Sigma 150-500mm plus tubes

One thing or another has meant I haven't been able to get out and do what I enjoy lately but I did manage an hour or so this afternoon armed with my Sigma 150-500mm plus 43mm of extension tubes (31mm + 12mm). The min focus distance is normally 2 metres with this lens but by adding ext tubes I've reduced it too about 1 metre which is just about right for the larger insects like damselflies/dragonflie​s and butterflies at the 500mm end.

Common blue

Very nice captures. Sharp!

Lovely series, George. Beautiful light also.

very nice captures

these are fantastic. I have a new lens on my want list. this one seems quite sharp, is the AF pretty fast, Assuming your manual with the tubes. thanks!

Wonderful captures
brian v.

Nice shots. The lens certainly gives you lovely clean backgrounds and sharpness looks very acceptable. 3 and 5 are Azure damselflies, Coenagrion puella.

light and soft backgrounds are fantastic

Thanks all for the comments, appreciated.

mikeb540 wrote in post #16141727
these are fantastic. I have a new lens on my want list. this one seems quite sharp, is the AF pretty fast, Assuming your manual with the tubes. thanks!

It's not a lens I would recommend for close-up photography really, big n' bulky and heavy on the arms. I've had it over 12 months now and use it mainly for birds/wildlife and the odd airshow but was curious how it would perform close-up with tubes. The AF is quite nippy but I used manual focus for these and the Optical Stabiliser is a godsend.

Killer shots!

With the tubes on, how far are you from the subject?

Excellent shots.

All beauties, lovely set!

Thanks all!

fatpoint wrote in post #16142950
With the tubes on, how far are you from the subject?

With the tubes I've halfed the min focus distance so about 1 metre at full zoom (500mm) which will fill the frame with a large insect like a butterfly/darter.

A fabulous set of pics of them. Great job using that combination.

Linda

surprisingly effective, should use my 300mm more often with tubes.