Sigma APO 150-500mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM - Bigmos

Took this picture this morning at 3:55AM

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Showing it some love:

Hi, Just going to purchase this 150-500mm lens as taking a body swerve from Land/seascape photography to try my hand at bird photography. As this is a kind of test run for me I bought/buying 2nd hand although I have read some good reports on the lens I have also read some opposite views ( being a bit soft on the focus). I would like if possible some info on the best way to calibrate this lens? Now I no that there is the Sigma Dock but I also own a few Canon lenses so would there be a better option?
Thankyou,
Russ

russellsnr2 wrote in post #18559786
Hi, Just going to purchase this 150-500mm lens as taking a body swerve from Land/seascape photography to try my hand at bird photography. As this is a kind of test run for me I bought/buying 2nd hand although I have read some good reports on the lens I have also read some opposite views ( being a bit soft on the focus). I would like if possible some info on the best way to calibrate this lens? Now I no that there is the Sigma Dock but I also own a few Canon lenses so would there be a better option?
Thankyou,
Russ

Russ,

I own the Sigma 150-500 lens. To my knowledge there is no Sigma docking station for this lens. I also am not aware if it is possible to calibrate the lens.

Maybe someone else can confirm what I am saying or tell me I am full of crap and there is a docking station and a way to calibrate the lens.

russellsnr2 wrote in post #18559786
Hi, Just going to purchase this 150-500mm lens as taking a body swerve from Land/seascape photography to try my hand at bird photography. As this is a kind of test run for me I bought/buying 2nd hand although I have read some good reports on the lens I have also read some opposite views ( being a bit soft on the focus). I would like if possible some info on the best way to calibrate this lens? Now I no that there is the Sigma Dock but I also own a few Canon lenses so would there be a better option?
Thankyou,
Russ

The sigma dock is for the 150-600mm lenses...this is a pretty old lens...it should be bought really cheaply just because of all the new offerings...it's a good lens if your budget is tiny, but you'd be way better off with something newer for not much money

Hi, thankyou for the replies. From looking around the net it seems that Reiken Focal will adjust the front/back focus issues if any. Would love to buy a more expensive lens but as this will be my first attempt at bird/wildlife photography the price I am buying the lens at is for me enough at this time. Thnakyou again, Russ

Russell, I hope it works out for you.

I still use this lens,very capable if you stop down to f8 so needs good light,one from the other day taken through the double glazing,

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/G1GH​6A

russellsnr2 wrote in post #18560462
Hi, thankyou for the replies. From looking around the net it seems that Reiken Focal will adjust the front/back focus issues if any. Would love to buy a more expensive lens but as this will be my first attempt at bird/wildlife photography the price I am buying the lens at is for me enough at this time. Thnakyou again, Russ

If you have a camera that does af micro adjust you can adjust it yourself...if you dont, then the reikan focal is useless

I've just recently calibrated the focussing of the magic drainpipe to my 80D and didn't think this was bad for an almost 100% crop.

Noel Johnson wrote in post #18575773
I've just recently calibrated the focussing of the magic drainpipe to my 80D and didn't think this was bad for an almost 100% crop.

magic drainpipe as in the 80-200f2.8?

Was it? I thought people used that moniker for the Sigma, looks like I'm mistaken.
Either way, this was definitely taken with the 150-500.

Noel Johnson wrote in post #18577059
Was it? I thought people used that moniker for the Sigma, looks like I'm mistaken.
Either way, this was definitely taken with the 150-500.

Hi, ' recently calibrated the focussing' may I ask how you achived this please? I just purchased this lens 2nd hand but in excellent condition and as I understand it if you go past about 400mm the images maybe soft. Also looking for some advice on the best camera settings to use with it, AV, TV? Canon 70D Thanks, Russ.

Hello Russellsnr2.
In your autofocus settings of your 70D you'll find micro adjustments. You can bias the lens towards the wide or telephoto ends.
I ended up doing a combination of home calibration and some real world fine tuning outdoors the following day.
As far as settings go, stopped down to f8 is probably best, but that will affect your shutter speed, depending on your ISO.
I Normally use mine for birds etc, so fast shutter of 1/1000 or there abouts. If the light is good I may go full manual, but most of the time it's TV and let the camera do the rest.

Hi, OK my first image with the 150-500mm. I only bought the lens 2nd hand to delve into bird photography. This is my first I think worthy image (am finding this lens quite heavy and hard to keep still prefer a tripod) Any comments please on anything at all? Thankyou, Russ.

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