Is the Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary good for bird photography, and should I use a filter?
Asked 12/12/2017
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I’ve bought a Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary for my Canon 70D. Is this lens suitable for bird photography? Also, should I add a filter, and if so, what type is most useful?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
8y ago
2 Answers
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Never add a filter unless the benefit outweighs the disadvantage. The major disadvantage is, a filter add two polished surfaces that prompt a light loss due to reflection. A coated filter reduces the light loss from reflections to about 2%. The most commonly mounted filter is a UV. This filter absorbs ultraviolet light and this is helpful because distant landscapes and aerial shots are likely views through atmospheric haze. The UV filter penetrates, to some degree this haze. The UV filter is likely redundant on a digital camera because the image sensor protective cover is also a UV filter. Most folks mount a UV to protect their cherished optics from scratches.
My advice is to buy a polarizing filter. Hands down, this is the most valuable filter for the digital photographer. The polarizing screen filter darkens blue sky causing clouds to standout boldly. A polarizing filter also cuts haze like a UV. A polarizing filter mitigates reflections from non-conductors like glass, plastics, and painted surfaces. Also a polarizing filter allows some penetration so objects near the water’s surface can be imaged. These come in two flavors, buy a circular polarizer.
Originally by user44949. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user44949
8y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes — the Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary is a good budget-friendly option for bird photography, especially on a crop-sensor body like the Canon 70D, where the extra apparent reach is helpful. It gives you plenty of focal length for distant birds, though its f/5-6.3 aperture is not especially fast, so in lower light you may need higher ISO or slower shutter speeds than with more expensive telephoto lenses.
For filters, don’t add one unless you have a specific reason. A clear/UV protection filter can add extra flare and slight image degradation, and on digital cameras a UV filter usually offers little photographic benefit. If you do buy any filter, choose a good-quality, multi-coated one.
The most useful filter in general is a circular polarizer, but only if you actually need its effect. Keep in mind that polarizers also reduce light, which can be a drawback for bird photography where fast shutter speeds are important.
So: the lens is fine for birding, and for best image quality it’s often better to skip a protection filter altogether.
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