1st shots with 80-400mm + A question

GraphyFotoz

Here a few few 1st shots with my Sigma 80-400mm EX DG APO OS.
(OS was on)

Pics taken at 15-20ft away and a 30-40% crop.

I'm using a Canon 10D and every pic I have ever taken with it I hafta use CS2 USM. Is that normal or do I have a internal menu setting wrong?
What should ALL my menu setting be PERMANENTLY set at?
I think I have something set wrong thus the questionable problem.

Sorry still relativily new to this DSLR stuff! :dunno

Click on each pic for EXIF info.

Awais Yaqub

Loved 1st !!

GraphyFotoz

Another taken lil while ago
Rabbit in the shadows 50ft away.
Under exposed 1/2to 1 full stop?

Again USM but this time full pic uncropped.
Brightened just a tad with Curve.

(OS was on monopod used on all pics posted so far)

Guess I just hafta practice and get used to how the lens work?

Click on pic for EXIF info.

GraphyFotoz

Awais Yaqub wrote:

Loved 1st !!

Cute lil guys!
They come to my bird feeder station all the time.
Now I can get some up close and personal shots of em!
My 75-300mm wasn't doing it for me.

This 80-400mm I'm gonna nick name this the "Mini BIGMA" as it weighs in at 61oz. So it's a BEAST...but then again about anything in the 400-500mm is gonna be huge!

gus

GraphyFotoz wrote:

...but then again about anything in the 400-500mm is gonna be huge!

Except the 400 f5.6 prime...its still a baby. The only advice i can give you graphy is that shutter speed will now mean a lot more to you with this reach to avoid the shakes. I tend to leave my canon on ISO400 for any no-tripod shot. I notice a lot of your shots dont have direct sunlight so assuming that this is your typical weather then you have an even harder job of balancing the shakes & shutter speed. Good luck Glad to see you now have some real reach.

GraphyFotoz

gus wrote:

Except the 400 f5.6 prime...its still a baby. The only advice i can give you graphy is that shutter speed will now mean a lot more to you with this reach to avoid the shakes. I tend to leave my canon on ISO400 for any no-tripod shot. I notice a lot of your shots dont have direct sunlight so assuming that this is your typical weather then you have an even harder job of balancing the shakes & shutter speed. Good luck Glad to see you now have some real reach.

These were take lil while ago (Late evening) thus reduced sunlight.
As for the shakes....I had the OS (Optical Stabilization) on so that helps a lot! I'll also use my Monopod as much as possible to help as well.
Which I have thus far.
Thanx for the info! :

DanielB

GraphyFotoz wrote:

I'm using a Canon 10D and every pic I have ever taken with it I hafta use CS2 USM. Is that normal or do I have a internal menu setting wrong?
What should ALL my menu setting be PERMANENTLY set at?
I think I have something set wrong thus the questionable problem.

Sorry still relativily new to this DSLR stuff!

*shrug* i rarely ever use USM on my photos unless i know they might be printed big. i never really feel the need to. try posting a before/after photo of you using USM and tell us what your settings were. a couple of your photos like the rabbit look a touch fried on the USM side

none-the-less sweet stuff man. looks like you're gonna be gettin' full use of that long lens.

raptorcaptor

Nice set I like #2 best!. Are shooting in raw, or jpeg?

GraphyFotoz

raptorcaptor wrote:

Nice set I like #2 best!. Are shooting in raw, or jpeg?

THANX!!
These are JPG I'm gonna start jumping to RAW as soon as I get more used to working with them.

gluwater

GraphyFotoz wrote:

THANX!!
These are JPG I'm gonna start jumping to RAW as soon as I get more used to working with them.

You should be able to set the sharpening in camera to an amount that works well for all images and then use USM according to if a particular image needs selective sharpening. If you start shooting RAW than all your images will need to be sharpened because there is no sharpening applied in the camera.

Dick on Aruba

Nice captures, great lens.

Thanks for sharing.

Dick.