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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
09-20-2018, 02:11 AM
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Just to chime in with my story. Not trying to persuade anyone into anything, just sharing my thoughts and hoping to help the OP.
I started my DSLR journey with a great little Pentax K-r. It offered a lot for its' price, more than the equivalent Canikon models. I quickly realized I loved photography and started buying all sorts of lenses...old manual focus Takumars and later on modern DA* lenses as well. In the meantime I also bought a K-30 when it was released.
I also started to do more and more wildlife since it was an area I liked the most. I bought a 70-200/2.8 Tamron which I liked a lot, but it was short as well. I then came to a chance of buying a Sigma 150-500, which I did. I loved the reach, but the IQ was poor on the long end. So I ended up with a DA*300 and a TC :) I loved it. Even with its' sluggish AF. When it hit it was gorgeous, but I couldn't really rely on it. So it was either a K-3 or a jump to another brand.
I chose the latter. Ended up selling my quite large collection of Pentax lenses and making the switch to a Nikon D7100.
It was quite a step up in regards to AF-C. True, I'm comparing to a K-30 here whereas the K-3 would probably have been a step up as well, but still...I went at first with the same setup of lenses as on the Pentax. An AF-S 80-200/2.8 Nikon and the AF-S 300/4 Nikon with a TC. When Tamron announced its' first 150-600mm I sold the 300mm and bought the Tamron immediately. I also added a D600 to my setup as well in the mean time. The FX look was in my eyes a lot better than the APS-C when I could fill the frame. But I really hated the small aperture of f6.3. I also needed to stop the Tamron to f8 to get maximum sharpness. Since I was shooting with the D600 most of the time (even though the D7100 offered more reach and better AF), I sold both bodies and bought the D750, which I still own (4 years now).
After having the Tamron for about a year and a half, I sold it and went on to buy a Sigma 120-300/2.8 Sport with both matching TCs. It's a big and heavy lens, but the IQ is phenomenal. With the 1.4x TC attached the IQ barely takes a hit. The 2x TC shows image degradation but is still usable, especially for short distances of up to 20m or so. The AF with the 2x TC takes a hit, but with a D750 it's still good enough to track birds (larger birds) flying head on. What I like about the 120-300 is its' versatility. I can choose to have a somewhat shorter tele but with a large f2.8 aperture or I can add a TC and make it a 240-600/5.6 zoom.
 Swans in flight by luftwalk, on Flickr
After 4 years of owning a D750 I'm now pondering whether to add a D500 to my setup strictly for long reach situations or saving my money and eventually getting the D850. What I would really like though is a proper D750 replacement...
Again, these are my own thoughts and I completely understand not everyone would feel the same way, but this worked for ME.
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
01-02-2017, 08:55 AM
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Gotta say Ian that it's always a pleasure looking at your photos. One quick question if I may...do you shoot the Sigma 150-600 handheld or do you use a monopod/tripod? I am considering the lens but my style is more of a walkaround than shooting from a hide. Do you think the weight can be an issue?
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
11-11-2015, 05:14 AM
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What rant? And who resorted to bashing of other people's photos first?
I beg to differ...when moving from one handle to another climbers can move very quickly....sometimes they even jump. If you want to get that shot, you need to a) pay attention b) have the right settings on camera c) have the camera be able to capture that moment
Anyhow...since it's a D750 thread, I'll post a pic as well...instead of just talking
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
11-04-2015, 02:50 AM
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You should be really tired of yourself then...
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
10-23-2015, 06:12 AM
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It seems to be the only kind of response you understand.
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
10-23-2015, 05:37 AM
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You're the only one calling people idiots, you're the only one bashing people's work. People tend to get defensive when you call them an idiot outright. You're also the only one low enough to stoop down to personal bashing...
Your photographic skills are lacking and so is your demeanor. You're too stubborn to take a step back and reflect on what you post...if you had the capacity to do that you might realize some of your errors.
You pretty much make a mockery out of every FF thread on here and I for one think this forum is a poorer place because of you. Now write what you wish and flame me for being an idiot and not seeing your way...
