Sigma 70-210mm f/4-5.6 UC II

No AF system will track a bird in flight - don't bother trying.
I beg to differ with this statement. Just check out Arthur Morris's latest
newsletter, and what he says about the Canon 10D's ability of tracking birds
in flight.

Maybe you should say that none of the cameras YOU use can track birds in
flight.

There is a neat calculator at the bottom of the this website page
http://www.photo.net/making-photographs/focal-length
You will find you have to be very close to a small bird to get a
"frame-filling" image with a 200mm lens, even with the 1.6 magnification
factor of the 10D.
Norm

"Bill Hilton" wrote

"Nicholas O. Lindan" wrote:

No AF system will track a bird in flight - don't bother trying.

I can track larger birds like eagles, cranes, herons and (sometimes) snow geese
in flight with my Canon EOS-3, and the 1V is even better. This is with a 500
f/4 L lens, often with a 1.4x tele-converter.

Lots of people do this ...

I stand corrected. Going by my own experience here in Ohio -- not
much in the way of eagles, I have only seen one stork (and I am sure
it was lost), no herons (well, some egrets here and there), zilch in
the way of peacocks, cranes, flamingos .... Lots of Canadian geese,
but who wants a pic of a Canadian goose, 'cepting for varmint rifle
practice. Now and then a red tail hawk, but way up high.

Now, cardinals, blue jays, gross beaks, sparrows et. al. when in
flight are another matter when it comes to AF.

Ohio: The home of manual focus, the Amish and the world's largest
buggy whip manufacturer (our only growth industry, it seems).

--
Nicholas O. Lindan, Cleveland, Ohio
Consulting Engineer: Electronics; Informatics; Photonics.

Sorry. I think this url will work better.
http://www.photo.net/making-photographs/lens

Try again http://www.photo.net/making-photographs/lens

No AF system will track a bird in flight - don't bother trying.

I can track larger birds like eagles, cranes, herons

From: "Nicholas O. Lindan"

I stand corrected but cardinals, blue jays, gross beaks,
sparrows et. al. when in flight are another matter when it
comes to AF.

Yeah, you're right about that Give me a large, slow moving bird like a GB
heron or sandhill crane and I have a chance, but anything smaller than a snow
goose, especially the ones that fly erratically like sparrows or doves, and I
don't have the skill or gear to track them.

I think most of the good flight shots of these smaller 'flitty' birds are done
with pre-focused lenses triggered by the bird flying thru a beam, usually near
a nest or feeding station.

Ohio: The home of manual focus, the Amish and the world's
largest buggy whip manufacturer

Ohio ... isn't there a town in Ohio with a famous annual turkey vulture or
buzzard festival? Findlay or Hinckley or something like that? Now THERE is a
bird I can autofocus on in flight

Bill

Seems that I need bigger focus length, like 300mm. Could you recommend
some lens xx(xxx)-300mm with price less then $150 (used, I think)...

Hello.

I'm about to buy Sigma 70-210mm f/4-5.6 UC II AF for Minolta. What do
you think about this lens? Is it sharpen and quick enough?

Or, maybe, I can buy something better in $140 with 200-300 mm? - I plan
to use this lens for outdoor photography: some animals, birds, remote
scenes...

Thanks for advices,
V.

"Bill Hilton" wrote

Ohio ... isn't there a town in Ohio with a famous annual turkey vulture or
buzzard festival? Findlay or Hinckley or something like that?

Hinkley.

Now THERE is a bird I can autofocus on in flight

Yes, but who would _want_ to?

o They are uuuglee: http://kaweahoaks.com/html/turkey_vulture.html

o There are 1200+ pics of the things on the web already. Seems
they get their picture taken because it is easy to take their
picture ...

Some states have vulture capitalists. Ohio just has vultures.

--
Nicholas O. Lindan, Cleveland, Ohio
Consulting Engineer: Electronics; Informatics; Photonics.

"Vov@ Sadovyy"

Seems that I need bigger focus length, like 300mm. Could you recommend
some lens xx(xxx)-300mm with price less then $150 (used, I think)...

Used Rokkor 300/4.5's go for around $150 +/-.

I am biased/prejudiced/and generally agin 3rd party lenses. Every Sigma/
Tokina/Tamron... I have ever had has been a disappointment. Every Nikkor/
Olympus/Takumar/Leitz/Rodenstock... has been a delight. As always, YMMV.
There are always exceptions as even a blind pig will find an acorn
now and then, but they are just that -- exceptions -- and in general
not to be counted on.

And, if you don't like the lens or you buy something better you
can turn around and sell it to the next man for $150...

Thanks for advices,

Yous are welcomes.

--
Nicholas O. Lindan, Cleveland, Ohio
Consulting Engineer: Electronics; Informatics; Photonics.

Used Rokkor 300/4.5's go for around $150 +/-.
This lens, Rokkor 300/4.5, can be used with my Minolta Maxxum 5? - You
written about MF, so I'm not sure that this advice is for my camera.

And, if you don't like the lens or you buy something better you
can turn around and sell it to the next man for $150...