After getting back to the car....

[rtbaum]

I still wanted to try the D750 with the old Sigma 400mm


Blue-Winged Teal


Eastern Kingbird


Yellow-Headed Blackbird (uncooperative sob!)

[IzzieK]

Randy all beautifully posed birdies...I like #1 best even if it has a lot of space acreage around it...#2 -- is too cute...and the last one, I can feel your frustration... and know why...is your Sigma 400mm a fixed lens?

[Shadowman]

Nice set.

[rtbaum]

Randy all beautifully posed birdies...I like #1 best even if it has a lot of space acreage around it...#2 -- is too cute...and the last one, I can feel your frustration... and know why...is your Sigma 400mm a fixed lens?

It is a Sigma 400mm APO Telemacro, circa 1980's. It has no VR, screw drive, and slow auto focus. All of that being said, optics are where it really counts for me and this archaic beast has earned my respect in that regard. Only cost about 600 bucks

[bnnrcn]

Nice series

[Rebel]

Nice Randy! Love #2

[Ziggy]

Enjoyable series. Number two is my pick.

[rpcrowe]

Nice images. I especially like #2. I remember looking at a Sigma like that when I wanted a long lens. I ended up purchasing a used Tokina 400mm f/5.6 ATX lens.

I looked for some of the images I shot with my old Tokina 400mm f/5.6 lens but, could not find any. I didn't really use it for a long time.

The image quality of the Tokina came pretty close to what I get with my Canon 400mm f/5.6L lens (especially at f/8 or f/11) but, the auto focus was far-far slower and less accurate; meaning no fast moving subjects.

However, I only paid one hundred U.S. Dollars for that Tokina and it was lighter in weight and could focus closer than my 400mm f/5.6L. Both lenses had a sliding lens hood which I love!

By the way, I tried the Tokina on some racing hydroplane shots and the auto focus did not measure up. I got the 400mm f/5.6L and a 300mm f/4L IS, used, from an acquaintance who needed to dump these lenses for faster glass. I don't remember exactly what the price was that I paid for these two but, remember it was what a new 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS lens cost. That is the deal I made with my friend.

[rtbaum]

Richard, they sound very similar. The Sigma is slow for AF and tends to hunt at inopportune times. In all honesty, my Nikon 70-200 f/4 is certainly faster to capture focus but still hunts when conditions get messy. Either way, I've just learned when to switch to manual focus. I love the focus ring on the Sigma, it occupies the space of 80% the length; kinda easy to locate at critical times.