Ryuichi Kiyonari, Japan, Buildbase BMW Motorrad2015 British Superbike Championship, BSB R01, Donington Park, Derbyshire. 4th April 2015.<br/>Ryuichi Kiyonari, Japan, Buildbase BMW Motorrad Ryuichi Kiyonari, Japan, Buildbase BMW Motorrad, 2015 British Superbike Championship, BSB R01, Donington Park, Derbyshire. 4th April 2015. Canon EOS-1D X, Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM, Focal length 269mm; 1/200 sec; f8; ISO 200; Shutter priority. Josh Waters, Australia, Bennetts Suzuki2015 British Superbike Championship, BSB R01, Donington Park, Derbyshire. 5th April 2015.<br/>Josh Waters, Australia, Bennetts Suzuki Josh Waters, Australia, Bennetts Suzuki, 2015 British Superbike Championship, BSB R01, Donington Park, Derbyshire. 4th April 2015. Canon EOS-1D X, Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM, Focal length 300mm; 1/125 sec; f13; ISO 200; Shutter priority. Broc Parkes, Australia, Milwaukee Yamaha2015 British Superbike Championship, BSB R01, Donington Park, Derbyshire. 6th April 2015.<br/>Broc Parkes, Australia, Milwaukee Yamaha Broc Parkes, Australia, Milwaukee Yamaha, 2015 British Superbike Championship, BSB R01, Donington Park, Derbyshire. 4th April 2015. Canon EOS-1D X, Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM, Focal length 300mm; 1/200 sec; f14; ISO 200; Shutter priority. _1TK99382015 British Superbike Championship, BSB R01, Donington Park, Derbyshire. 4th April 2015.
Billy McConnell Australia, Smiths Racing BMW Billy McConnell Australia, Smiths Racing BMW, 2015 British Superbike Championship, BSB R01, Donington Park, Derbyshire. 4th April 2015. Canon EOS-1D X, Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM, Focal length 252mm; 1/125 sec; f8; ISO 200; Shutter priority.

Sigma 120-300mm f2.8 DG OS HSM Lens Image Stabiliser.

I now have had a little time to get used to the new Sigma 120-300mm f2.8 DG OS HSM Lens and although it performs brilliantly out of the box, it was now time to make use of the Sigma usb Dock and tweak some of the lenses settings to suit my needs.

On connecting the lens to my Mac with the usb dock and launching the Sigma Optimization Pro software, I firstly checked that the Firmware was up to date, which it was. I then clicked on the Customization tab. As the focusing was not an issue, I moved onto the Customization Mode Setting tab.

I have altered the C1 settings to the following; to latch onto fast moving subjects coming towards, or away from the camera:

AF Speed Setting - Motor's Drive Speed Priority

OS Setting - Moderate View Mode

I have left the Focus Limiter Setting unchanged, as I don't find this an issue.

I have altered the C2s setting to the following; to pan with fast moving subjects across the plane of the camera:

AF Speed Setting - Focus Accuracy-Priority

OS Setting - Moderate View Mode

Again I have left the Focus Limiter Setting unchanged.

On speaking with the extremely helpful Sigma Technicians at Welwyn Garden City, they explained that the OS Setting adjustment is concerned with what you see through the viewfinder. If you want to see the OS working, then switch to the Dynamic View Mode. If you want the OS to perform better without the image jerking around in the viewfinder, then select the Moderate View Mode. As I am primarily working with fast moving subjects I am more concerned about end result of the OS and in particular, not having distracting subjects 'jumping around' in the viewfinder as the OS shows me what it is doing.

I feel that the C2 settings I have now loaded into the lens, enable me to pan with more confidence and with a better hit rate. With the images I have included with this post, whilst the shutter speeds are not fantastically slow, please remember these are relatively small subjects moving at great speeds. Yes I could shoot at 1/30th or less, but I am working for clients at race weekends, who expect a broad selection of images, with their sponsors visible and sharp across the bike. I will have a further experiment at a test, or something, to truly test this excellent lens' performance.

Similarly, with the modern DSLR you may have to adjust your focus settings/options to work in harmony with those of the lens. Please refer to your own manufactures guide for this.

To see the results of the C1 settings to work with subjects moving towards, or away from the camera, please see the separate Blog.

Thank you for reading.