Sounds like good advice Meghan, what would you suggest lens wise, to shoot them with, 300mm and a tripod? I know that even me, who loves to freehand shoot my birds would have problems with such little quick birds, and, I have been using the tripod quite a lot this summer.
Hey Irene,
I usually shot them freehand because you never know where they are going to go.I only use a tripod in my backyard where it is easier to figure out which flower they will go to.
The lens you are using is fine. I have taken some great shots with the same. Because you should only be after them on a really bright sunny day, the fact that it is a F6.3 doesn't even come into the equation. The only problem I had with that lens and one of the reasons I upgraded is because the Sigma like to "hunt" a bit too much for Hummers. They are so fast and move around so much that by the time the lens finds focus the bird is gone.
I lost more shots than I ever gained. But even with the 300mm F2.8 I still lose a ton of shots, but the ability to focus super-fast makes me have a better average of keepers.
Also a tip, find a spot of jewelweed where there is a small tree or similar in the area, finding perched Hummers is a lots easier than it seems. hey will feed, then fly back to the same perch almost every time. Making for some great shots.
BTW, the below shot was taken with "your" lens, you can't tell me that lens isn't sharp.
