Shooting wedding: Nikkor 400/2.8 vs. Sigma 120-300/2.8 (old model)

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ElenaH

Well-known member
Last month we were sharing our camping place in Mabuasehube, Botswana with two honeymoon couples and a brother of the grooms who wanted obviously to steal one of the brides and was involved into the fight which ended with a damaged eye.
Those five had a party every night, were very loud, used our shower and toilet, sometimes they did it also not into the toilet, they tried to open some bottles and even our tent. We couldn't sleep at night. Good thing that after those orgies they agreed to pose for some pictures. Probably, they were sorry for us.

Well, my partner and I were onlocation. He had D850 and 400/2.8 FL ED and Sony A7R IV with Tamron 70-180/2.8. I had D850 with Sigma 120-300/2.8. Because we were shooting the same scenes, I thought that perhaps, it will be interesting to make some comparisons.

Here is a photo of D850 + 400/2.8 at 2.8, 1/1600 and ISO 360.
Bride (seeing 400mm/2.8): "Not that bazooka, please!"
Groom: "Bazooka?? Can you shoot a wildebeest for me, please?"
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It looks like I was working better with models. D850 + Sigma 120-300/2.8 at 300mm and f3.5, 1/800 and ISO 200
Me: "Hey, folks, here is a wildebeest shoot by the bazooka!"
Bride and groom: "Where is the wildebeest???"
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It is an old Sigma model, I have it from a second-hand shop (not a new Sport model). But I noticed that it had the same brilliance as a very expensive Nikkor.
The 400mm picture has a better bokeh, of course, becasue it has longer focal length and was shoot at f2.8. But nevertheless, the old second-hand Sigma made a good figure!

Here is a picture of A7R IV and Tamron 70-180/2.8 at 180mm and 2.8, 1/1600 and ISO 320. There much less details because of the crop and because of the lens. The camera has more MP than D850 (61MP vs. 46MP), perhaps, I would expect not doing a big crop but 61MP cannot compensate the focal length.
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A few more pictures of a honeymoon pair. D850 + Sigma 120-300/2.8
Groom behind the bride, looking at her with admiration. She (almost) hugs him ;-)
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Both running to me, holding hands of each other (well.. almost) ;-)
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@JoeB thank you! yes, I also like my photo more: the models were more responsive! Just wanted to show that it is not always the best lens making the best pictures. We, who don't have bazookas, we can still take excellent pictures! :)
 
Beautiful shots ElenaH , If someone would have shown me these shots and said "take your pick" to keep as a print , without knowing any of the details I would`ve picked number 2 all day long ...


Harry.G
 
@Harry.G thank you, Harry! Perhaps, we should not tell with which camera+lens we are taking our shots ;-) But I'd like to encourage those photographers who are on budget! I payed 1200€ for a second-hand Sigma, it is 1/8 of the price of the professional lens aproximatelly.
 
I made a video kind of "behind the scenes". It is not about photography but about my models.
Sorry for my bad English, it is not my mother tongue but I decided to make voice-over myself and not converting the text into the auto-speach becasue we also prefer to talk to people and not to machines. It gives a personal note however, with accent ;-)

 
Wow ,Brilliant Elana,
Enjoyed both your pictures and your video,
Sadly the Mabua lions have become problematic due to some irresponsible people putting out meat to attract them,
Regards,
gavin
 
Sadly the Mabua lions have become problematic due to some irresponsible people putting out meat to attract them
I've never heard something like this, Gavin. And I am in diffrent forums and in all FB-groups on KTP. I have also friends in southern Africa, between them are also Botswana guides. And I've never heard about the meat. Can you drop me the link?
The lions come for water, for shade and just because it is their territory. They love to lie in the shade of A-frame and under the trees and bushes in camping sites. One can be eaten very soon if trying to attract wild animals with meat. It is no-go. Everybody knows it. There is a discussion about the water left after showering but I've never heard about the meat.
 
The bat and owl in flight in the video stills were well caught, what sort of bat and owl?
to be honest, I don't know. It is either African Grass Owl or Western Burn Owl according to the face. Unfortunately, I didn't find it during the day. I need also to search for a bat according to the region. But both are often on the campsites or near the camps (like for example, Nossob Camp in Kgalagadi). The reason is simple: people drop beadcrumbs that attract the mice (I have a few on trap-cam) and that attacts the owls and eagles. The bateleur was also living on the camping ground and I could come to it and stand under the tree (just under the bird) and it completely ignored me. It looked at me and probably thought: what a stupid girl 😂 I took pictures with wide-angle lens of it. Just increadible.
 
Elena, you and Hans got some beautiful shots. It must have been a great experience. I love the video. Being closer to the animals with shorter lenses has benifits, less heat distortion and shows less camera shake. But you don’t want to get too close, or you can become their next meal!
 
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Are you frickin crazy?!!! o_O:D I really don't think I would get an ounce of sleep. Is there a Hilton close by? I do love the video!, what a great experience for YOU to have. I guess since the gopher in my lawn spooks me, I'll just enjoy watching your video.
 
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@Irap , thank you! yes, I've a "full program" as one guide said me ;-) for stills I let my trap-cam working. the lion was checking if it works properly ;-) and it was the right decision to drive those few meters to the toilet and not walk! :D
 
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