peoples experience and I think PeterD got a new ? end bit with locating pin ?

        Other than that bad bit - its a MOST POWERFUL LENS and I know you will manage the weight EASYPEASY with your strong, fit Bod So I look foirward to seeing more and better wildlife and distance shots from you
        .
        .
        [I].
        .
        I Lurve Walking in our Glorious Countryside; Photography;
        Riding Ducati Motorbikes; Reading & Cooking ! ...


        http://www.flickr.com/photos/photomagicf1_chevvy/sets/

        the ONE photo album

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: First shots with the Bigma and...

          Originally posted by Chevvyf1 View Post
          Duncan, Wow! You dont hang about, fitting that there BIG bitta kit on and getting it "Run in" I share the following with you : hoping to benefit you

          PeterD, suggested to me that f10 he found optimum and ISO 1800 - to get the shutter speed up on the E-5 ( later getting rid of the noise,) to capture a sharper image of BiF or on the "ledge" and foreshore

          Tripod with Giotto head worked best for me or the Trek pod on a fence or wall even the neck pod !

          BEWARE the BIGMA have a weak spot and can move around and disengage with the camera body Which is REALLY SCARY when you just "catch it" it is something to do with the tiny locating pin and the metal ??? whatever you call the end that fits on the body ... words escape now (RARE I KNOW ) - There is a tread about this problem and other peoples experience and I think PeterD got a new ? end bit with locating pin ?

          Other than that bad bit - its a MOST POWERFUL LENS and I know you will manage the weight EASYPEASY with your strong, fit Bod So I look foirward to seeing more and better wildlife and distance shots from you
          Thanks for the info....I kept quiet about it as I thought it was ham-fisted ringneck...lol
          Had it happen 3 times in as many seconds while walking to a hide.....had camera strap around neck and was holding Bigma with tripod fixing as it helps being heavy.
          The next time it happened the Bigma ended on the ground in softish mud...luckily none got on glass or fixing end.
          The outer is a bit dirty and is coming off now dry.
          Is there a link to the thread about it.....


          Anyway these shots are as said good for testers....does not look like any shake on them.
          What camera was used and how do you know the precise distances....I use raw and process in Master 2 and it does not give the distances.

          keith
          Keith


          http://www.flickr.com/photos/68459774@N05

          E500,E510 now dead,E520 (now retired),E600 and Grip,14-42,14-45,2x40-150,Sigmas 105 and 135-400 Now Dead..ex 25. Manfrotto 190. Plus lots of OM stuff.
          Now also 4 items from the dark side...........

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          • #6
            Re: First shots with the Bigma and...

            Lots of fun ahead Duncan, looking forward to more shots

            I got a car window bean bag years ago, but I gave it to my daughter who has to use spotter scopes. It's two bags sown together, like [ame="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Maximfoto-Professional-262x162-Wildlife-photography/dp/B004NQ41XY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345130431&sr=8-1"]this[/ame] .
            John

            m4/3: E-P2, EM-5, 100-300, 14-42mm 12-50mm, 45mm, panny 14mm. 4/3: 7-14 + Flashes & tripods & stuff

            "Take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints".

            Flickr gallery

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            • #7
              Re: First shots with the Bigma and...

              Originally posted by ringneck View Post
              Thanks for the info....I kept quiet about it as I thought it was ham-fisted ringneck...lol
              Had it happen 3 times in as many seconds while walking to a hide.....had camera strap around neck and was holding Bigma with tripod fixing as it helps being heavy.
              The next time it happened the Bigma ended on the ground in softish mud...luckily none got on glass or fixing end.
              The outer is a bit dirty and is coming off now dry.
              Is there a link to the thread about it.....


              keith

              Keith, JUST for Duncan and your good self (I did TELL YOU here when you bought it about THIS thread ) I have just spent ... hours searching for it ... Keith you were holding it EXACTLY AS I at the Vintage Car event, when it nearly touched the ground but I got it


              .
              .
              [I].
              .
              I Lurve Walking in our Glorious Countryside; Photography;
              Riding Ducati Motorbikes; Reading & Cooking ! ...


              http://www.flickr.com/photos/photomagicf1_chevvy/sets/

              the ONE photo album

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: First shots with the Bigma and...

                Thanks Chevvy.......old age forgetfulness I think...lol
                Great link and very interesting...now wheres my screwdrivers........

                Keith
                Keith


                http://www.flickr.com/photos/68459774@N05

                E500,E510 now dead,E520 (now retired),E600 and Grip,14-42,14-45,2x40-150,Sigmas 105 and 135-400 Now Dead..ex 25. Manfrotto 190. Plus lots of OM stuff.
                Now also 4 items from the dark side...........

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: First shots with the Bigma and...

                  Great shots I also have joined the Bigma club not to report as yet as there is watery stuff falling from the sky.
                  Ed

                  Live life in the slow lane.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: First shots with the Bigma and...

                    Keith, Nick (who makes things Design Engineer) was going to make a sort of "sling" safety harness that would be attached about the BIGMA and around the camera body too ... but then ... I said "its too heavy for me" and the rest you know
                    .
                    .
                    [I].
                    .
                    I Lurve Walking in our Glorious Countryside; Photography;
                    Riding Ducati Motorbikes; Reading & Cooking ! ...


                    http://www.flickr.com/photos/photomagicf1_chevvy/sets/

                    the ONE photo album

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: First shots with the Bigma and...

                      Originally posted by wanderer View Post
                      ... As I'm walking along a dragonfly decides to land on my hand. Panic!! Can I take a photo? Carefully remove filter, open eyepiece cover, switch to Aperture from Manual and twist the camera on tripod. All one handed (the right and I'm left handed) and hoping that it wont fly. Got it!
                      Well done with the contortions!
                      Does it not have a focus range limiter too? Another obstacle.

                      I like the tiny Pele and the barracks best.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: First shots with the Bigma and...

                        Congratulations on your new lens! Looking good! Does this mean that Sigma are actually still making this lens?
                        -----------
                        Cathrine

                        sigpic

                        My photoblog: http://csspikkerud.zenfolio.com/blog
                        My gallery: http://csspikkerud.zenfolio.com/

                        My book on Viovio

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                        • #13
                          Re: First shots with the Bigma and...

                          Many thanks for the comments.

                          I shot wide open to keep the shutter speed up, generally 1/500th or faster.
                          I'll take on board the aperture advice thanks.
                          Ranges were worked out from Google Maps.
                          I have a book on Dragonflies and Damselflies so was able to find out what it was. There were also a few larger ones about, one of which was bright blue, but none stopped to introduce themselves.
                          The lens is still available new but not in 4/3 fit as far as I am aware.
                          Duncan

                          Lots of toys.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: First shots with the Bigma and...

                            Nice shots Duncan, I hope to give it a try one day
                            By coincidence I stopped at Ardclach on my way home from Grantown (I like to vary the routes) on Tuesday evening. My equipment was much more restricting though - I had the 25mm on the E-1 and found it difficult to get the tower in the frame.



                            I look forward to seeing more from the Bigma
                            Iain
                            OM-1, E-M1 II, 7.5FE, 8-25, 9, 12, 12-32, 12-40, 25, 40-150, 45, 60, 300
                            MC-14, MC-20

                            Website
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