It's been a while since my last blog.  I hope you all are still reading.  Today I chose to write because I think if I left this out of my blog that I would be leaving out something great to all my readers.  Yup, I am about to recommend the Sigma 50-500mm APO DG SO lens for Canon EF Mount.

It all started when one of my clients requested that I shot a watersport activity on a speedboat.  Thinking that my 70-200mm L 2.8 IS II or 70-300mm L 4-5.6 USM may be enough (I had brought an extra 1.6 crop DSLR along for the extra reach), but boy was I wrong.  With the 70-300 I was still quite able to get a decent picture or a close up after I had zoomed in quite a bit digitally in post.  That is an option but for most photographer's I think they'd like to leave that as an option rather then the only choice.  Not to mention, when you zoom in digitally, you are limiting the size of your photo, or should I say reducing the size of your photo.

I was able to provide what my client needed (close ups/medium shots) which was of their clients kayaking in a race, but being a professional photographer, I could not risk the chance of doing another similar photoshoot knowing that their may be a chance the lenses I had on had was not long enough for such reach. So I decided to go out and buy a long zoom lens that was capable of such reach but still had good quality without burning a whole in my wallet.

I came across a few lenses.  First of course, being a Canon fan, I would definitely give the 100-400mm L a try, but after finding out that this lens is around 14 years old, I decided no matter how fine the glass could be, in reality it would be not much better than using a Contax Zeiss Tele Zoom (since the AI/Tech was so old).

Then I came across the Sigma AF 80-400 4.5-5.6 EX APO OS.  I found this lens to be of good value (6800HKD), but I found the AF to be slow and noisy. 

Then I came across the Sigma 50-500 APO DG OS.  Zoom range was great, but usually lenses with such a long zoom range usually performed horribly.  So how did this perform?

Now like my other reviews, i leave the tech jargons and terminology to all those fancy lens review websites.  I am here to tell you more about my experience using the lens from a professional basis (not that I am better than any amateur but meaning that the lens will be used in most likely several situations and take a beating.  Mind you not physically, I take care of my equipment, but by beating I mean really be used and not just by taking a few test snaps.

I was significantly impressed with the image quality.  Shooting at the end of my lens I found very little distortion and the lens was very very sharp.  It felt like the Canon 70-300 L USM but only it was 50-500mm.  I found the lens barely usable in an indoor conference like environment (low lighting) even with the new 5D Mark III/1Dx chips, so it is most likely to say not usable on Digic 4 DSLRs without any ambient lighting boost.

Out on a sunny day, you would not be complaining with this lens.  The AF I found very fast and accurate while, the only downside was really at wide open the lens only opened up to 4.5 and only up to 200mm and after that it's 6.3 all the way.

Built quality it is not as strong as the Canon L series telezooms but I felt it was sturdy enough and it did not give me a sense that it felt cheap or lacked more material.  In fact, because of this "flaw" the lens is lighter and for such a zoom range, it was quite a mobile lens.

Accessories wise, you'd all be impressed. One carrying case, tripod ring, two hoods (FF/APS-C), 95-86 stepdown ring.

The only thing I was quite disappointed was the 95mm ring thread.  You know it cost me 880HKD for the UV filter.  I spent much less on my filter for my 70-200 L USM II which is almost twice as much in price. 

OVERALL RATING **** (OUT OF 5*) 

I would buy this lens over the Canon 100-400mm L due to to the fact that the Canon tele zoom is old and out dated and not to mention much heavier.  Also the black exterior is much better for event photographers. 

Tags ( Sigma EF Mount canon 5D Mark III Watersport Photography )

Canon EOS 5D Mark III (Released March 15, 2012)

Finally was able to find a 5D Mark III in a shop yesterday in Wanchai.  First impression, the camera is slightly thicker than the previous model.  It took me a while to get used to the buttons and interface but I think for most 5D users it will not be a big problem.

The camera does sort of look like the 7D and with that said the grip has slightly improved and now photographers with larger hands will definitely find it more pleasing and secure to hold on to for prolong periods.

