bigma question

[bballboy30]

I am considering buying a sigma 50-500 for wildlife photography. I am new to photography and was wondering if it was even possible to get good pictures in lowlight with the bigma. I have the drebel so I could get an ISO of 1600, a tripod and the maximum aperature of 6.3 on the bigma. Are good lowlight pictures possible with these restraints? What shutter speed would I need to get clear pictures on a tripod. I know that 1/500 is the rule but does this apply to a tripod?

Thanks.
Alex

[FlyingPete]

Firstly how low light is low light? Last week I was shooting a concert, my Image Stabalised F5.6 lens @ 300mm on ISO1600 was barely coping handheld. I imagine a forest scene would not be that bad.

Secondly the 'rule of thumb' Discussed Here (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=56402) is a bit dodgy, but does not apply to tripods. Your minimum shutter speed on a tripod is determined by how stable the camera is on it, there are no rules as such. In therory you should be able to shoot with shutter speeds measured in seconds on a good tripod.

Of course this is all a moot point if your subject is moving (like most wild life), that will be the determining factor on your minimum shutter speed.

Have you considered a 70-200 2.8L with 2x TC?

[CyberDyneSystems]

It's possible,. but tough. Obviously a support is helpfull for the longer shutter speeds yooull need.

This was at dusk;
http://cyberdynesystemsimaging.fotopic.net/p1214026.html

[ShutteringFocus]

I know that 1/500 is the rule but does this apply to a tripod?

Thanks.
Alex

1/500 is a motion stoping rule- FOR YOUR SUBJECT. A tripod doesnt stop that deer, or rabbit, or hawk or whatever from moving. And wildlife moves fast. Deer are always twitching and when they simply move their heads to look around...it's lightning fast motion...much faster than a Running Back headed at you full speed. And birds are worse...they never stop moving their heads...and if you are pushing 1/200 or even 1/300 to get your 6.3 app and that bird moves its head...no way are you going to stop that motion.

A tripod helps when your subject doesnt move and you want to eliminate YOUR own movement.

fast apps = fast shutters helps stop SUBJECT motion.

Basically...it all varries on what light you have and its hard to test without actually having the lens and doing it...which isnt good news when you are looking at a $1000 lens.

Durring the day time I think you would be fine with 6.3app. But at dusk? you might be pushing it.

Lets ask some of these guys who do wildlife if they will quick look at a few pics and give you an average of the shutter and app used.

I'd guess it would be about 1/500+ at 2.8-4

[RJSorensen]

It is tough to get a focus lock as well. I don't think there is anyway around it. I 'hear' that even the Canon 100-400 is a bit tough in dim light . . . much the same. I got some shots today at 500-1000 and they are the best with the BigMa since I borrowed it. My deer are a little soft up until today. Slow shutter speed, hand held, dim light. I do not fault lens, it does what it does, I, you and everyone else wants it to do and be more than it is. I understand that. You should borrow, rent, 'steal' a Canon/Sigma and try it first if you can. It can't be described as it needs to be . . . until you experience it, see it on your screen, then you can decide if the sharpness is up to your needs. I ordered the Canon after using the BigMa, but I am not returning it until the new lens arrives next week.

Best of luck on your choice, and how you get there . . .

[ScottE]

I have a Sigma 50-500 and have taken lots of good evening and early morning shots with it. The secret it to use a higher ISO setting. The fastest 500 mm lens is only f/4. On your Canon camera, the 50-500 indicates that it goes to f/5.6 at 500 mm, despite the box saying f/6.3. That is only one stop slower than the fastest 500 mm lens, so just bump up your ISO one setting and you are shooting at the same shutter speed as the guy with the f/4 lens.

Although the camera reads f/5.6 with the 50-500 at 500 mm, it seems to be somewhere between f/5.6 and f/6.3 when compared to other cameras. I have compared readings using other lenses in Av mode setting both cameras at f/5.6. With through the lens metering you would expect to get a shutter speed reading 1/3 of a stop slower if the lens was actually an f/6.3. Sometimes you get a slower shutter speed, but more than 1/2 the time you do not. My conclusiion is that the lens is actually somewhere between f/5.6 and f/6.3.

In any case, the secret with the 50-500 is to bump ISO, use a tripod and try to take pictures when the subject is not moving in low light. Using a remote release and mirror lock up will also help when using a telephoto lens with longish shutter speeds.

[Medic1]

Interesting seeing all the responses....I too have been debating on buying either the Bigma or a Sigma 80-400 OS, as I am not overly sure I want to spend the money to get the 100-400 IS from Canon.......I am looking at almost $700 CDN more to get the 100-400 over the bigma and almost $500 to get the 100-400 over the Sigma 80-400 OS....

(Also, not sure how I feel about that "push/pull zoom")

Any other examples from people would be great....

[2new]

Alex,
I had the Sigma and was able to get some decent shots is low light when the subject was relatively still. I have since upgraded to to 100-400 for the reduced weight and IS feature and I am happy with the upgrade (I tend to hike with a bunch of gear and the sigma is significantly heavier than the canon)

So I think the answer like many others is "it depends". Is it possible - absolutely. But I think it depends upon several other factors such as subject motion, etc.

CDS had spent a lot more time with this lens than I did, got a bunch of great shots with it, and was the reason I purchased the lens.

Good Luck,
Michael

[Medic1]

Alex,
I had the Sigma and was able to get some decent shots is low light when the subject was relatively still. I have since upgraded to to 100-400 for the reduced weight and IS feature and I am happy with the upgrade (I tend to hike with a bunch of gear and the sigma is significantly heavier than the canon)

So I think the answer like many others is "it depends". Is it possible - absolutely. But I think it depends upon several other factors such as subject motion, etc.



How much of a problem do you think the bigma would pose for aviation (action) photography? Tripod, monopod or handheld?