05-13-2008, 08:27 PM
Just got the D300.
I was using the Bigma (sigma 50-500).
The real trouble with the Bigma in the past was the fact that my D50 couldn't AF fast enough for 500mm...slow things like birds about to takeoff was okay, but anything fast and close (i.e. birds flying overhead near me) the D50's AF would not achieve focus.
When I got the D300, initially I had a lot of trouble focusing because now any camera shake is magnified by the smaller pixels (please feel free to correct me if I am wrong). Technique also helps--the bigma needs a tripod at 500mm. I also used a shutter speed of 1/2500 (IIRC). With the D50, I was able to get away with a monopod. The extra pixels of the D300 requires better technique.
I was using the Bigma (sigma 50-500).
The real trouble with the Bigma in the past was the fact that my D50 couldn't AF fast enough for 500mm...slow things like birds about to takeoff was okay, but anything fast and close (i.e. birds flying overhead near me) the D50's AF would not achieve focus.
When I got the D300, initially I had a lot of trouble focusing because now any camera shake is magnified by the smaller pixels (please feel free to correct me if I am wrong). Technique also helps--the bigma needs a tripod at 500mm. I also used a shutter speed of 1/2500 (IIRC). With the D50, I was able to get away with a monopod. The extra pixels of the D300 requires better technique.