The new AF sensor although not as fast as it claims, but definitely an improvement from the previous model.  I can definitely see the 5D Mark III being used for event photography a whole lot more than the 5D Mark II or the 7D.

Overall the response of the camera is a lot quicker.  Also with the a wider LCD and fancy functions like a picture to picture review and HDR function, the upgrade is a must for outdoor photographers but not as much for studio photographers.

One thing that I was not too pleased with is the price.  The 5D mark III is a bit overpriced.  I was expecting the body to be around 25K HKD, but it turned out to be $27430HKD, not the mention the battery grip (which has not been officially introduced by canon) will start at $2400HKD.

At this price I think many people will fight their decision between the 1D Mark IV ($30k HKD) and the 5D Mark III. 

Tags ( canon photographers 5D Mark III review )

The other day, as I was browsing for some new gadgets in SSP, just as I was about to make a purchase some kid (probably a university student) comes over and asks me for some advice.  The first question he asks...

(1) Excuse me sir, but will this (a small size light stand) be enough for my 580 EX II?

Always willing to help, I replied... "Yeah it should be enough, mind you though it does not hurt to buy a slightly bigger stand because there may be a chance that you will use lightshaping tools with your speedlite and it may not be strong enough to support some heavier lightshapers."

The young man then asked.  "What are lightshapers?"

I replied "well depending on what you are shooting and your own preference but most common is adding a shoot through umbrella."

Then the young man asked. "What does an umbrella do?"

I then replied (starting to get slightly impatient because I needed to go to the next store to check out the new Dis from Godox). "Well there are several ways to use a shoot through umbrella.  You can bounce a light and reflect the light to a subject or you can shoot through it hence the name "Shoot Through Umbrella.

The young man then continued to ask.  Well why are some of them silver?  and why are some of them white?

I replied. "Well silver is for a more contrasty look which in the meanwhile still gives you a more diffused effect.  So it's great if you are using it on a speedlite because you don't have much power to work with or waste.  White shoot through on the other hand is probably the most handy umbrella and what most beginners start with when they start using umbrellas due to the convenience/price and the ability to use the umbrella in different ways."

He then thanked me and I approached the counter to pay for the 2 new 30x90 strip banks that I just bought.  Suddenly the young man appeared next to me again like Yoda and asked.

"Well I am trying to shoot something outside and from a low angle (don't ask me what it was, I didn't want to know).  Firstly do I need to use a speedlite?  and secondly, if I use an umbrella how should I set it up so I get the best lighting for my portrait."

Wow, what a question I thought.  I might as well shoot the thing for him.  Some of you prosumers or photographers reading this blog post may say "Why bother answering his questions, it's most likely he has never used a light before and the more you explain the more complicated it will be for him to get his photo.

You are probably right about this and most likely I am assuming that he did not get the photo he is aiming for.  However, if you think about his questions, they are not stupid questions at all.  These are the questions that make camera owners into photographers.  Separating the truly passionate from the trendy camera owners.  You ever see someone on a street with like old crusty Canon 400D or 350D with a stock zoom lens but yet they shoot amazing photos?  I have.  These photographers took similar questions and not that they found an answer but took the risk to make the mistakes and learn from them.  That is photography, many experiences that give you good experience.  Good photographers are people that most likely have failed a lot more than beginners (ironic eh?).  But what makes a Photographer a great photographer is someone that is willing to take a number of shots after shots of "bad" photos, and practise their technique until they find (not the 'correct' method) their own style.

My last words to that young man was.  Photography is not as difficult as you think.  You are seeking my help today because you think I am more knowledgeable or more skilled than you, but I can answer your questions only because I have failed more than you and attempted failure more than you.  Have fun with your camera and remember if the photo comes out "poorly" that it can only get better if you let yourself understand what was wrong with it.  He then thanked me sincerely and left the shop.  I'll probably won't recognize this guy again, but if he gets what I am saying maybe I will bump into him next time at the same shop and it will be him looking for a strip bank.

Tags ( henri cartier bresson umbrellas soft box strip bank 580EX II canon 350D 400D camera shop Photography photographers )