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2 minutes ago, jaapv said:

Found it! The camera told me! 😂

 

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Goodie! That S5ii does it this way, may/may not imply that SL2x/SL3 do(es) it the same way. But good to know what S5ii is doing - thanks!

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This is another one - I feel that the S5ii is the better equipped camera for long lenses and Video in this respect. But I am not a video shooter, so I might be wrong.

 

 

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A follow-up on image stabilisation with long lense(s) on S5ii and SL3:

I did run a test with Sigma 500mm DG DN with Leica 1.4x extender, resulting in a 700mm 'prime'. Using the electronic shutter, series of 10+ images were taken with both bodies, each series with shutter speeds of 1/400, 1/200, 1/100, 1/50, 1/25, and 1/13 s. I was standing without (external) support, with the left hand on the front of the lens, with a target about 10 m away. I tried to use the same 'technique' as in the field, concentrating and keeping the breath, without overdoing. To eliminate random effects, 10+ images were taken at each shutter speeds, as mentioned. The images were examined at 100 percent magnification on a high-end screen.

We know - via @jaapv's observation above, that S5ii, when the lens stabilisation is activated, also includes sensor stabilisation (in-body rotational correction). It is unknown (for me, at least) which 'trick' Leica has implemented (or perhaps 'borrowed') when a non-Leica lens is used on SL3.

Recall that S5ii has a sensor resolution of 24 mp, whereas SL3 has a 60 mp sensor. So not only image stabilisation, but also sensor resolution, may add to the equation.

Results:

  • SL3 with Sigma 500mm DG DN + Leica 1.4x extender (=700 mm) gives a clear overweight (>80 percent) of sharp images from about 1/50 s
  • S5ii with Sigma 500mm DG DN + Leica 1.4x extender (=700 mm) gives a clear overweight of sharp images from about 1/25 s

Taken into account the higher resolution of the SL3 sensor, I tend to believe that both bodies have implemented/shared comparable stabilisation approaches. And more importantly, both bodies are very capable when it comes to stabilisation.

For those pondering, the lens settings were:

  • Focus = AF
  • Range = Full
  • Stabilisation = OS
  • Custom = C1

The scene is shown below, focus point is on the show horn; in this case the image is taken with SL3 without any image adjustments beyond uploading into Lightroom. The zoomed image is at 100 percent resolution (as might be evident from the image, I belong to a family that is not allergic to dust...).

And finally: Yes, the Leica 1.4x extender works wonderfully together with the Sigma 500 mm...

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Edited by helged
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Just got this lens and have been fooling around with it on my SL3, until the weather gets better and I have a chance to actually take it out. So far really impressed. It's extremely sharp and easy to handle (for a 500mm).

 

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Leica certainly does not offer the advanced Video implementations of IS like Active IS and a (cropping) electronic IS which according to reviewers turns the S5ii into a steadycam   The photographic implementation is interesting in that it is said to apply to handheld multishot 96 MP mode as well. I have yet to try it out. 

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  • 3 weeks later...

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We are currently on holiday on the Darß and our hotel room has a wonderful view of a nest of a pair of jackdaws. Photographed with the SL3 and the Sigma 500 - cropped properly afterwards. The forest is just a bit further away.

 

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  • 5 weeks later...

I rented this lens for the week and have been testing it with my SL3. Mostly photographing birds, but I did get the chance to photograph the full moon set, too. I am impressed with the lens. First, how Sigma made such a small 500mm lens! And second, the image quality is also quite nice. Pretty much all one could wish for. The f5.6 aperture often necessitates a high ISO. At 3200 ISO, on the SL3, images begin to suffer dramatically (in my opinion and for my tastes). Because of this DeNoise software— Topaz, Lightroom, or similar— may be needed in combination with this lens and SL3 after many photographic scenarios. But this is normal in wildlife photography. Here are a few images of Black-necked Stilts taken at a shorebird sanctuary on Kauai’s west side.

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Edited by lightsourcekauai
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I read somewhere that the Leica TC1.4 has lead to better optical experience for some users compared to the Sigma.

Its more than the double price though. Can anybody here share experience in case of the 500 Sigma? (I will receive the lens soon and might want to buy a TC for occasional use on this lens)

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On 6/25/2024 at 6:10 AM, lightsourcekauai said:

I rented this lens for the week and have been testing it with my SL3. Mostly photographing birds, but I did get the chance to photograph the full moon set, too. I am impressed with the lens. First, how Sigma made such a small 500mm lens! And second, the image quality is also quite nice. Pretty much all one could wish for. The f5.6 aperture often necessitates a high ISO. At 3200 ISO, on the SL3, images begin to suffer dramatically (in my opinion and for my tastes). Because of this DeNoise software— Topaz, Lightroom, or similar— may be needed in combination with this lens and SL3 after many photographic scenarios. But this is normal in wildlife photography. Here are a few images of Black-necked Stilts taken at a shorebird sanctuary on Kauai’s west side.

