why not buy sigma 70-200 F2.8

Thanks Croasdail...I guess for the price of a new lens I'd like instant prefection, or a hint that it was better than what I'd been using !!!! Ha ! Thanks...I got some shots at a birthday party and will process them tonight and see how happy I am! Thanks all, for comments and advice...It's weird how involved my week became over the purchase of a new lens....and by the way, my wife had a list of new furniture to discuss over breakfast that she had wanted for some time that had been on a "can't afford it now list" ..she was serious!!

Thanks Davideb..it's great to be here !!...you really like the monopod aye?? any brand you find best??? None around here for me to try...I'll have to order one..

PEACHMAN wrote:
Thanks Grego.....I've still got a lot of work to do...I'm use to my old non USM 75-300 f4-5.6 canon cheapy-charlie and somewhat happy with the results..I thought it would be a lot more dramatic difference right away..I need to do some controlled shots from both to check what I'm gaining...

You are like stepping up from Ford Pinto to BMW with that change in lens.

my monopod advice is in this thread. Other people may (will) have different ideas.

I find that a monopod allows about 2-3 stops slower shutter speed.

I'm back...I had a chance to use the lens quite a bit today at a Downs walk... I am having a very consistant focus problem...I put the dot right on the eyes and I get a nice clear pattern of a shirt and the face is not as sharp as it could be ...over 100 shots taken and this issue is in 90% of them. I have included a photo of my granddaughter who went in support of my grandson...This shot is here to demonstrate what I'm seeing...please note the weave of the sweater compared to the sharpness of the face..Light USM has been applied....Any ideas...is this a calibration thing?? ISO 400, 1/400 sec, Av 6.3 lens 70-200@146

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

If you think you are having a consistent problem, then your lens needs some work. Since its so new, maybe send it back and get a new one? Whatever you think is the best way to go about it.

I don't know if it's a problem or it's what I have to expect with this lens...or if it's a focus problem with the camera...I bought this lens, after all, to try to sharpen up my always a bit blured images...also I have no way of knowing how much sharpening has been done to other posts of pictures using this lens... Sorry, I really don't want to appear to be whinning about this lens, I just really want to throughly understand the functions and problems to expect..and how it is functioning for others...

PEACHMAN wrote:
I don't know if it's a problem or it's what I have to expect with this lens...or if it's a focus problem with the camera...I bought this lens, after all, to try to sharpen up my always a bit blured images...also I have no way of knowing how much sharpening has been done to other posts of pictures using this lens... Sorry, I really don't want to appear to be whinning about this lens, I just really want to throughly understand the functions and problems to expect..and how it is functioning for others...

Try a few control subjects. At 2.8 you might be a little soft, which isn't abnormal. I haven't used the new one, but I know I had to sharpen on the old sigma. There is no exact amount because different images have diff contrast and sharpness.

You could use one of the focus tests that people post on.

I think you're right, it's the only way to be sure...I will..

I am quite happy with mine. I tried sports event last week & found HSM focusses quite fast, I cant compare with USM but I didnt found any issues with HSM's speed.

I was trying panning & here's an example.

HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/gif'

Raj wrote:
I am quite happy with mine. I tried sports event last week & found HSM focusses quite fast, I cant compare with USM but I didnt found any issues with HSM's speed.

I was trying panning & here's an example.

HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/gif'

On side note, I tried 24-70 sigma EX & That couldnt track fast moving cars, so advantage of HSM was quite obvious.

Wow...nice photo ! your's seems to be functioning fine! Nice colors and capture and no blur at that speed...could you tell me the specs of this photo and what camera you use ??

Thanks peachman, this is actually a panning shot with slow shutter, I used tv mode to use 1/160 shutter @iso 100 & got ~f10-f16 for a series of shots.
You can check more photos from this shoot with all the exif info at
www.pbase.com/blue_sta​r/racing_cart

Considering I took these handheld on a cloudy day, I am pretty happy with the results.

Frankly speaking I was worried in the beginning that my lens is front focussing, however with time I am getting accoustomed with this lens & now find my fears were unbaised.
I suggest you just do a focus test to make sure your lens is OK & after that number of keepers will increase with time.
Problem with this lens or any lens with this focal length is that
- much easier to get motion blur
- DOF is too shallow which also gives a appearence that pic is OOF.
& thse generally scare ppl (including me too)
But see this, another pic I took at f2.8 or 3.2 (I have been posted this earlier too)

HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/gif'

Nice shots...thanks,but talk about small DoF...the base of the beak of the owl is the one real point of focus...then fades in both directions...nice to see thats just how it workss...Hey , the one thing I'm not sure about the lens is focusing on moving objects...with the shutter button 1/2 way down it continues to focus on a moving object until the shutter is completely depressedSorry about the stupid question but I was not aware of this function if that's what it is....Maybe someone can send me to a thread of the actuall working of the lens..??

Hey Peachman!

Are you on AF-SERVO mode? If so, that's the camera keeping up with the action. It's perfectly normal - in fact, it's a godsend most of the time!

If you have it on AF-FOCUS then it shouldn't keep track of the moving object.

Hey , thanks alot...I never checked (or even thought of it) but I will now..(if I can figure out how!)