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Archive 2010Sigma 50 1.4 question
p.1 #1Sigma 50 1.4 question
I went ahead and purchased this lens online last week and got it yesterday. I noticed immediately that my copy front focuses badly. I dialed in a +15 and it seems to be fine. However at longer distances it misses focus. Is this normal? I plan to use this lens mostly for portraits, but it would be nice to use it at 15+ feet at weddings with very low light. Should I send it back and get another?
Jan 03, 2010 at 09:45 AM
p.1 #3Sigma 50 1.4 question
You've lost the Sigma roulette. Send it back, or send it to Sigma and wait a month or two for them to MAYBE fix it.
Jan 03, 2010 at 11:29 AM
p.1 #4Sigma 50 1.4 question
Join the club...
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/843048/3
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/843048/3
Jan 03, 2010 at 12:11 PM
p.1 #5Sigma 50 1.4 question
pingflood wrote:
You've lost the Sigma roulette. Send it back, or send it to Sigma and wait a month or two for them to MAYBE fix it.
+1 (unfortunately)
You've lost the Sigma roulette. Send it back, or send it to Sigma and wait a month or two for them to MAYBE fix it.
+1 (unfortunately)
Jan 03, 2010 at 12:13 PM
p.1 #6Sigma 50 1.4 question
pingflood wrote:
You've lost the Sigma roulette.
Reload, and try again?
You've lost the Sigma roulette.
Reload, and try again?
Jan 03, 2010 at 12:50 PM
p.1 #7Sigma 50 1.4 question
I'd say yes, if you have the patience. When this lens is focused right it's a stunner. Mine was working really well until I started doing close up shooting and near MFD it front focused a bit, so off to Sigma it went... will see if it's better when it comes back.
Jan 03, 2010 at 02:14 PM
p.1 #8Sigma 50 1.4 question
There are lots of threads on this issue in the Alternative board.
The short answer is yes, the problem is very common. Check the threads there
to get a sense of how likely you are to solve it with another copy of the lens.
It's a lens that presents me some frustrations, but I treat it like a pseudo-auto-focus
lens. I check the focus by tweaking it manually and by focus bracketing. The resulting
images are generally _very_ nice. I work around its limitations.
The short answer is yes, the problem is very common. Check the threads there
to get a sense of how likely you are to solve it with another copy of the lens.
It's a lens that presents me some frustrations, but I treat it like a pseudo-auto-focus
lens. I check the focus by tweaking it manually and by focus bracketing. The resulting
images are generally _very_ nice. I work around its limitations.
Jan 03, 2010 at 02:51 PM
p.1 #9Sigma 50 1.4 question
I sent the lens back for a replacement. I will post my results when I get the new one in (early next week is my guess)
Jan 07, 2010 at 09:33 AM
p.1 #10Sigma 50 1.4 question
I had exactly the same issue. The front focus was really bad and it needed +15 MA. Plus, the bokeh behind the focus point was terrible. It was like a lot of bubbles with heavy CA. The only nice thing I had to say about this lens was the bokeh beyond the focus point.
I immediately returned mine. Didn't bother with replacement. Someone suggest going to a local store where you can try different samples and pick the best one. I think I will follow this advice.
I immediately returned mine. Didn't bother with replacement. Someone suggest going to a local store where you can try different samples and pick the best one. I think I will follow this advice.
Jan 07, 2010 at 04:53 PM
p.1 #11Sigma 50 1.4 question
Personally I think they are all like this.
I gave up after three.
The three lenses I tried were different ages and from different countries, so I doubt I got just a bad batch.
Some are just worse than others.
Some users shoot in similar subject distance ranges a lot (e.g. all portraits or all landscapes) and don't notice it maybe.
Some users aren't critical enough to notice it maybe.
I'd love to be proved wrong, as if this lens could autofocus properly I'd own it in a heartbeat as I like the look it gives.
I gave up after three.
The three lenses I tried were different ages and from different countries, so I doubt I got just a bad batch.
Some are just worse than others.
Some users shoot in similar subject distance ranges a lot (e.g. all portraits or all landscapes) and don't notice it maybe.
Some users aren't critical enough to notice it maybe.
I'd love to be proved wrong, as if this lens could autofocus properly I'd own it in a heartbeat as I like the look it gives.
Jan 07, 2010 at 06:00 PM
p.1 #12Sigma 50 1.4 question
Send it back. Mine was perfect out of the box.
Jan 07, 2010 at 09:49 PM
Crossczechfoto
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p.1 #13Sigma 50 1.4 question
Yep I too played the Sigma Roulette and lost twice.
I got my copy back from Sigma yesterday and it's working pretty darn well.
This lens when it does start working has stunning results that don't disappoint.
From f/1.6 on this thing is scary razor sharp.
At 1.4 you have to MF for the most part as you do get focus shift and when you do understand how this lens works then you will get stellar results.
Ross
I got my copy back from Sigma yesterday and it's working pretty darn well.
This lens when it does start working has stunning results that don't disappoint.
From f/1.6 on this thing is scary razor sharp.
At 1.4 you have to MF for the most part as you do get focus shift and when you do understand how this lens works then you will get stellar results.
Ross
Jan 07, 2010 at 09:57 PM
p.1 #14Sigma 50 1.4 question
I was considering the Sigma 1.4 50mm over the Canon, but just about every review praises the lens when it works right. Reviewers talk about it being sharper and 1.4-2.8 than the Canon, but that it is difficult to get a good copy. I'm willing to loose a little sharpness wide open and will be getting the Canon lens to avoid having to hassle the problems that seem to occur with Sigma. Shane, thanks for bringing the problem up and convincing me to go with the Canon.
Jan 08, 2010 at 08:19 PM