how to work with a sigma 70-300 apo DG

I would occasionally get a decent shot out of this lens, most of the time, the shots come out blurry or out of focus. It was especially frustrating trying to pan w/ the airplanes using AI servo at the airshow. For those w/ success with the lens, what are you settings (Aperture, shutter speed, zoom)? For handheld, I find that I really have to keep it under 200mm, F8 to F11, and shutter speed of 500 and up and get any acceptable results.

I got the same lens about two weeks ago and I also struggled quite a lot with it. I posted a while ago, something along the same lines as you have and the general consensus was that you need fast shutterspeed to keep your photos from blurring due to camera shake.

I also read somewhere else today that on the 350D (which I have) the 35mm equivalent (due to the smaller CCD) is about 110-480mm. So you need about 1/500 shutterspeed.

I shoot with a bean-bag or a tripod 99% of the time when using this lens. And then mostly at stationary objects.

So in my opinion, those numbers you mentioned sounds about right. Maybe some-one else can give us some better advice.

True!!

The 70-300 is a good lens... but from 200-300 its not as sharp as one might expect ! In the 280-300 range its soft!

If you intend to shoot a lot of shots in the 200-300 range go for Canon 70-300 IS USM!
Or a second hand 75-300 IS! (the IS will get you more non blurrreddd pictures)!

I use this lens for shooting soccer (not the best lens for it I know but it was all I could afford). I have also used it at the zoo with great results. I'll post few with the details if you like.

Karman

watch your shutter speed, seeing a typical shot you are talking about with EXIF would be a good starting point for offering more advice.

thanks for the inputs, i'll post some pics once i get'em all sorted out.

My sample od Sigma if soft from 200-300 but only for aperture value lower than F8. beetwen F8 and F11 is sharp and over F16 is again litle soft. At 300mm you must have atleast 1/xxxmm shutter speed. Example: 300mm on 20D is 480mm so you must have shutter speed 1/500 and more. Then shoot from airplane or some similar transportation you should multiple that value with 3 so minimum shutter speed is 1/1500. When I use this rule I get decent result whit this and any other lens, handheld. If you can set this shutter speed then rise your ISO value.

I wold like to see example for pan of the airplain?

I don't know about flyingmachine, but I would love to see some photos you guys took, especially some 100% crops before any PP was done. I would like to compare your results with mine.

When shooting at 300mm, f5.6 handheld without IS or OS, it doesn't matter if it is a $300 lens or $1200 lens, the number of keeper in general won't be high dues to camera shake, IMHO. Fortunately there are a few things you can do to increase the %. The cheapest solution is find something you can brace on when shooting, such as wooden fence, big rock, cement block...etc to get more stability. You can add a bean bag as a support.

Or, use a tripod or monopod. Get a ballhead of you pan a lot. I shoot mostly birds with my Sigma 50-500mm. The lens is mounted on my tripod pretty much 99% of the time. What a huge difference it made compared to the photos taken before tripod.

Or, get a tele lens that comes with IS or OS. Then you don't have to worry about tripod or monopod.

The bottom line is, make the camera more stable when you press the shutter button. I have seen great results coming out from the Sigma 70-300mm when right technique is applied. Spend some time and learn the lens and you shall be rewarded.

it's all about technique for this one. cfcRebels is right. Crank up the shutter speed or ISO to compensate. I have taken some panning aero shots hand held. But it was bright day light. Will post later.

I have this lens and virtually never use it at 200 or higher without a tripod and fast shuter speed.

Heres one i took on the day i got it.
f/10, 300mm, 1/500", iso 1600, handheld. The light was pretty low as well so i was suprised at the quality of this one. it's not brilliant, but i think it's pretty good for this lens.

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What a cute pooch!

Here are a couple of my pics with this lens. I am saving for something longer, but for now this lens is doing quite well over all. The duck was taken shortly after I got this lens and camera, which might explain the settings, AV mode 5.6 1/1600, ISO 800 at 180mm.

The hawk was taken from my car while stopped in the middle of the road AV mode 1/1600, ISO 400 at 300mm.

Hope that makes sense and helps.

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Here are two more pics. The hummer was taken in AV 1/1600, 6.3, ISO 400 at 300mm.

The jaguar was taken in AV 1/400, 8.0, ISO 1600 at 238mm.

The hawk in the previous post should say 1/2000, 11.0, ISO 400 at 300mm.

All pics were hand held.

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