Some with a new lens

[paulmurphy]

I recently bought the Sigma 70 - 200 f2.8 HSM and I think its a great lens.

One of the reasons I went for it was I wanted a fast aperture zoom as I've been taking pictures of my youngest ice skating and am getting requests from other parents for action shots in competition and the 200 f2.8 was too inflexible

This is my youngest in her first competition - she didn't place but it was good experience



A couple from the garden

A butterfly leaving the buddlea



And I used to think butterflies were cute



All pictures A700 and Sigma 70-200 f2.8 HSM (ice skating pic ISO 1250, very low lighting and very cold)

Hope you find them interesting

Best wishes

Murph

[David Kilpatrick]

Said it's a good lens! I have just ordered a UV filter for mine, been too busy using it to notice that I had not fitted one. Great pix, the butterfly closeup is presumably a crop into a much larger shot?

David

[gio67]

i,m defo getiing one of these bad boy lenses,i was him in 222 minds to get it or not but these superb pics have convinced me that i really really need one

[KevinBarrett]

I'd be all over the Siggy if I wasn't pondering my further investment in Sony. You've definitely shown off some of the lens's strengths.

[aster]

Very impressive shots Paul!

I can say that I began to show a serious enough interest in this particular lens due to the good number of positive views and feedbacks. I still feel I need a longer zoom lens to complement my other lenses but a fast, new-generation 70-200 HSM may certainly make up for my most immediate needs.

Good luck to your youngest in the future competitions though she looks competent enough in the above shot. She looks lovely on ice. (I also think the cropping may be a little too much in the direction her head is situated. Maybe an other cropping with more in front of her could also be an alternative in the landscape mode)

The butterfly shots are speaking nicely for the quality calibre of the lens!

Thanks for sharing,

Yildiz

[Greg Beetham]

Nice ones Murph, especially like that 'macro' butterfly shot..outstanding. Definitely a lens worth having in one's kit for sure.
There is also another good one for Yildiz to lust after, (Hi Yildiz) the Siggy 100-300mm f4, I've been keen on that one myself for a long time....
Greg

[aster]

Nice ones Murph, especially like that 'macro' butterfly shot..outstanding. Definitely a lens worth having in one's kit for sure.
There is also another good one for Yildiz to lust after, (Hi Yildiz) the Siggy 100-300mm f4, I've been keen on that one myself for a long time....
Greg

Hi Greg,

You certainly gave me some thoughts on Sigma 100-300mm f4, though I can't seem to find it at any of the web stores in Turkey for the moment. They say it's pretty sharp for outdoor shooting at all focal lenghts; wildlife etc. but may be far too slow for indoor or action shooting.

Thanks for bringing that lens up.

Yildiz

[Greg Beetham]

I thought Sigma were going to modify it for the A-mount to be like the Canon Nikon versions (HSM), but apparently not yet, B&H have not had it back in stock all that long for the A-mount, so that's what I thought the delay was.
Greg
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/3 ... ifications
http://www.sigmaphoto.com/lenses/lenses ... avigator=3

[paulmurphy]

As there seems to be a lot of interest in this lens, I thought I'd post some more pics taken with it, and add a few impressions.

It is a large piece of glass, which oozes quality.
The HSM motor is absolutely silent and quite fast.
The colour reproduction and contrast are very good.

Now some pics (all A700 + Sigma 70-200 f2.

First pic is a grab shot of a hovering hawk looking for lunch - I was down on the beach, the bird was up in the dunes - this is the full frame (only slight sharpening for web)



This is a 100% crop of the above image



Also an early evening, hand held shot, full frame, no retouching, mild sharpening for web



I am so far very impressed with this lens, if you have any pics with this lens please feel free to add to this thread - as I get to use the lens in different situations I will add some more

Cheers

Murph

[Birma]

More nice shots Murph. A very useful thread - it is good to see, as well as read, different people's experience of a lens. Even more so when you have got to know people and their photography a bit on the forum. The bird hunting shot is great - the 100% crop is really nice. (does your sensor need a blow, or was it drizzling?) Being a lighthouse nut I will never tire of light house shots - great stuff.

[bonneville]

Looks like a cracking lens Murph

Love the lighthouse

Brian

[paulmurphy]

The lens can also be used as a wide angle, with appropriate software

This is a 5 image panorama stitched in PT GUI



Here is a link to a full screen height (768 pixels) image - it is about 3 or 4 screens wide, so you can scroll to see the level of detail.

http://www.pbase.com/murph4306/image/116159091/original

Best wishes

Murph

[aster]

Very nice photos and I love the last panorama with contemporary architectural structures Paul!
Thanks for sharing the possibilities the owner of this lens will have.

Yildiz

[Greg Beetham]

Dang! that's a nice piece of bottle..looks like it has a nice flat field and good contrast.
Greg

[Dr. Harout]

I'm beginning to change my opinion on Sigma (HSM ones of course).