Show your Bird Portraits
- Thread starter 1982chris911
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Jack Douglas said:
Jack, I don't even know where to start as it seems like I am going in circles - from messing with AFMA to changing lenses to really watching the nuances of my shooting style, etc. I really am starting to think that it is the 7D.
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My 7D has no issues accomplishing sharp images with my Sigma 150-600C or my 70-200 f2.8LIS. When I couple the 70-200 with a 1.4 extender, the images turn to trash very quick. With that said, when I use my 70-200 with extender on my 5D3, the images hold up much better
If you are not confident messing with micro adjusting, theres a good chance you will make it worse.
If you are not confident messing with micro adjusting, theres a good chance you will make it worse.
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Ryananthony said:
Nice! I am thinking of switching to this lens or wait till the rumoured non-L superzoom comes. With the Sigma, do you have any issue with AF with F-stop being 5-6.3 on your 7D, especially at low light situation? And is it handheld friendly? Thanks.
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7DmkI said:
I really enjoy this lens. In my opinion, it is small and very easy to handhold. I have only hand held it for wildlife. Tripod when doing landscapes etc. I do most of my shooting in the day, and only shoot wide open if I'm looking for shallow depth of field. There have only been a few instances where I really wish I had the extra stop and a bit from a big white, and the possibility for very shallow depth of field, but Ill survive. I don't make money off any of my bird images. I don't recall any focus issues on the 7D. With that said, most of the time I use my 5D3 with the Sigma. If you are considering this lens, in my opinion, you just have to except its not the best for low light. I don't think there are any times where the third of a stop to f5.6 would have saved an image of mine. But again, this is a hobby for me, and I don't have to capture them
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So hand shake should not be a problem.
The only way to solve this is to break it down to basics:
Optical quality - mount the lens on to a tripod (or other firm surface) and use liveview to focus manually. If the image is as sharp as you would want then the combination of optics+camera are OK.
AF accuracy - leaving it on a tripod, use live view and single-shot AF to focus on a subject. Take a picture, defocus and refocus a couple of times more. This will show if the AF is repeatedly accurate. You cold start at f8 and repeat at successively wide apertures so that the narrow DOF is not an issue. You could also repeat without using liveview which may show if mirror slap is a problem.
If all those are OK then it is not AF that is your problem and you may have to look at your technique, including the use of IS which some report can cause a blurring in a photo that is taken quickly.
My preferred quick test is to put a stake in a lawn and focus on the base of the stake. If there are focus inaccuracies then the blades of grass give me a good idea of how far out it is.
I recall you saying you had tried micro-adjust. With the 7D1 I think the micro-adjust only works at one focal length on a zoom so if you adjust the long end it may through the short end out which may account for the variable response.
The only way to solve this is to break it down to basics:
Optical quality - mount the lens on to a tripod (or other firm surface) and use liveview to focus manually. If the image is as sharp as you would want then the combination of optics+camera are OK.
AF accuracy - leaving it on a tripod, use live view and single-shot AF to focus on a subject. Take a picture, defocus and refocus a couple of times more. This will show if the AF is repeatedly accurate. You cold start at f8 and repeat at successively wide apertures so that the narrow DOF is not an issue. You could also repeat without using liveview which may show if mirror slap is a problem.
If all those are OK then it is not AF that is your problem and you may have to look at your technique, including the use of IS which some report can cause a blurring in a photo that is taken quickly.
My preferred quick test is to put a stake in a lawn and focus on the base of the stake. If there are focus inaccuracies then the blades of grass give me a good idea of how far out it is.
I recall you saying you had tried micro-adjust. With the 7D1 I think the micro-adjust only works at one focal length on a zoom so if you adjust the long end it may through the short end out which may account for the variable response.
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I think Mikehit has offered a good plan. You need a dummy subject and to go through the process. If it were possible to bring a friend's camera/lenses into the picture that could be helpful (I did this comparative activity with a friend who had similar level Nikon gear (using tripod, same fixed subject) . I always add some sharpening that is lens specific using Canon DPP, which definitely is a subtle benefit.
Personally, it took me a long while to accept that my 300 F2.8 II was up to the level of sharpness of others who posted. Now I just enjoy it and accept it is what it is. My focus has shifted to aspects of composition that are within my grasp and not gear restricted. A group like we have visiting this thread tend to be pretty particular regarding their own photos but quite considerate of others.
It's more about having fun not fussing over gear. However, if a piece of gear has a problem that needs to be addressed it should be so I hope it works out for you.
Jack
Personally, it took me a long while to accept that my 300 F2.8 II was up to the level of sharpness of others who posted. Now I just enjoy it and accept it is what it is. My focus has shifted to aspects of composition that are within my grasp and not gear restricted. A group like we have visiting this thread tend to be pretty particular regarding their own photos but quite considerate of others.
It's more about having fun not fussing over gear. However, if a piece of gear has a problem that needs to be addressed it should be so I hope it works out for you.
Jack
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gje_b said:Mikehit said:
390mm, f5.6, 1/2000 sec, iso 640. I would initially be happy with the pics but when I see the pictures here where you can clearly count the lines on the feathers, that's when disappointment comes in
Jack is right. When I test new lens or camera I use a little owl, see pictures. Here I was testing the lens sharpness on a new 100-400ii with extender on both the canon 5dmkiii and 7dmkii. My opinion both are extremely sharp.
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7DmkI said:
The working weight difference is 16 oz over the 100-400mm Mk I and 12 oz over the MK II. (TDP has all the weights under "specifications"). I have no problem carrying the Sigma C on a 5DS R or 7DII on a Blackrapid strap for a couple of hours or hand holding for several minutes and I'm 73. My copy of the 150-600mm II is sharper at 400mm than either of the 2 Mk IIs I've had and is on par with the 300mm f/2.8 II + 2xTC at 600mm.
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