Sigma 150-600 Contemporary Lens with Canon 7D Mark II

[Bushwack]

I also use the Sigma 150 - 500mm and used it with my poor 1100D with absolutely brilliant results, but recently upgrade (finally) to the Canon 7D Mii. now I'm taking alright pictures, but lacks the sharpness that i use to get on my 1100D. could it be that they are not 100% compatible or must i carry on playing till i get it right?

[Geoff F]

Are you possibly using autofocus but not focusing on the 'correct areas' ?

I usually just use a centre group of focusing points or when possible, manual focus. With so many autofocus points for the camera to select, when using the full range of points, it often happens that one of the outer points focuses on the 'wrong area'.

[Polar01]

Larry as some have mentioned a lot of the time it is operator error, in that many are not sure of the best way to set the focus system on their cameras. I am one of them, it is landscapes no problem, birds in flight or planes, help. As you have the 150-600mm Sigma lens I am going to think wildlife. I am going to add a link, now it is for Nikon Cameras however they are much the same in overall general ways things are done. Hope this maybe of some help.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEDzAMm1FCc

Cheers: Allan

[tclune]

I have the 150-600 and I know that I have to remind myself to watch the shutter speed, try to keep it 1/focal length.

I would just point out that these long lenses are often used for birding and wildlife. In that kind of shooting, it is not uncommon to significantly crop the image. If the OP is doing that, the 1/f rule of thumb goes out the window. If you are cropping to get a shot that would have taken a 1200mm lens to get the image full-frame, you should probably think of the rule of thumb as calling for 1/1200 s shutter speed. Of course, this is just a rule of thumb, and people vary on what they can achieve, especially with IS. Nonetheless, my sense is that most people underestimate the shutter speed they need with long lenses. FWIW

[Geoff F]

I also use the Sigma 150 - 500mm and used it with my poor 1100D with absolutely brilliant results, but recently upgrade (finally) to the Canon 7D Mii. now I'm taking alright pictures, but lacks the sharpness that i use to get on my 1100D. could it be that they are not 100% compatible or must i carry on playing till i get it right?

Yes this thread had run its normal course but has been revived with this question from a new member.

Maybe a new thread would be best, but at least we can give a bit of advice to this recent post.

[Manfred M]

Maybe a new thread would be best, but at least we can give a bit of advice to this recent post.

Good idea Geoff. Done now...

[Mike Buckley]

Manfred,

Now that this new thread has been created, post #5 that quotes my post is rendered inaccurate and is confusing. To help eliminate that confusion, I deleted my post and recommend that you also delete yours. Feel free to delete this post as well if doing so helps tidy things up.

[Manfred M]

Manfred,

Now that this new thread has been created, post #5 that quotes my post is rendered inaccurate and is confusing. To help eliminate that confusion, I deleted my post and recommend that you also delete yours. Feel free to delete this post as well if doing so helps tidy things up.

Make sense Mike - done.

Of course #7 and #8 can be viewed as redundant too.

[rpcrowe]

Welcome to CiC

Are you shooting RAW or JPEG? You "MAY" if you are shooting JPEG, have different degrees of sharpness dialed in.

There is also a possibility, since our 7DII camera's a/f system is so versatile, yet complicated, that you have set the camera up wrong for your style of photography...

[Stagecoach]

I also use the Sigma 150 - 500mm and used it with my poor 1100D with absolutely brilliant results, but recently upgrade (finally) to the Canon 7D Mii. now I'm taking alright pictures, but lacks the sharpness that i use to get on my 1100D. could it be that they are not 100% compatible or must i carry on playing till i get it right?

I would suggest the first thing to do is mount the rig on a sturdy tripod and test shoot at a fixed target. Use every option available such as mirror up, remote release, VR off (lens specific), low ISO, aperture sweet spot e.t.c to eliminate/reduce movement and achieve best IQ.

Using both AF and Manual focusing take a series of shots. Look at these carefully on the monitor and see if you have achieved acceptable sharpness taking account of any standard sharpening you would normally use.

The idea being that the results will determine what the camera/lens can achieve in ideal conditions.