Sigma Sd Quattro "H" Images

[Yokosuka Mike]

Sigma Sd Quattro H, Sigma 20mm f1.8 EX DG lens (26mm on Sd Quattro H)
Yokohama, Japan - April 2018

The Sigma 20mm f1.8 EX DG lens is no longer manufactured by Sigma. I still happily use it mainly because the minimum focus distance is 20cm; that and the fast f1.8 aperture is nice too! Auto focus for the older Sigma EX DG lenses on the new Sigma Sd Quattro cameras is (in my opinion) not reliable but that doesn't matter to me because I prefer manual focus in most situations. Anyway here are a few candid shots taken last week.

 

[Yokosuka Mike]

Sigma Sd Quattro H, Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 EX DG lens (32mm-93mm on Sd Quattro H)
Everything shot at ISO 100 and processed with Sigma Photo Pro software.
Yokohama, Japan - April 2018

 

[Dan Daniel]

Wonderful. Great images and color.

Maybe you've discussed this. You are either very short, sitting on a bench, or are holding the camera down, almost like a TLR at chest height. The Sigma H doesn't have a tilting screen. Can you say a bit about how you are framing?

 

[LCSmith]

Those are phenomenal colors. Great photos too!

 

[Yokosuka Mike]

Wonderful. Great images and color.

Maybe you've discussed this. You are either very short, sitting on a bench, or are holding the camera down, almost like a TLR at chest height. The Sigma H doesn't have a tilting screen. Can you say a bit about how you are framing?

Hi Dan,

When I shoot with the Sigma Sd Quattro and some other cameras as well and I’m doing people pictures I frequently shoot from chest level. I’m 6’ 1” tall and I like a lower perspective versus me shooting down on people. To do this with the Sd Quattro I set the focus scale to just under 1 meter (or whatever distance is appropriate) pick a suitable aperture with regards to the existing light and the lens I’m using (usually anywhere between f2.8 and f5.6) and then holding the camera at chest level I walk up to the subject and when I’m where I want to be I take the picture.

It would be difficult for me to stoop over while I look through the viewfinder and walk down the street taking pictures. For me street photography is very dynamic; people are not going to stand still while I try to focus on them and then take their picture. And, autofocus is a non-starter, way too slow.

When I’m taking pictures of static subjects like flowers, cityscapes, ships, etc... I almost always look through the viewfinder and focus manually. I always carry a newspaper in my backpack to sit on or kneel on when I’m going for a low angle. At age 62 squatting down for extended periods of time while I compose, focus and shoot is all well and good until I try to stand back up - ugh! So, now I just sit and or kneel on the ground.

I’ll do what I need to do to get a shot: hold the camera over my head, use the viewfinder, hold the camera at chest level, bend over and hold the camera level with the subject, sit on the ground and even put the camera on the ground for an extreme low level perspective. Fortunately the Sigma lenses (in my opinion) are easy to work with and with a knowledge of the basics of photography I can get pretty good results weather I look through the viewfinder or not.

Lastly, like most things, a lot of practice helps.

Sorry for the longish answer, I hope it makes sense to you and it gives you what you wanted to know.

 

[Doug]

Interesting explanation, Mike, thanks!

 

[Keith]

It's only being viewed on a computer monitor admittedly but I have yet to see an output from any other camera I like as much as this H. If I wasn't so non financial currently I'd have one in a shot.

I like your explanation of your street approach as well.

 

[Dan Daniel]

Thanks for the discussion of your camera methods, Mike.

Having used a TLR extensively, your angle is very familiar. One thing I have always noticed about a TLR is that people seem to pay no attention to it. I can be looking through it and framing from a meter distance from someone and if they glance over they do not react. I imagine that the Sigma creates a different dynamic if you hold it to your face in the street.

 

[Yokosuka Mike]

Sigma Sd Quattro H, Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 EX DG lens (32mm-93mm on Sd Quattro H)
Shot at ISO 100 and processed with Sigma Photo Pro software.
Yokohama, Japan - April 2018

A few more from the same day as the last set.

 

[Yokosuka Mike]

Sigma Sd Quattro H, Sigma 35mm f1.4 DG "Art" lens (46mm on Sd Quattro H)
Yokohama, Japan - May 2018
Everything shot at ISO 100 and processed with Sigma software.

 

[Yokosuka Mike]

Sigma Sd Quattro H, Sigma 35mm f1.4 DG "Art" lens (46mm on Sd Quattro H)
Yokohama, Japan - May 2018
Everything shot at ISO 100 and processed with Sigma software.

 

[Steve M.]

I don't care for the shots outdoors in bright light. They have digital written all over them, and look much like any other digital camera.

The low light shots are a different story. They look very much like film, and good colours at that. The Fuji sensor is quite different from the others in low light. Very nice.

 

[Yokosuka Mike]

But it's all right now, I learned my lesson well
You see, ya can't please everyone, so ya got to please yourself
Ricky Nelson - "Garden Party"

A few more from the same day.

Sigma Sd Quattro H, Sigma 35mm f1.4 DG "Art" lens (46mm on Sd Quattro H)
Yokohama, Japan - May 2018
Everything shot at ISO 100 and processed with Sigma software.

Played them all the old songs, thought that's why they came
No one heard the music, we didn't look the same
--Ricky Nelson

 

[Jamie Pillers]

SD Quattro H with Sigma 30mm f1.4 Art lens

 

[Jamie Pillers]

SD Quattro H with 30/1.4 Art lens

 

[Jamie Pillers]

SD Quattro H with 30/1.4 Art lens

 

[Yokosuka Mike]

^ Jamie, Well done! Those are some stunning images you've posted. I hope there are more to come in the near future.


Sigma Sd Quattro H - Sigma 35mm f1.4 "Art" lens
ISO 100, images processed with Sigma software
Yokohama, Japan

The Harbor View Park rose garden on a sunny day.

I noticed that most of the people here are of a certain age group. I fit right in.

 

[shawn]

SDQH 20mm 1.8 EX

Shawn

 

[Yokosuka Mike]

^ Great shots, Shawn, I'm a big fan of the Sigma 20mm f1.8 EX DG lens.

Sigma Sd Quattro H - Sigma 35mm f1.4 "Art" lens
ISO 100, images processed with Sigma software
Yokohama, Japan

 

[shawn]

Thanks Mike, I went looking for the 20mm based on your shots with it. Very cool lens.

Shawn