Sigma AFD 400mm f5.6 APO Tele Macro

Hmm...upon opening the lens, the box is a bit bang. Not serious, just the corner. The padding is not enough to protect the box fully. Never mind. Now...let's check the lens out! Emm...before that, the lens is stored in a nice rectangular "leather" case inside the box. Like New! I am very satisfied.

Upon opening the case...with my shaking hands (not sure if I was too excited or hungry...), I saw a long dark lens. Lift it up...wow...heavy. Slowly took off the lens cap...ERRRRR what is that?! I saw a "scratch" on the front element! Not too long, about 2mm, but it is there. Now I wonder...can I get it off? Put my lens down...got my cleaning kit...time to fight the "scratch"!

After a careful cleaning process, the "scratch" is GONE! Hahaha...now I have the perfectly new front element! Is it not really a scratch, but just a stain on the front element. How about the rear element?! No worry, checked, and is perfect. Maybe a dust or two, but I don't care now. The rear element is quite deep into the lens, and it will be very risky and hard to clean it. Better just leave the dust alone.

How about the condition of the lens? Hmm...I would grade it 97% new. The base of the tripod collar got some paint peel off, but that's acceptable to me. The lens itself feels like new...and I am very satisfied with the "little money" I paid for it.

What else in my package? Check again...bonus are: a strap for the case, manual, warranty description (not warranty card).

Now...time to mount my lens to my F60. Hmmm...dark. Ok, not too dark but dim. Sleepy feel. Set my camera to AF...let's fire it up! Errr...slow...hard to snap into focus. Hunt quite a lot. Tried again...checked the lens. Surprise! I found a AF/MF ring on the lens! Set my camera on AF, now testing the AF/MF switch on the lens. When set to AF (lens), the focusing ring is loose, and will not turn. When set to MF (lens), focusing is smooth. I really like this ring! Now...I can set my camera at AF all the time, and change the AF/MF mode on the lens! This is much faster and easier to use! Sigma doesn't stop here. Focusing is slow and hunts a lot?

There is a focus limiter switch on the lens. One can limit the focus from infinity to 3.5m, and from 2.5m to 1.6m (macro mode ~ 1:3 magnification). Test the lens again, now it focus much faster...and snap into focus in shorter time. Still, in poor lighting and less contrast subject, it still hunts. Can't blame on the lens, because it is my camera that should snap on the subject.

27th May 2005 (Friday)

I bought myself another Sigma AF 400mm f/5.6 macro lens in April 2005. I got myself my 2nd DSLR, Nikon D70, in May 2005. Today I brought the lens and my newly Nikon D70 for a spin, here's the a kingfisher that I manage to catch.

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100% crop

Exposure: 1/60s @ f/5.6, handheld. ISO 800.

I have to admit that this is a lousy shot and the photo is not sharp + the background is distracting. The aperture is at its widest at f/5.6, and this is what I can get. I know I should have use a tripod for such a long lens, but I don't have one at the time of the shooting. The reason to get a light 400mm f5.6 lens is mainly for handholding, thus I am just trying out if it is possible with me. The birds around my university is just too shy...I can't get any closer to them.

It seems that the bokeh from this lens is quite distracting even at its widest aperture.

Got to do more practicing and patient.... :p

28th May 2005 (Saturday)

Went to have lunch and coffee with a PMer today, and by chance saw a sunbird flying around. Was surprise to find a nest of the bird nearby, and it is flying around and back to the nest from time to time. My Nikon D70 and the Sigma lens was with me at that time (am glad that I brought the lens), so am testing/trying out the quality of of the combo.

What I learnt from these shots is that at aperture f/5.6, the depth of field is very narrow and not easy to get a pin point sharp focus at the area you want. For example, I want to have the sunbird main sharp focus point at the eyes, but no. Can't get what I want from the shots below.

I checked some online reviews and shots regarding using a 400mm f/5.6 lens for bird photography, and found that the most frequent used aperture is f/8 ~ f/11.

Nikon D70 + Sigma 400mm

Original uncropped version

Exposure

1/160s @ f/5.6

ISO 500

Handheld

RAW / NEF format

Curved in Paint Shop Pro v9.01

Subject: Olive-backed Sunbird (female) ~ Cinnyris jugularis

100% zoom in of the above photo.

Considered that I was handholding for the shot, at effective focal length of 600mm in 135 format, I am actually quite happy with the sharpness that I manage to capture.