My Sigma 50 arrived today. (I think it needs a clever nickname like Bigma or Sigmonster, but not sure what yet.)
I'll post samples in an hour or two. Initial impressions are very good. In the meantime, two questions for those who own it:
1. If you hold the lens in your hand and shake it around, is there a slight rattle? I assume this is just the Sigma magic at work. My 35L doesn't do this.
2. Have you noticed that shots at f/1.4 are underexposed compared with the same shots when switching to f/2? I wonder if it's not really a true f/1.4.
Very first sample. This is at f/2, near MFD. One observation about f/1.4, apart from the apparent underexposure: DOF is almost microscopic. That's not a bad thing--just a fact of life. So this sample is at f/2.
Looks like you got a good one. I just played the Sigma 50mm roulette game today and unfortunately lost .
Mine is as sharp as your example for close subjects but backfocuses about 18" once you are about 10 feet away on my 5D. So its going back. I would have had a good deal on it, but since its costing me shipping fees to return, I think I'll either stick with the Canon 50/1.4 or compact macro instead of trying again. Its too bad, the close in pictures at 1.4 looked really nice. Mine did not rattle.
Not sure if I got a good one by those criteria, as I haven't tried it at all from 10 feet away. (And then there's that little rattle that I think I'm not imagining.)
Focus was on the tear duct. Quite good but not as sharp as f/2, at least in these two individual samples. Certainly better than the Canon 50mm wide open.
That little rattle you are hearing is likely not your "imagination" - as you likely unfortunately already know. I got one of these when they first came out, and fortunately was able to convince the seller to pay for return shipping. Mine was not sharp anywhere - and also had the Sigma commonplace but dreaded backfocus issue. I decided after two tries to let Sigma try to iron this out for a few years - my Canon 50mm f1.4 is rather good, and I also have a Canon 50mm f1.8 Mk I.
The Sigma Game is expect to potentially return a specific item 3x before getting a keeper - that is my experience and seems to be the going rate and the QC ratio. If after three times I am still unlucky, I simply give up on that model. I now have the new 24mm F1.8 macro they make, which is an absolute dandy and a remarkable lens. I got lucky - my second copy was a gem after having to return the first.
My 30mm f1.4 was a keeper, but that took 3 tries. That was my first encounter with Sigma and before I realized what a dice roll purchasing a Sigma lens was. I have since sold this lens, so I now have only the one 24mm Sigma lens.
I tried purchasing two other different Sigma lenses, one a zoom, the other a fixed focal length, and after three tries was forced to throw in the towel on both of these. Shipping costs can really add up - especially when you have nothing to show for your efforts. After three tries I figure I can wait for QC to improve, or just do without.
For those who might be interested in the new Sigma 24mm f1.8 I attached the link below. Sigma made and several retailers still sell other 24mm lenses, but this is the newest version, and IMHO all the rest are borderline junk or don't work on a digital body at all. Not promoting this company, just providing a link to the product information so you don't waste your money:
From my own experience, with my 1D MK II, the Sigma 1.4 seems like a bit underexposure compare to the 50 1.4; probably less than 1/3 of a stop but definitely a bit darker.
The image quality seems quite good, but this rattle is making me wonder. It's a slight rattle that I can hear/feel when shaking the lens up and down (from filter threads to mount), not side to side. Anyone currently have one and can check this out on theirs?
I hadn't shaken the lens before (or any lens, for that matter) to check on this but mine has a slight rattle too. However, in the short time I've had it I've not discovered any focusing issues and I'm quite pleased with the images from this lens so am not going to worry about it.
DIS Ottawa wrote:
I hadn't shaken the lens before (or any lens, for that matter) to check on this but mine has a slight rattle too. However, in the short time I've had it I've not discovered any focusing issues and I'm quite pleased with the images from this lens so am not going to worry about it.
Do you always shake your lenses?
Only my Sigmas.
No, seriously, I heard something shaking inside the lens box, and it turned out to be the metal zippers of the padded case. But it made me nervous so I decided to give the lens a gentle shake.
Some other lenses do this too, so I'm leaning toward "don't worry about it" because it does seem to make very nice images.
I just shook the other two lenses I have sitting beside the computer; a 17-40L and a 135L. The 17-40 doesn't rattle at all but I could use the 135 as a maraca! Holy cow, now what do I do? I guess "don't worry about it" is the best policy as it works well, very sharp.
i dont know about the rattle..my Sigma 150 macro does it and its perfectly fine..it might be the ap blades moving around a little in there when you shake it..dont know. but I dont think you should worry
You're right. I gave the Gentle Shake Test to a few more lenses:
Canon 85mm f/1.8: Rattles very slightly, like the Sigma. Wicked sharp lens.
Canon 50mm f/1.8: About the same. Wicked sharp lens at f/4 and up.
Canon 100mm f/2.8 macro: Rattles like a piggybank. Wicked sharp lens.
Tamron 28-75 f/2.8: Rattles too. Wicked sharp lens for all my studio stuff at f/8 and f/11.
I didn't shake any of my really good lenses. I'm not crazy.
BTW, I've determined the Sigmonster/Bigma-like nickname for this lens:
As a user of both a Leica Summilux 50 on my M8, and the Sigma 50 f/1.4 on Canon, and preferring the look from both better than any of my other lenses, I had to smile at "Sigmalux." I like it.
Curt
PS: I'm sure a few Leica fans will take umbrage...but who cares?
The rattle is very slight, but I hear it in mine. I'm certain this is
normal. I think it's just a little bit of play in the focusing mechanism.
Don't stress over it.
I tested mine to death. Here's the results; I've posted them previously.
www.pbase.com/tswen/sig50af
cdgerston wrote:
As a user of both a Leica Summilux 50 on my M8, and the Sigma 50 f/1.4 on Canon, and preferring the look from both better than any of my other lenses, I had to smile at "Sigmalux." I like it.
Curt
PS: I'm sure a few Leica fans will take umbrage...but who cares?
unless any better names can be thought of I think we can christen it SIGMALUX.
and if that annoys some leica fans then thats all the more reason
Comparisons to a Summilux are kinda funny (like calling your new Hyundai a Hyundarri). I think it needs a nickname that references it's woeful focus abilities at longer range and the massive copy variation....
Sigmaduff
Sigmycopyisgoingback
Sigmalitycontrol
that kinda thing. I've had zero issues with any Canon lenses I've bought (about 20) - the Sigmaduff was the first lens I have ever returned. I really wanted to like it, but the one I got was a shocker. The jury is out on whether I have the patience to repeat the process a number of times to get a good un (which most likely will still misfocus past 10ft)
]
. 
