sigma bigma birding focussing help with k-1

mrfredsporty · 02-02-2017, 04:21 AM

so, im loving my bigma (newer version) and it seems to work very well.i am having trouble using autofocusing on birds in flight. im using rear focus (which i love). however im missing a lot as it searches or goes out of focus. yesterday i tried using manual focus and, believe it or not, im having much better and faster results. what are my more experienced friends doing.
thanks.

Bob from Aus · 02-02-2017, 04:31 AM - **1 Like**

I'm thinking you are asking to much. I haven't tried my bigma on the K!, but will give it a go tomorrow. Focusing on a moving target was never good on the K5. It did help turning off shake reduction. When I used a 70-300 sigma, I found hand focusing more successful.

However, I do think you are asking to much.

D1N0 · 02-02-2017, 06:56 AM

Originally posted by Bob from Aus

I'm thinking you are asking to much. I haven't tried my bigma on the K!, but will give it a go tomorrow. Focusing on a moving target was never good on the K5. It did help turning off shake reduction. When I used a 70-300 sigma, I found hand focusing more successful.

However, I do think you are asking to much.

K-1 AF is MUCH better than K-5 AF. The Sigma 70-300 is a budget lens, whereas the Bigma is not. So I think you cannot generalise your experience.

svassh · 02-02-2017, 07:25 AM

I went out once with my Sigma 120-400mm and it worked fine on CAF. I believe I was using the 3x3 zone, where you using a single AF point?

normhead · 02-02-2017, 07:29 AM - **1 Like**

The problem with BiFs is not locking focus because of un-even panning. My K-1 will not lock focus on a flower that's quivering in the breeze. The camera needs a certain amount of stability to lock focus. IN some situations, it's easier with a manual focus lens that isn't flipping back and forth from near to far.

mrfredsporty · 02-02-2017, 07:41 AM

Originally posted by normhead

The problem with BiFs is not locking focus because of un-even panning. My K-1 will not lock focus on a flower that's quivering in the breeze. The camera needs a certain amount of stability to lock focus. IN some situations, it's easier with a manual focus lens that isn't flipping back and forth from near to far.

one thing is for sure: with me hand holding and panning the the bigma it sure aint steady

svassh · 02-02-2017, 07:43 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by mrfredsporty

one thing is for sure: with me hand holding and panning the the bigma it sure aint steady

Actually now that you mention that I recall I was using a monopod.

normhead · 02-02-2017, 08:04 AM

Originally posted by svassh

Actually now that you mention that I recall I was using a monopod.

A monopod, can provide great results, but not always. And the longer the lens the more the likely hood of small movements making a difference.

**Scorpio71GR** · 02-02-2017, 08:20 AM - **1 Like**

When I do BIF with my Bigma on my K3 these are my settings. I use a tight 9 point AF module on the center if it is real small birds I just switch to spot focus. Rear AF button, SR in camera off, OS set to 2 if handheld or 1 if on a monopod. I use full burst mode. I also keep the aperture around f10-f11. I have found anything under around 1/1000s shutter speed to be unusable for me but that may just be my own limitations. I try to keep the shutter speed up as high as possible it is a 500mm lens after all.

normhead · 02-02-2017, 08:24 AM

Originally posted by Scorpio71GR

When I do BIF with my Bigma on my K3 these are my settings. I use a tight 9 point AF module on the center if it is real small birds I just switch to spot focus. Rear AF button, SR in camera off, OS set to 2 if handheld or 1 if on a monopod. I use full burst mode. I also keep the aperture around f10-f11. I have found anything under around 1/1000s shutter speed to be unusable for me but that may just be my own limitations. I try to keep the shutter speed up as high as possible it is a 500mm lens after all.

Good advice ^

**Miguel** · 02-02-2017, 01:40 PM

Without knowing settings data, it could be a few things. Plus, birds are big and birds are small and the shooting strategies for each may be different. So what birds are you capturing in flight?
Perhaps you could post some examples of good and bad with EXIF?
Finally, when you say you are using "rear focus" do you mean Liveview on the LCD?
Thanks,

M

C_Jones · 02-02-2017, 03:02 PM - **1 Like**

General settings when using my Sigma 150-500 on my K-3II for flying birds are AF.C (autofocus continuous mode), AF area mode "Spot", F8 aperture, TAV mode, 1000 or 1250 shutter speed, and SR "On" on the camera only, in other words the OS on the lens is set to "Off". Also in the C3 menu of the camera, I have "1st Frame Action in AF.C" set to "Release Priority", "Action in AF.C Continuous" set to "Auto", and "Hold AF Status" set to "Off". I find that using my K-3II/Sigma 150-500 combination handheld is the most successful method when shooting images of birds in flight.

