First shots with my new Bigma

Giphsub

Well I finally got to take my Bigma out for a run this weekend. Damn this is a heavy bugger! I shot all hand-held and in late afternoon light, so many of these shots were taken up around iso800. I am VERY happy with the results, and am really raring to get out and use this new toy some more :barb All comments welcome.

I eased myself into it with some easy targets.






Then moved to some harder ones.








I dunno what these little fellas are...


And a few other shots from the Bigma...

BigAl

Very nice Mike - some could do with a touch of sharpening, but you've done well! You'll get used to the Bigma soon enough, a monpod really helps.

[Your watermarks are very distracting - especially where they cross the main subject.]

Giphsub

Thanks Big Al. I sharpened most of those. Which ones in particular? The last couple are not really the best quality and are a little blurred. This is a difficult lens to take BIFs with eh! The watermark, I know. I decided to go that way to stop people ripping pics that I have on my smugmug site. It's too easy to crop a corner watermark. Maybe I'll have a rethink on that. Thanks for looking

riddim_maker

Seems like you're gonna be enjoying that lens :ivar
I'm sure it's a relief to leave the house with only one lens that does it all.

Giphsub

Thanks Russ. It will be nice to do that indeed! I might take the 18-200 with me too though for when the light really sucks.

Giphsub

Watermark changed for now

Maestro

You done did good! How's that for horrible grammar? Anyhow, I really like the low angle third shot. Your new glass is really going to help you fill the frame with all that wildlife. Have fun.

Option1

Nice start Mike. As noted, a monopod or tripod will help get sharper pics (not that these are dramatically soft at all), but you've got some lovely compositions there.

Neil

dbaker1221

congrats on the bigma Mike.

raptorcaptor

Looking good Mike! Glad you are enjoying your new lens! The first two ducks look like they have been enjoying some yellow paint!

jwear

congrats a dam good start --you will be having fun now ,merry xmas

Giphsub

Maestro wrote:

You done did good! How's that for horrible grammar? Anyhow, I really like the low angle third shot. Your new glass is really going to help you fill the frame with all that wildlife. Have fun.

Thanks Stephen. Fantastic grammar! Sounds like something my Japanese students would come up with Yeah, it's great having more of the bird in the image from the start, AND having a much larger image now with the D300! :ivar

Giphsub

Option1 wrote:

Nice start Mike. As noted, a monopod or tripod will help get sharper pics (not that these are dramatically soft at all), but you've got some lovely compositions there.

Neil

Thanks Neil. I know that will help, and hopefully will try it next time. I was on a non-photography trip (my wedding actually!) and had already overpacked with the Bigma! I also wanted to see how well I could do handheld. Was pretty pleased overall.:D

Giphsub

dbaker1221 wrote:

congrats on the bigma Mike.

Thanks Dave! I'm stoked to be able to get close to the birds finally without having to overstealth it!

Giphsub

raptorcaptor wrote:

Looking good Mike! Glad you are enjoying your new lens! The first two ducks look like they have been enjoying some yellow paint!

Thanks for commenting Glen And yeah, they do look like that! Good comment

Giphsub

jwear wrote:

congrats a dam good start --you will be having fun now ,merry xmas

Thanks Jeff. Much appreciated. I have a lot to learn from you bunch on here! And I'm enjoying every minute of it! Merry Christmas to you too

Harryb

Very nice shots Mike and congrats on the new lens. Now put that puppy on a monopod.

Giphsub

Thanks Harry, much appreciated. And yes, I will

BigAl

Giphsub wrote:

Watermark changed for now

Thanks Mike - I just realised it was the watermark distracting me. In the first pic, I picked up the back bird (which is getting out of the DoF), then your watermark and then fixated on the watermark and didn't look at the front bird (which is in focus).

Giphsub

Cheers Big Al Comments appreciated.

bfjr

bigma works for you well

Giphsub

Thanks Benjamin It does indeed!

CookieS

Watermark doesnt bother me, too much online photo theft out there.
Nice shots with the monster lens especially hand held.

Id like to seee some of your shots with the 18-200 VR , Im thinking about picking one up for a wedding shoot coming up?

Giphsub

yeah, I'm not sure what stance to take on it really

Here are a few from the 18-200. I really like that lens, but it doesn't have enough reach for the birds most of the time.

dallas

Looks like a keeper to me.

Giphsub

Thanks Dallas

Giphsub

can anyone tell me what these little guys were??