Despite the numerous AF complaints about Sigma, I was dumb enough to purchase a new 50f1.4 from Adorama before the holidays. While the lens is fine optically, as arrived, it needed +15MA a MFD and beyond -20 MA at infinity. I send it Sigma once and came back needing +20MA at MFD and +5 at infinity. Better, but still not usable.
So, I sent it back to Sigma, and now the tech called me and told me that need my camera (5DII) to calibrate the lens. He said that as Canon updates firmware for the cameras, the firmware on the lens may have conflict with the new camera firmware. So what they do is re-write the lens firmware to adjust is for a specific camera and firmware. Which makes me thinking, that even if Sigma calibrates the lens, it could still get out of whack if there is a new firmware update. Also, what happens once I get a new camera say 5DIII?
Anyone else went through this?
Should have sent the damn thing to Adorama while I had a chance.
if that firmware bit is true, wouldn't that near guaranty that you'll have trouble with multiple bodies?
and again, if that's true, couldn't they define what body firmware(s) will and wont work?
another thought, if they know that the lens firmware conflicts with a certain body firmware, I'd assume that it's not a individual body issue, and they shouldn't need "your" camera to re-write the lens firmware, they'd just need to know what body/firmware you use.
too bad they didn't include some form of USB port on the lens, save a lot of shipping and hassle.
gpop wrote:
if that firmware bit is true, wouldn't that near guaranty that you'll have trouble with multiple bodies?
and again, if that's true, couldn't they define what body firmware(s) will and wont work?
another thought, if they know that the lens firmware conflicts with a certain body firmware, I'd assume that it's not a individual body issue, and they shouldn't need "your" camera to re-write the lens firmware, they'd just need to know what body/firmware you use.
too bad they didn't include some form of USB port on the lens, save a lot of shipping and hassle.
The tech said that even you pick a camera, say 5DII, the hardware is not exactly the same cause Canon has been using part from various suppliers, especially after the earthquakes. He said that some of the latest camera firmware updates have been issued to address the variability of the parts.
The tech also said that Sigma, has an old 5dII with the first issued firmware and calibrate the lenses based on that. He said that even if they updated the firmware on their camera, it would not work for all 5dII's cause of hardware variation. Also, they go this issue with 5DII mostly, and other models such as 60D are fine.
Nevertheless, their calibration approach suggest they can only calibrate for one body/firmware combination.
Alanu wrote:
wonder why canon doesn't have firmware conflicts....??
Not only cannon, I have no problem with tokina or tamron lenses.
I guess the issue is the sigma back engineering their focusing algorithms. Its easier for them to keep one old camera/firmware and calibrate problems on demand for other combinations. Their approach does not seem would last till the next firmware update or work for multiple bodies.
I am not sure I want add the shipping & insurance of the camera to the overall ownership of this lens.
panm wrote:
Not only cannon, I have no problem with tokina or tamron lenses.
I guess the issue is the sigma back engineering their focusing algorithms. Its easier for them to keep one old camera/firmware and calibrate problems on demand for other combinations. Their approach does not seem would last till the next firmware update or work for multiple bodies.
I am not sure I want add the shipping & insurance of the camera to the overall ownership of this lens.
I do wonder with sigma if they are designing their canon mount lenses around the sigma mount first as they are very close (you can convert some of the older SD bodies to take canon lenses that will AF)
Canon probably don't have such a problem with most of the old stuff as they probably write something in that compensates for older lenses.
That makes sense. I know we have far less problems with Sigma in Nikon mount than Canon mount. With Nikon it usually only happens with a new body (like the D3x and the old Sigma 120-300). With Canon mount it seems much more random.
Roger, do you notice any problems with other 3rd party lenses on canon?
I know it's not quite so easy due to the lack (or should i say not so many)of other 3rd party fast primes or ring USM lenses?
I have a Sig 50 and it works great on both my 1DIII and my MKIV perhaps you just got a bad one? I also had a 120-300 that worked well on all my cameras MKII, MKIII, and the MKIV... I've known folks who swear by them and some who swear at them... I have had good luck with though.
panm wrote:
Despite the numerous AF complaints about Sigma, I was dumb enough to purchase a new 50f1.4 from Adorama before the holidays. While the lens is fine optically, as arrived, it needed +15MA a MFD and beyond -20 MA at infinity. I send it Sigma once and came back needing +20MA at MFD and +5 at infinity. Better, but still not usable.
