Damn it, soft sigma 120-300 f/2.8

Well, I can not say if that's a problem or a blessing for you, however, having allegedly a "very good" copy of an already excellent prime means that your IQ standard for telephotos could be quite high.

The Sigma zoom may not be capable of delivering to that IQ standard.

However, you can look at other things perhaps that the Sigma brings to the table like "zoom", "f/2.8" and whatever.

i was so unimpressed with the IQ, that I packed the lens up already and deleted the images I took. The contrast was nice and the bokeh was better than i expected but not as smooth as the canon 400. the imagesjust appeared a little soft, Was using ISO 800, shutter speeds of 1/1000. what you have to understand is that i was expecting razor sharp images.
when i opened the box, opened the sigma bag, the bag the lens was packed in - didnt look quite right ( whatever that means ) ..... i thought the bag would have been more tightly wrapped around the lens....maybe it was a return. i orderd from a reputable online retailer.


troy

that's a shame...especially from such a highly touted lens.

ed rader

I'm not sure if this is a rant post or a request for opinions. Perhaps the OP can post to clarify. If you want some opinions, posting some smaples with EXIF would be a good idea as well.

windoze wrote in post #1995169
figures! finally got my Sigma 120-300 and ( to me ) its soft! STRIKE ONE ! For the price of this lens there shouldnt be any "issues". Well, it goes back today and hopefully by next week Ill have a new one to try. BUT, two strikes and its over for me.

Troy

im going to give it another try today.....
im gonna attribute yesterdays bad IQ to user error and maybe weak arms....
i will post some sample today.
gonna shoot soccer, Av mode, Aiservo, evaluative metering, wide open with monopod...
maybe the DOF is very shallow at f/2.8 than im use too..
troy

windoze wrote in post #1997662
im going to give it another try today.....
im gonna attribute yesterdays bad IQ to user error and maybe weak arms....
i will post some sample today.
gonna shoot soccer, Av mode, Aiservo, evaluative metering, wide open with monopod...
maybe the DOF is very shallow at f/2.8 than im use too..
troy

That's a good thought......many of your very sharp bird shots are at f 5.6 to f/8. For example, in that aperture range you would not find out easily that your camera AF is out of calibration, if it were.
However, nothing prevents you to stop the zoom down to the same aperture range, but then you obviously would not get that desired subject isolation.

I think at this stage you may need to do some elementary cereal box/battery cell tests.

lensview wrote in post #1997715
That's a good thought......many of your very sharp bird shots are at f 5.6 to f/8. For example, in that aperture range you would not find out easily that your camera AF is out of calibration, if it were.
However, nothing prevents you to stop the zoom down to the same aperture range, but then you obviously would not get that desired subject isolation.

I think at this stage you may need to do some elementary cereal box/battery cell tests.

im also going to use a brand new 20D today......

just took this one as im leaving for the car....

windoze wrote in post #1997731
im also going to use a brand new 20D today......

just took this one as im leaving for the car....

f/2.8 @ 300 ISO 200 , 1/3200
wide open

troy

maybe it will be a better day today.....

troy

windoze wrote in post #1997824
maybe it will be a better day today.....

troy

Hey, that's a very nice shot at f/2.8....very nice indeed......wide open, spot on ! No worries.

windoze wrote in post #1995169
figures! finally got my Sigma 120-300 and ( to me ) its soft! STRIKE ONE ! For the price of this lens there shouldnt be any "issues". Well, it goes back today and hopefully by next week Ill have a new one to try. BUT, two strikes and its over for me.

Troy

two from today. i think my problem was that I still need practice. btw, for me Av mode w/ aiservo doesnt get me any keepers. i only get keepers with the "sports" mode on the 20D

windoze wrote in post #1999217
two from today. i think my problem was that I still need practice. btw, for me Av mode w/ aiservo doesnt get me any keepers. i only get keepers with the "sports" mode on the 20D

http://windoze.smugmug​.com …/1878522/2/9591​8578/Large
Aperture: f/4.5
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 274mm (guess: 710mm in 35mm)
Exposure Time: 0.0005s (1/2000)
Flash: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode
Exposure Program: Action program

http://windoze.smugmug​.com …/1878522/2/9591​9158/Large

Aperture: f/4.0
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 234mm (guess: 248mm in 35mm)
Exposure Time: 0.0006s (1/1600)
Flash: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode
Exposure Program: Action program


troy

i'm about to give up on AI servo too. i've yet to see any real benefit from the function.

ed rader

ed rader wrote in post #1999241
i'm about to give up on AI servo too. i've yet to see any real benefit from the function.

ed rader

You must never shoot anything that moves.

cdi-ink.com wrote in post #1999263
You must never shoot anything that moves.

triathlons. timetrials, dogs.........i've posted plenty of pictures of moving objects. some very fast moving.

i don't get any more keepers with my 20d with AI servo than i do by tapping and firing in one shot.

ed rader

windoze wrote in post #1999217
two from today. i think my problem was that I still need practice. btw, for me Av mode w/ aiservo doesnt get me any keepers. i only get keepers with the "sports" mode on the 20D

Aperture: f/4.5
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 274mm (guess: 710mm in 35mm)
Exposure Time: 0.0005s (1/2000)
Flash: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode
Exposure Program: Action program

Aperture: f/4.0
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 234mm (guess: 248mm in 35mm)
Exposure Time: 0.0006s (1/1600)
Flash: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode
Exposure Program: Action program

troy

so are these typical of the sigma 120-300 f/2.8 with canon 20D
( in unexperienced hands ) ?


troy

windoze wrote in post #1999349
so are these typical of the sigma 120-300 f/2.8 with canon 20D
( in unexperienced hands ) ?

troy

dunno Mate. i'd like to see some shots wide open if you got 'em .

ed rader