Eclipse - Best I could do.

[Geoff F]

Heavy cloud this morning. Sky did get a bit dark but nothing showing until I was about to leave and walking down the path. Then a temporary thinning of the cloud so I quickly returned to the house and grabbed a few handheld snaps with my Sigma 150-500 lens.

The cloud actually made photography possible but resulted in a rather strange looking moon like image.

[Shadowman]

Nice efforts.

[James G]

Geoff, that's the problem with ephemeral events... you get one chance or none....under the circumstances pretty good... you got the shots.

[Nicks Pics]

These are very neat photos of the eclipse. It may be less interesting without the clouds. Yes, it does look like the moon. Didn't see the eclipse in this part of the world.

[IzzieK]

I was looking for it too...how come we missed out on this one? Even the April 4th lunar one is also off for Missou... Anyway, strange looking moon -- very sharp.

P.S. How do you like the Sigma 150-500? my birthday/Mother's Day wish this year...amongst other "stuffs"..

[dubaiphil]

Izzie - the US is big, but you don't get everything, you know! ;-)

Google August 2017 solar eclipse - that should get you pretty excited and booking an overnight stay....

[bnnrcn]

+1 to James

[Geoff F]

Thanks for comments.

Izzie. Sigma 150-500 is OK but there are drawbacks with any affordable large zoom!

Heavy and somewhat cumbersome to use, particularly handheld. Autofocus is rather slow. Works best in the F8 to F11 range so it tends to be a good light lens.

But it gets you to 500 mm relatively inexpensively and has a handy size range. Stabilisation works quite well, but still best to use at 1/500 or faster for handheld shots.

Tamron have produced a 150-600 lens which has good reviews. Also, Sigma have updated their lens with a 150-600 and this seems to have even better reports. But( there is always a but somewhere ) it is more expensive and is heavy (possibly that means well constructed). If I was purchasing another long zoom I would certainly get the new 150-600 Sigma.

[IzzieK]

Izzie - the US is big, but you don't get everything, you know! ;-)

Google August 2017 solar eclipse - that should get you pretty excited and booking an overnight stay....

Europe is off for 2015 at least...wew're fully booked already this year...dunno about the next few years... so Phil, I will just salivate on looking for more of your shots (and others) from that part of the pond...

[IzzieK]

Izzie - the US is big, but you don't get everything, you know! ;-)

Google August 2017 solar eclipse - that should get you pretty excited and booking an overnight stay....

Europe is off for 2015 at least...wew're fully booked already this year...dunno about the next few years... so Phil, I will just salivate on looking for more of your shots (and others) from that part of the pond...

[IzzieK]

Read a lot of review and I think John (Shadowman) have one (or borrowed one.) He wasn't complaining. I had asked you too late because I had already put in my order to my sugar daddy. I like the reach without the exorbitant cost of a Nikon equivalent so after losing two lenses from my last trip, I am a little bit hesitant to have him spend more money this time around so soon especially if I am to lose one again...at least it is not as expensive.

Thanks for comments.

Izzie. Sigma 150-500 is OK but there are drawbacks with any affordable large zoom!

Heavy and somewhat cumbersome to use, particularly handheld. Autofocus is rather slow. Works best in the F8 to F11 range so it tends to be a good light lens.

But it gets you to 500 mm relatively inexpensively and has a handy size range. Stabilisation works quite well, but still best to use at 1/500 or faster for handheld shots.

Tamron have produced a 150-600 lens which has good reviews. Also, Sigma have updated their lens with a 150-600 and this seems to have even better reports. But( there is always a but somewhere ) it is more expensive and is heavy (possibly that means well constructed). If I was purchasing another long zoom I would certainly get the new 150-600 Sigma.

[IzzieK]

Read a lot of review and I think John (Shadowman) have one (or borrowed one.) He wasn't complaining. I think I had asked you too late because I had already put in my order to my sugar daddy. I like the reach without the exorbitant cost of a Nikon equivalent so after losing two lenses from my last trip, I am a little bit hesitant to have him spend more money this time around so soon especially if I am to lose one again...at least it is not as expensive.

Thanks for comments.

Izzie. Sigma 150-500 is OK but there are drawbacks with any affordable large zoom!

Heavy and somewhat cumbersome to use, particularly handheld. Autofocus is rather slow. Works best in the F8 to F11 range so it tends to be a good light lens.

But it gets you to 500 mm relatively inexpensively and has a handy size range. Stabilisation works quite well, but still best to use at 1/500 or faster for handheld shots.

Tamron have produced a 150-600 lens which has good reviews. Also, Sigma have updated their lens with a 150-600 and this seems to have even better reports. But( there is always a but somewhere ) it is more expensive and is heavy (possibly that means well constructed). If I was purchasing another long zoom I would certainly get the new 150-600 Sigma.

[JohnRostron]

The day before the eclipse, the cloud in Essex was thin and the sun was visible. Ideal for taking photographs without any fancy equipment. Friday morning dawned, and the clouds looked just the same so I took my camera out with me, but no sign of the sun! It didn't even get noticeably darker!

Anyway, well done to Geoff!

Ah well, the question is, will I still be around next time?

John

[IzzieK]

The day before the eclipse, the cloud in Essex was thin and the sun was visible. Ideal for taking photographs without any fancy equipment. Friday morning dawned, and the clouds looked just the same so I took my camera out with me, but no sign of the sun! It didn't even get noticeably darker!

Anyway, well done to Geoff!

Ah well, the question is, will I still be around next time?

John

Hmmmm...think so....here's your guide for the next 10 years. Barring any drink/driving accidents or any other accidents, you will still be alive...unless you don't intent to. Life is so precious and sweet. Enjoy the view where you can, whenever you can.

http://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/list.html