02-02-2017, 04:21 AM	#1
mrfredsporty Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 81	sigma bigma birding focussing help with k-1 so, im loving my bigma (newer version) and it seems to work very well.i am having trouble using autofocusing on birds in flight. im using rear focus (which i love). however im missing a lot as it searches or goes out of focus. yesterday i tried using manual focus and, believe it or not, im having much better and faster results. what are my more experienced friends doing. thanks.

02-02-2017, 03:02 PM - 1 Like	#12
C_Jones Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,074	General settings when using my Sigma 150-500 on my K-3II for flying birds are AF.C (autofocus continuous mode), AF area mode "Spot", F8 aperture, TAV mode, 1000 or 1250 shutter speed, and SR "On" on the camera only, in other words the OS on the lens is set to "Off". Also in the C3 menu of the camera, I have "1st Frame Action in AF.C" set to "Release Priority", "Action in AF.C Continuous" set to "Auto", and "Hold AF Status" set to "Off". I find that using my K-3II/Sigma 150-500 combination handheld is the most successful method when shooting images of birds in flight. Last edited by C_Jones; 02-27-2017 at 08:16 AM.

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02-02-2017, 04:31 AM - 1 Like	#2
Bob from Aus Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,094	I'm thinking you are asking to much. I haven't tried my bigma on the K!, but will give it a go tomorrow. Focusing on a moving target was never good on the K5. It did help turning off shake reduction. When I used a 70-300 sigma, I found hand focusing more successful. However, I do think you are asking to much.

02-02-2017, 06:56 AM	#3
D1N0 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2012 Location: --- Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,802	Originally posted by Bob from Aus I'm thinking you are asking to much. I haven't tried my bigma on the K!, but will give it a go tomorrow. Focusing on a moving target was never good on the K5. It did help turning off shake reduction. When I used a 70-300 sigma, I found hand focusing more successful. However, I do think you are asking to much. K-1 AF is MUCH better than K-5 AF. The Sigma 70-300 is a budget lens, whereas the Bigma is not. So I think you cannot generalise your experience.

02-02-2017, 07:25 AM	#4
svassh Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Photos: Gallery Posts: 72	I went out once with my Sigma 120-400mm and it worked fine on CAF. I believe I was using the 3x3 zone, where you using a single AF point?

02-02-2017, 07:29 AM - 1 Like	#5
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	The problem with BiFs is not locking focus because of un-even panning. My K-1 will not lock focus on a flower that's quivering in the breeze. The camera needs a certain amount of stability to lock focus. IN some situations, it's easier with a manual focus lens that isn't flipping back and forth from near to far.

02-02-2017, 07:41 AM	#6
mrfredsporty Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 81 Original Poster	Originally posted by normhead The problem with BiFs is not locking focus because of un-even panning. My K-1 will not lock focus on a flower that's quivering in the breeze. The camera needs a certain amount of stability to lock focus. IN some situations, it's easier with a manual focus lens that isn't flipping back and forth from near to far. one thing is for sure: with me hand holding and panning the the bigma it sure aint steady

02-02-2017, 07:43 AM - 1 Like	#7
svassh Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Photos: Gallery Posts: 72	Originally posted by mrfredsporty one thing is for sure: with me hand holding and panning the the bigma it sure aint steady Actually now that you mention that I recall I was using a monopod.

02-02-2017, 08:04 AM	#8
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Originally posted by svassh Actually now that you mention that I recall I was using a monopod. A monopod, can provide great results, but not always. And the longer the lens the more the likely hood of small movements making a difference.

02-02-2017, 08:20 AM - 1 Like	#9
Scorpio71GR Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Michigan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,014	When I do BIF with my Bigma on my K3 these are my settings. I use a tight 9 point AF module on the center if it is real small birds I just switch to spot focus. Rear AF button, SR in camera off, OS set to 2 if handheld or 1 if on a monopod. I use full burst mode. I also keep the aperture around f10-f11. I have found anything under around 1/1000s shutter speed to be unusable for me but that may just be my own limitations. I try to keep the shutter speed up as high as possible it is a 500mm lens after all.

02-02-2017, 08:24 AM	#10
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Originally posted by Scorpio71GR When I do BIF with my Bigma on my K3 these are my settings. I use a tight 9 point AF module on the center if it is real small birds I just switch to spot focus. Rear AF button, SR in camera off, OS set to 2 if handheld or 1 if on a monopod. I use full burst mode. I also keep the aperture around f10-f11. I have found anything under around 1/1000s shutter speed to be unusable for me but that may just be my own limitations. I try to keep the shutter speed up as high as possible it is a 500mm lens after all. Good advice ^

02-02-2017, 01:40 PM	#11
Miguel Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Near Seattle Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,743	Without knowing settings data, it could be a few things. Plus, birds are big and birds are small and the shooting strategies for each may be different. So what birds are you capturing in flight? Perhaps you could post some examples of good and bad with EXIF? Finally, when you say you are using "rear focus" do you mean Liveview on the LCD? Thanks, M