Sigma 300-800mm for birds in flight?

Has anyone used the sigma 300-800mm for birds in flight? I am considering getting one but would like to hear some opinions. Thanks Matt

It's not the fastest lens at BIFs because of the absence of focus limiter, but it can catch BIFs with a 1Dxx body and proper technique. To speed up AF a bit, I usually zoomed it back to 700 mm or so.

do you only use it with a tripod or do you use free hand? Im wondering if I will be able to free hand with it? Thanks

It's a tripod/bean bag only lens for me. It's not the sheer weight that makes it tough to hand hold, as I can hand hold my similar weighing 400 2.8 IS for brief periods. The Sigmonster is too long and the center of gravity is so far out that my supporting arm is nearly horizontal and thus left with very little capacity.

But then, I'm just 5'8" and perhaps a 6'8" shooter can hand hold it without issues.

well im 6 2 just getting out of high school so maybe ill have to give it a try ha Are you pleased with the quality of it? I have a 100-400 but want longer reach is it similar in quality? Thanks for the info, Matt

It's not so bad, optics-wise.

http://www.pbase.com …/image/10488083​4/original

I have one and think it's a fantastic lens for birds and wildlife.

I have used it on tripod and beanbag, with tripod wining by far for ease of use. I can't imagine an ordinary person hand holding this lens as the weight is too far from the camera to make balance easy.

I've not used a canon super tele so can't say how much slower the focus is compared to them but I don't think it's a slouch in the focus speed department.

I've used it with a 20D and now a 7D.

Here's a few samples of birds in flight. Bigger birds are nice and easy to follow but I have no good shots of the little birds as their flight path is just too erratic to follow.

Hope that helps.

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A couple more

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mtbehm wrote in post #10150525
Has anyone used the sigma 300-800mm for birds in flight? I am considering getting one but would like to hear some opinions. Thanks Matt

I had one for a little over two years,. it's a fantastic optic with a flexible focal range.
I did not however warm to it for any kind of action shooting.
I also own the EF 500mm f/4L IS,. had it before the Sigmonster,. and with it in my kit, it was far easier to heft the IS equipped and much lighter weight 500mm for BIF.

Of course it can be done, I'm just saying that it's a LOT easier with the 500mm. Even with a 1.4x (700mm f/5.6) installed, the Canon's AF is faster, at 500mm, it is much faster. The Canon is more point-able hand held,. and IS helps your unsteady hands when you can't get the shutter speeds.

For me the 300-800mm was tripod/supported shooting only. I do recommend people consider this lens for many types of shooting, birds and wild life absolutely included! ... but personally I can not recommend it for birds in flight, even if you are going to try to do so on a gimbal/supported. There are better options for that.

mtbehm wrote in post #10151165
well im 6 2 just getting out of high school so maybe ill have to give it a try ha Are you pleased with the quality of it? I have a 100-400 but want longer reach is it similar in quality? Thanks for the info, Matt

Optically it is an improvement over your 100-400mm. The Optics are truly "Primelike" on the Sigmonster.

CyberDyneSystems wrote in post #10154682
I had one for a little over two years,. it's a fantastic optic with a flexible focal range.
I did not however warm to it for any kind of action shooting.
I also own the EF 500mm f/4L IS,. had it before the Sigmonster,. and with it in my kit, it was far easier to heft the IS equipped and much lighter weight 500mm for BIF.

Of course it can be done, I'm just saying that it's a LOT easier with the 500mm. Even with a 1.4x (700mm f/5.6) installed, the Canon's AF is faster, at 500mm, it is much faster. The Canon is more point-able hand held,. and IS helps your unsteady hands when you can't get the shutter speeds.

For me the 300-800mm was tripod/supported shooting only. I do recommend people consider this lens for many types of shooting, birds and wild life absolutely included! ... but personally I can not recommend it for birds in flight, even if you are going to try to do so on a gimbal/supported. There are better options for that.

I realize there would be better choices but my budget does not allow for all the "choice" lenses haha. I also am getting a sigma 150-500 so I may sell the 100-400 even though I got it for a steal ($175) and use the 150-500 and the 300-800 for other wildlife that I am able to use a tripod on. Thanks for the info. Matt

If price is holding you back form a Canon 500mm, but birds in flight remains an important aspect, look at a used SIGMA 500mm f/4.5 EX HSM.
Lighter than the Canon 500mm,. and used can be had for a song as compared to the Canon used.

Again, if shooting on a tripod is more likely than the Sigmonster is really a winner.

Another option, maybe the Sigmonster for tripod work, and a Canon 400mm f/5.6 for BIF? (same idea as your Zooms.
I would NOT replace the 100-400mm with the 150-500mm,. but that's just me.

well I do quite a bit of ducks and geese in flight but also i do lots of turkeys and deer out of blinds where I could use a tripod. trying to go the cheapest way possible to get some longer ranges but with having to pay for college next year its still not easy. I really like the 100-400 butt I also really want some more reach. Have you used the 300-800 with a monopod or is it strictly a tripod only? Thanks for the help, Matt

Again, for me, it was strictly tripod.

Like the others I can't imagine using my 300-800 as a first choice lens for flight shots. Sure, you could make it work but you'd just be fighting physics too much of the time. For me, hand-holding it is just way out of the question. You could certainly use it on a good monopod but where it shines is on a high-end tripod with a full gimbal head.