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Reall nice shots and the lens is indeed one of Sigma's high-quality compact and relatively light lenses, they have really upped their game. Not really relevant and an aside, but check your colour balance. 

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11 minutes ago, tom0511 said:

I read somewhere that the Leica TC1.4 has lead to better optical experience for some users compared to the Sigma.

Its more than the double price though. Can anybody here share experience in case of the 500 Sigma? (I will receive the lens soon and might want to buy a TC for occasional use on this lens)

I have the Leica 1.4x, and I hardly see any image degradation when using it on Sigma 500. In fact, I don't recall seeing any complaints re Leica 1.4x. Some users have used the Sigma 1.4x with sub-par results (but others have been satisfied, so assemble variations may exist). 

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On 5/3/2024 at 5:00 AM, helged said:

Ok, then I got a new Sigma 500mm DG DN f5.6 since the first lens I got was soft on long distances. The new lens is sharp and as it should be, I recon, so no problem there.

For the Sigma 500 users: There are two (main) options for stabilisation; either using Sigma's optical stabilisation (5 stop according to Sigma) or Leica's sensor stabilisation (also about 5 stops). I have run a few tests, and I don't see that much of difference. As expected, perhaps, based on the reported 5 stop gain. Any experience/recommendations on your side? Which stabilisation setting are you using?

Just got my copy yesterday and used it about the yard to test.  Different from your tests, I did not concentrate on trying to make the lens really stable, but just tried to shoot, letting the weight wobble a little bit.  I also turned off the auto ISO on the SL3 and set the ISO to 100, 200, 400, and 800, so my shutter speeds were pretty low.

In that user scenario, without significant testing, I found the lens OIS (set to 1 for normal, not 2 for panning) the lens performed better than with the in camera OIS.  I also switched some between AF, MF and close focus and medium distance focus.  I am getting used to the focusing for sure as I typically focus with the leica lenses, but then fine tune if needed with manual focus and both work together easily.  I will need to get used to the Sigma choice of one or the other. 

I will work on some more sophisticated tests as this was not done with good comparison shots to post.  Just an interesting note for quick snaps.

David.

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4 hours ago, jaapv said:

check your colour balance

Color balance? I shot these with daylight white balance and didn’t change it in post. Monitor is calibrated, too. Shooting conditions— It’s about 7 am on the west side of Kauai so the summer sun is still relatively low (sunrise is at 5:54 am), but strong, and when not behind clouds (like in this scene) shining directly onto the subject. So not sure what the issue is with color balance.

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Yellow cast on my calibrated monitor.  As I said, not very relevant to the subject, but just a friendly remark and certainly not meant as critique. Maybe a colourspace mismatch? I needed Temp. -32, Vibrance +21, saturation +12 to get it to match my eyes, but no problem, we all have our own taste. I'd be happy to post my version, if you like.

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Unedited and from Leica FOTOS, here is a shot through a glass porch door at f/5.6 and 1/100 second, ISO 800, manual focus, using the lens OIS (#1). double click.  Reduced JPEG size to post, so some finest details suffer a little, but did not want any auto corrections.

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Edited by davidmknoble
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On 6/25/2024 at 8:20 PM, tom0511 said:

I read somewhere that the Leica TC1.4 has lead to better optical experience for some users compared to the Sigma.

Its more than the double price though. Can anybody here share experience in case of the 500 Sigma? (I will receive the lens soon and might want to buy a TC for occasional use on this lens)

No. I think you’re referencing my experience. I have both and suspect that my Sigma version is out of spec. I do NOT think that the Leica is better generally. I’m almost certain they’re made on the same line. I just have a bad one. Just like my 150-500 isn’t as good as Jaaps. It’s nothing more than a sample variation issue.

I had to exchange my first Leica 100-400 as well. Current one is exceptional. As always check any new gear for sample variation.

Gordon

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  • 1 month later...

Just received my Sigma 500mm 5.6.

Have to say I was surprised how light it was even after reading all the reviews!

Posting some test images for reference.  Nothing very interesting in subject matter, but again, surprised and delighted with clarity and performance..

All images have had some LR DN applied, although the pigeon really didn't need it at all - that was amazingly sharp.

All are heavily cropped.  All shot at at about 30m distance.

The bee was taken with the 1.4x TC so 700mm equivalent.

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Bee - around 30m distance with 1.4TC so 700mm equivalent. (couldn't include with above).

I wouldn't be using this lens for insects - but I was still pleased with the results considering the distance and that it was breezy so everything moving around.  Handheld.

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Squirrel in the early morning sun, Sigma 500 + TC1,4

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