So, I sent it back to Sigma, and now the tech called me and told me that need my camera (5DII) to calibrate the lens. He said that as Canon updates firmware for the cameras, the firmware on the lens may have conflict with the new camera firmware. So what they do is re-write the lens firmware to adjust is for a specific camera and firmware. Which makes me thinking, that even if Sigma calibrates the lens, it could still get out of whack if there is a new firmware update. Also, what happens once I get a new camera say 5DIII?
Anyone else went through this?
Should have sent the damn thing to Adorama while I had a chance.
hmm, i thought everyone is aware of this Sigma patching thing besafe, don't upgrade your body firmware if you have some good sigma performer. Sigma lens usually keying off some usm random address to obtain the canon body signature. From that signature, sigma lens firmware selects the programed mapping (hardcoded) curve to use with that body. Mis-match key will make sigma lens going crazy since it has no base (or use the generic one for all) to map for focussing. Many sigma owner can not figure out why their lens suddenly stop working... this is one of the reason i've stayed away from third party lenses
mttran wrote:
hmm, i thought everyone is aware of this Sigma patching thing besafe, don't upgrade your body firmware if you have some good sigma performer. Sigma lens usually keying off some usm random address to obtain the canon body signature. From that signature, sigma lens firmware selects the programed mapping (hardcoded) curve to use with that body. Mis-match key will make sigma lens going crazy since it has no base (or use the generic one for all) to map for focussing. Many sigma owner can not figure out why their lens suddenly stop working... this is one of the reason i've stayed away from third party lenses ...Show more →
mttran: You are right. That's what the Sigma tech said. On the 5d2, even if you got a lens with a decent AF now, once you install a firmware update it may go crazy. If you send them the body, they will hardcode the lens firmware for that body. But, then again, the next firmware update may make it not work again. I wonder if canon will issue any further firmware updates for the 5d2 since it my get replaced this year.
So, yes buying a sigma lens is playing the lotto. Even you think you got a good lens and you won the sigma lotto, eventually, you may still loose after a firmware upgrade.
With a company like Sigma, they don't have a 5D2 body to test this and has to ask a consumer to send the body in? If the lens is dependent on each body, something is wrong with the design....i would stay clear of this brand.
My Sigma 50mm 1.4 works perfectly on my 5D, 1DMkII, and 1DMkIIn. I also tried it on a borrowed 5DMkII, and although it needed +15 MA to focus properly, it works great on that camera too. I'll take it over the Canon 50mm 1.4 any day.
panm wrote:
Despite the numerous AF complaints about Sigma, I was dumb enough to purchase a new 50f1.4 from Adorama before the holidays. While the lens is fine optically, as arrived, it needed +15MA a MFD and beyond -20 MA at infinity. I send it Sigma once and came back needing +20MA at MFD and +5 at infinity. Better, but still not usable.
So, I sent it back to Sigma, and now the tech called me and told me that need my camera (5DII) to calibrate the lens. He said that as Canon updates firmware for the cameras, the firmware on the lens may have conflict with the new camera firmware. So what they do is re-write the lens firmware to adjust is for a specific camera and firmware. Which makes me thinking, that even if Sigma calibrates the lens, it could still get out of whack if there is a new firmware update. Also, what happens once I get a new camera say 5DIII?
Anyone else went through this?
Should have sent the damn thing to Adorama while I had a chance.
Just this afternoon I checked my Sigma 50 1.4 new finish on my 5D3 using a "Lens Align" for the first time. The 5D3 required a +6 adjustment the same as my old 5D2. After the adjustment proceedure I fired 5 shots with the focus ring starting at infinity, the other 5 with the focus ring starting at a shorter distance. One out of the 10 was OOF more than I liked but still usable. I then moved the tripod back and shot more, this time I used servo mode. The lens and body held the intial calibration of +6, no additional adjustments required. My lens is even sharp at infinity wide open. You may have a Sigma clunker, I had one a while back but I would check your test proceedures as well. I don't believe the firmware stuff either.
My sigma 50 is fine. Love the bokeh. It is rivaling my 135L for bokeh royalty. I don't know about the 50L, but it blew the other EF 50mm out of the water in terms of AF speed, bokeh and handling.
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)of other 3rd party fast primes or ring USM lenses?