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
10-23-2015, 12:25 AM
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Norm...you somehow find it easy to criticize everyone else's work but never your own? Why the need to bash people that feel differently than you? The photos you just posted...I'm sorry but they're not very good examples of what gear can do. The only photo that seems fine to me is the 4th to last.
You also mention numerous times how FF users praise FF as the holy grail and can't take no for an answer...but it seems to me that it's you who's too stubborn to look elsewhere and see the benefits. I have very little doubt there is a need for an APS-C body next to a FF, but it serves a very specific purpose. Now please, accept the fact there's people with a different opinion than you and there's nothing wrong with that.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
10-22-2015, 02:50 AM
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For the price the Tamron is going now I'd have to say it's the best bang for the buck...people here talk about it not being sharp at 600mm...I've tested it against the Sigma 150-600 Sports and to me, the differences were not big enough to cover the cost difference.
Below are some examples:
600mm f6.3 (wide open) 100% crop:
The same scene with f8 at 600mm (slightly different position though), full size on Flickr:
 Blue jay by luftwalk, on Flickr
I've owned a Sigma 150-500 back when I was on Pentax still, and this lens trumps it hands down...went from that Sigma to the Pentax DA*300 with the AFA 1.7x TC...it was an upgrade compared to the Sigma...a considerable one. After switching to Nikon I bought the AF-S Nikon 300 with the 1.4 TC, but sold the 300 in order to buy the Tamron...IQ might be a hair worse, but it goes to 600mm, is a zoom and handholdable...with VR. Didn't regret the decision since.
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
05-14-2015, 04:11 AM
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I'm using the D750 + Tamron 150-600 combo at the moment and am happy with it. I also tested out the Sigma 150-600 Sports, but didn't see enough/any improvements in the long end to make me want to switch over. This is an example of the Tammy at 600mm and wide open. Non sharpened full image and 100% crop.
It's not the sharpest lens, but quite usable I would say even at wide open. Sigma 150-600 yields very similar results wide open and at 600mm.
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
04-23-2015, 03:52 AM
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great shots itshimitis...i love the contrast and the colors
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
02-25-2015, 05:52 AM
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From a walk with my daughter...trying to get a landscape shot, while she got tired of waiting for me...turned out pretty nicely I think.
Nikon D750 with the Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 VC
 Innocence by luftwalk, on Flickr
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
11-28-2014, 02:59 PM
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Well...the D600 already could do bird in a bush :) The point I was trying to make with the 2 above photos was that AF was constantly tracking throughout the sequence...at first it locked on the woods behind since that was what the focus point (and the surrounding 8 points - used the AF-C D9 mode) was on...and when my daughter came flying into view it locked onto her...FOR ME...it was an impressive feat.
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
11-28-2014, 02:01 PM
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It is burst mode...I wanted to show how quickly the D750 locks on when the subject comes into the focus point which is in use...I don't know about you guys..but the above really surprised me in a positive way. I'm not trying to glorify the D750 or its' AF, just stating what was my reaction to it as a user
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
11-28-2014, 01:41 PM
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It definitely is...I'm using the 70-200 2.8 VC USD Tamron, 85 1.8G and 300mm F4 AFD (the older version).
The below example was shot by my wife (that's me in the pic throwing the annoying little human, who lives in our house and nags all the time, around), who knows next to nothing about photography...I only told her to hold down two buttons (I have AF mapped to AEL button). The AF point was not the center one but one of the top ones and she held the camera in the portrait position...The time difference between both photos is half a second at most...lens used was the 70-200 Tamron. I'm sure the D600 wouldn't have been able to pull this off...
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
11-27-2014, 07:29 AM
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Well I own a D750 and it has a live histogram when in live view....you just need to turn it on by setting the exposure preview option to on. I owned a D600 before it and in my opinion the AF alone makes it worth the upgrade...if you do a lot of AF-C it'll be a life saver.
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
04-09-2014, 02:52 AM
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A test shot with a Zeiss Otus 55mm f1.4 @1.4 on the D600:
Didn't have much time with it, but it's an amazing lens...sharp wide open, coma controlled well, bokeh is outstanding....I'm really curious how the new Sigma 50mm 1.4 Art will compare to it.
