First attempt at Superbikes

As per title, this was my first ever attempt at shooting very fast bikes.
All shot using the Sigma 70-300 APO DG, also tried to keep the shutter at no less than 1/125th and quite heavily cropped other than that pretty much straight from the camera.

Please provide C&C - be brutal!!!
Thanks

1.

They all look soft and oof if im honest, compositions there apart from number 3. They may look soft either because of youve cropped them or because of compression or you may have just missed the focus point but judging from number 2 it looks like its either one of the first two ive said

I would have to say the same as D-Pearce.......but not bad and a good place to start for you first attempt, panning is not easy to nail straight away.

Thanks for the comments, to be honest I was a little disappointed with the focus of these myself even if it was first time.
Any tips for how to improve future pics?

I would try a shutter speed that would get the bike sharp in focus then slowly decrease the SS to add the background blur with panning while still keeping the bike sharp. Plus being closer so you dont have to crop as much would help tracking the subject... but that cant always happen.

Trojan like Cozmocha says start with highter ss then as the day goes on slowly decrease the ss.... BUT the best tip on panning is PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE.

Another piece of advice would be not to stand at a piece of track where the bikes are at their fastest. Try a slowish corner first, then as the results and confidence improves move to a faster piece of track

Some great tips here, guys !

I really like the look / composition of #3. Nice work for first time out I'd say !

Coz & FBSam nailed it IMHO, bump your shutter speeds up to at least dbl what ever the focal length you're using is, then work down from there once you start seeing consistent in focus shots.
Def work on your pan technique....remember the 'follow through' just like a golf swing is very important.

You had some really good grabs BTW.

Ok, not superbikes this time but your thoughts on this attempt.
Weather was awful and I was abit worried about getting the camera wet as I didn't have a rain cover.
Anyway C&C away (but please ignore the web compression of the jpg)...

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Cozmocha wrote in post #12854506
I would try a shutter speed that would get the bike sharp in focus then slowly decrease the SS to add the background blur with panning while still keeping the bike sharp. Plus being closer so you dont have to crop as much would help tracking the subject... but that cant always happen.

Sell the 70-300mm and get a faster lens

Great shot, you would be better of creating a new thread to get more replies. I would save up and when you can afford to buy a lens like the 70-200 f4.0 go for it but for the meanwhile the 70-300 can produce good results like you have shown with the last pic.

D-Pearce92 wrote in post #13127729
Great shot, you would be better of creating a new thread to get more replies. I would save up and when you can afford to buy a lens like the 70-200 f4.0 go for it but for the meanwhile the 70-300 can produce good results like you have shown with the last pic.

Bunch of noise in the last picture.

To the OP, you have invested in a good body, it's time to invest in a good lens. If you plan on doing this more often you need the equipment on your side, it appears you have technique dialed in pretty well.