How many UK Butterflies members own a Sigma 150mm?

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steveh
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How many UK Butterflies members own a Sigma 150mm?

Post by steveh »

Another wet boring day and was hoping to visit Lydden today as well! :(

I was wondering how many of you (like myself) use the Sigma 150mm lens?
And if anyone has been dissapointed with it in any way?...very fine DOF etc,or very impressed?

Regards
Steve
My personal photo website http://stevehale.zenfolio.com/
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Gruditch
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Post by Gruditch »

I use one, :D

Gruditch
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Gwenhwyfar
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Post by Gwenhwyfar »

I use one too! I haven't used any other Macros, so I can't really compare it to anything else.
I've loved it from day one, so yep, very impressed with it.
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Post by Dave »

I use one too. I actually use it for a variety of subjects and find it's superb with Reptiles and Dragonflies whilst not so good for Damselflies but still good. Butterflywise I find it excellent but I just don't get as good results as I do with the aforementioned genera. All in all I'd say it;s a must have lens but I am looking to get a 105mm Canon as I think both would cover most situations.
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Chris
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Post by Chris »

I use one... I think it's an excellent lens
Robin
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Post by Robin »

Yeah, I've got one too. Very pleased with it. Only problem is that it sometimes takes a while to focus and by the time it has the butterfly has gone.
My wife pat has the Sigma 105mm and that's also producing great results.
Robin
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Rogerdodge
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Post by Rogerdodge »

Hi
I don’t have the 150.
I do, however, own the 180, and love it to pieces..
Some of my acquaintances do have the 150, and I lust after one!
It is much shorter and easier handled, and that extra stop is really useful.
As for focussing – I seldom use autofocus, I focus by hand, and then move the camera back and forth to find sharp focus. – using a monopod makes this a doddle.
A good friend also uses the drive set to continuous and this enables a waving grass stem to move in and out of the zone of focus, ensuring a good selection of in-focus shots.
I haven’t tried this myself yet, but I ought to – he has scored votes in the competitions and I haven’t yet!!!
Roger Harding
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Post by Robin »

Roger,

I presume that your friend who uses continuous doesn't shoot RAW. If they do then they must use large capacity cards.

I use 1GB cards and shoot RAW which means I can only get just over 100 shots per card. If I shot continuous I would soon fill them up.
Robin
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Rogerdodge
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Post by Rogerdodge »

I am not sure what size cards he uses, but I have 3 x 2gb cards and a 80gb downoader - so no problems there then!
HTH
Roger Harding
brianwaugh
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Post by brianwaugh »

I have the 105 and quality wise its very good, on manual it will do whatever you want. However I have since started to use a combination of Sigma 100-300 continuous F4 and attach various extention tubes. I find the benefit of being able to stand off from the subject to a distance of 3-4 feet a real boon, the combination still gives me a frame filling shot of a butterfly. For those who havent a dedicated macro lens its a very good alternative, especially since a long telephoto lens is most folks first extra purchase.
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Pete Eeles
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Post by Pete Eeles »

Hi Brian,

Do you find this combination a bit weighty? Just curious since I have a 400mm zoom that I've been toying with using. In conjunction with a tripod, I would imagine you'd get fit pretty quick :)

Cheers,

- Pete
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Post by Gruditch »

I saw a guy the other day using a Canon 500mm f4 IS, for butterfly photography :shock: With a 3m minimum focus, he was a bit restricted on the angles he could shot from :lol:

Gruditch
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Martin
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Post by Martin »

I use a Canon 100-400L IS with extesion tubes..close focus is about 2 feet :D

Martin.
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Post by brianwaugh »

Yep its a little heavy to lug around and you know about it by the end of the day, however we all have to suffer a little for our hobby !.
I have it fitted to tripod and use the tripod as a monopod for first shots of my subject, if it decides to stay put and play I carefully open the legs out.
As said before I find being able to fill the frame from a distance of 3 - 4 feet invaluable in that the subject tends to remain undisturbed for longer.
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Malcolm Farrow
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Sigma 150

Post by Malcolm Farrow »

It would be interesting to do a poll on what people use, lens wise. I assume it would be fairly easy to set up a list of the most popular macro lenses that we could 'vote' for to indicate use.
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Pete Eeles
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Post by Pete Eeles »

Yes - it would be easy. If you want to get the list together then we can set the poll up! Maybe do the same with cameras too!

Cheers,

- Pete
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Malcolm Farrow
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Post by Malcolm Farrow »

Okay, I'll post a list of lenses tomorrow. Perhaps others can add any models that I miss. I'll have a go for camera too, although there are a lot of bodies out there...
David Tipping
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Post by David Tipping »

Add me to the list of Sigma 150mm owners, a choice based largely on threads posted on this forum. I picked mine up on ebay, reconditioned from a Hong Kong dealer for £304 (including postage), which seemed a decent price. The images it produces are excellent, though in truth not a lot better than those I obtained with my old Fuji S7000 and macro converter. The main advantage is that I can now shoot from a couple of feet away (with the Fuji I often needed to be within a foot), therefore less liklihood of spooking butterflies.
DJT
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Malcolm Farrow
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Post by Malcolm Farrow »

Below is a list of macro type lenses that may be suitable for a poll.

It's debatable whether the older Nikon/Canon/Tamron manual focus lenses should be included - and I haven't tried to get my head around the many older designs offered by other manufacturers such as Pentax, Minolta, Olympus etc. However, many people focus for macro shots by moving the camera rather than the focus ring on the lens or AF, so these lenses may still be in widespread use.

It may not be a complete list of even current models - can anyone think of any I've missed? I also haven't listed non-specialist macro designs, but i know some of these are also used, so other people may want to add suggestions for these too.

Nikon 55mm f2.8 AIS (MF)
Nikon 60mm f2.8 AFD
Nikon 70-180mm f4.5 – f5.6 AFD
Nikon 105mm f2.8 AIS (MF)
Nikon 105mm f4.0 (MF)
Nikon 105mm f2.8 AFD
Nikon 105mm f2.8G VR AFS IF-ED
Nikon 200mm f4.0 AFD

Canon EF-S 60mm f2.8 USM
Canon EF 100mm f2.8 USM
Canon FD 100 f2.8 (MF)
Canon EF 180mm f3.5L USM

Pentax SMC 50mm f2.8 D FA
Pentax SMC 100mm f2.8 D FA

Sony Alpha 100mm F2.8

Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 50mm 1:2.0 Macro

Tamron SP 90mm f2.5 (MF)
Tamron SP AF 90mm f2.8 Di
Tamron SP AF 180mm f3.5 Di LD

Sigma 50mm f2.8 AF EX DG
Sigma 70mm f2.8 AF EX DG
Sigma 105mm f2.8 AF EX DG
APO Sigma 150mm f2.8 AF EX DG IF HSM
APO Sigma 180mm f2.8 AF EX DG IF HSM

Tokina AT-X 100mm f2.8 PRO D AF

Hope this is helpful.

Malcolm
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Pete Eeles
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Post by Pete Eeles »

Hi Malcolm - I'll let you decide when you want to run the poll :)

To set a poll up, just create a new topic, and fill in the poll items at the bottom of the post. You'll need to add each poll item separately. If it isn't quite right when you've done, just edit the post, by clicking the "Edit" button that you'll see in the top right of the post.

Cheers,

- Pete
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