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
04-08-2014, 11:02 AM
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From my comparisons they're about half a stop apart in high ISO. The advantage going to Nikon. It just feels more of a camera to me....
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
04-08-2014, 05:22 AM
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Out of the 2 cameras you mentioned I would recommend the D600/610. It's got better high ISO noise than Canon, the AF is better (Canon only has one cross point), more MP (if it means anything to you),...
I too would advise to try to get a D600 new if you can (with the new service order out you can get them to change the shutter mechanism for free).
This is a sample taken with a D600, 85mm f1.8G @
Photo at full size:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/luftwalk/13715201943/sizes/o/ |
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
02-17-2014, 07:41 AM
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A bit out of context, but since you're buying you might consider trading in your AF-S 80-200mm for the new Tamron 70-200mm. I did just that and optically it beats the AF-S at the long end easily. The AF is a bit slower, but not really noticeable in action (you still get the shots). The VC allows me to shoot at 1/20s @ 200mm handheld. It's a great lens for its price. Just something to consider.
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
10-25-2013, 11:43 PM
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I don't think the difference with Nikon is VR...it's just that the new design than has VC is better optically as well. Pentax's SR in body surely helps, but just to keep the shutter times lower than otherwise possible...like any other VC.
I was comparing 100% crops in my samples and from what I've seen and tested I came to the conclusion that the lens doesn't hold up very well to today's higher pixel density sensors. I, of course, agree that I could have had a bad sample.
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
10-25-2013, 01:10 PM
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 Originally posted by BeerBelly  @jsherman999: I'm not excluding the possibility that the sample I had for my Nikon cam was a bad one....but on the D90 it was sharp...on a D800 it again wasn't. All the tests show that the lens loses sharpness with higher resolution sensors. This is a dxo link where they tested zoom lenses with the D7100: http://www.dxomark.com/Reviews/Best-lenses-for-the-24M-Pix-Nikon-D7100-Part-...-for-the-D7100. The version of the lens discussed here gets a 6 in sharpness, while the newer version (VC USD) gets a 16. It's like my own findings. I'm not trying to convince anyone into anything, just trying to help stating what I personally experienced.
K-r @ 200mm @ 2.8
K-30 @ 200mm @ 3.2 (same sharpness as above)
D7100 @ 200mm @ 2.8 (low contrast, aberrations, softness) |
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
10-25-2013, 12:24 PM
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@jsherman999: I'm not excluding the possibility that the sample I had for my Nikon cam was a bad one....but on the D90 it was sharp...on a D800 it again wasn't. All the tests show that the lens loses sharpness with higher resolution sensors. This is a dxo link where they tested zoom lenses with the D7100: http://www.dxomark.com/Reviews/Best-lenses-for-the-24M-Pix-Nikon-D7100-Part-...-for-the-D7100. The version of the lens discussed here gets a 6 in sharpness, while the newer version (VC USD) gets a 16. It's like my own findings. I'm not trying to convince anyone into anything, just trying to help stating what I personally experienced.
K-r @ 200mm @ 2.8
K-30 @ 200mm @ 3.2 (same sharpness as above)
D7100 @ 200mm @ 2.8 (low contrast, aberrations, softness)
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
10-24-2013, 04:43 AM
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Just to chime in my 2 cents here. I first got the lens when I had my K-r and it was brilliantly sharp at all focal lengths and apertures. When I bought my K30, I noticed that at 200mm and f2.8 it was a little soft. I needed to use at least f3.2 to get good sharpness. I then decided to switch to Nikon and wanted the same lens for my D7100. So I bought one and was sorely disappointed. It was soft at 200mm until f5.6. I think this lens hits the resolution limit quite soon. I'd say the APS-C 16Mpix sensor is the upper limit for it. If you decide to get a K-3 in the future be ready to be disappointed.
It also doesn't work well with a TC. The same TC that I had fantastic results using a DA*300 with, had awful IQ when used with the Tamron. Like I said...it has the IQ ceiling set quite low.
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
10-02-2013, 11:10 PM
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And buffer doesn't fill up in 1.3 crop mode so easily as well. So if you need plenty of frames in a burst crop mode is the way to go.
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