Home · Register · Join Upload & Sell

Moderated by: Fred Miranda
Username  

  New fredmiranda.com Mobile Site
  New Feature: SMS Notification alert
  New Feature: Buy & Sell Watchlist
  

FM Forums | Nikon Forum | Join Upload & Sell

1
       2       3       end
  

Archive 2010 · Sigma 85 1.4 Round 2

  
 
Bruce Sawle
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Sigma 85 1.4 Round 2


So I took my Sigma 85 1.4 out for the day and try to anything I could to foul the focus. Unlike Round 1 that had golden Hour light today I shot in may different conditions, from indoor Television lit rooms, foggy overcast morning, bright mid day sun, to dark shadowed woods with severe back lighting, I pretty much covered all the conditions. I also left the camera in continuous mode to judge the tracking ability of this lens in all conditions. I am happy to report that this lens is easily the best Fast Prime I have owned when it comes to continuous focus mode. This obviously does not include the super teles, as these are Nikon's best when it comes to tracking. One of my main requirements in a lens camera body combination is there ability to track in continuous mode as this is my bread an butter when shooting children, sports, and families. This lens just seems to lock on an not let go no jitter in the focus like the 85D. Technique and camera body also play a roll in this so bear with me if i make the the Sigma out to be the greatest thing since Micro Brewed Beer.

1. The first set were all shot inside with minimal light and a bit off off camera for fill.

F1.4
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1062/5154847373_d65e19339c_o.jpg
F1.6
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4006/5155456326_3299a40ec9_o.jpg

2. This shot was lit by nothing but the TV and had back lit window light. shot at ISO 1600 at f1.4 1/60th

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1178/5155354395_54159174e7_o.jpg

At F1.4 fluorescent and natural window light
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4014/5154856361_85c030df2d_o.jpg

3. This set is to demonstrate the infinity focus accuracy at 1.4. I have to say I am impressed with this sharp from a distance of 40 yards.

Original
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1048/5154849825_f35615db12_o.jpg
Almost 100% crop
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4066/5155826402_ac704a7677_o.jpg


4. The next three photos is a demonstration of tracking a fast moving person. The lens is not nearly as good a the 70-200 or any of the big lenses but my keeper rate was about 70% with one or two of this being just slightly miss hits. But lets not forget these were shot at Ff1.8
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1242/5154851205_4c52378e3f_o.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1349/5155444693_0a79ef58fb_b.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1119/5155459812_9b3d324c9e_o.jpg

One at F1.4 66% crop
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4071/5155219565_5b1ee87eff_o.jpg

5. Here is one at f1.4 to demonstrate the ability to knock out a busy background
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4054/5155461348_67d0a91e39_o.jpg

6. The next two are a comparison between F1.8 and F4. I think there is no question the f4 is razor sharp, but F 1.8 is not to shabby.

f1.8
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4028/5155463250_705c752143_o.jpg

f4
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1097/5155463886_bfc744f226_o.jpg

7. Finally lets look at some back lit scenes and see how the lens handles flare and low contrast situations. All of these are shot from 1.4 to f2

f1.6
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4036/5155466944_d19edc33d5_o.jpg
f1.4
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4054/5155855282_4746b5025f_o.jpg
f2.0
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4018/5155247725_c90071ba80_o.jpg
F1.4 and moving
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1419/5154859389_247963b795_o.jpg



Nov 07, 2010 at 05:41 PM
MikeW
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Sigma 85 1.4 Round 2


looks pretty good


Nov 07, 2010 at 05:50 PM
Nick Nishizaka
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Sigma 85 1.4 Round 2


Good stuff. Looks like you have a winner there!


Nov 07, 2010 at 05:58 PM
Jammy Straub
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Sigma 85 1.4 Round 2


Bruce Sawle wrote:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4054/5155461348_67d0a91e39_o.jpg


That's a lovely rendering. Nice swirl, reminds me of the 85L very much.

I'm guessing you've done some PP sharpening on these? (I ask because it tends to affect the OOF areas depending on how you apply it.)

Thank you for sharing!



Nov 07, 2010 at 06:05 PM
Bruce Sawle
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Sigma 85 1.4 Round 2


Jammy Straub wrote:
That's a lovely rendering. Nice swirl, reminds me of the 85L very much.

I'm guessing you've done some PP sharpening on these? (I ask because it tends to affect the OOF areas depending on how you apply it.)

Thank you for sharing!



Sharpening was on in camera and set to 2. I did some USM in NX2 but only on the boy.



Nov 07, 2010 at 06:16 PM
Jammy Straub
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Sigma 85 1.4 Round 2


Bruce Sawle wrote:
Sharpening was on in camera and set to 2. I did some USM in NX2 but only on the boy.


Good to know. Thank you!



Nov 07, 2010 at 06:18 PM
Todd Adamson
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Sigma 85 1.4 Round 2


Awesome. You've clearly demonstrated that this lens has potential for greatness. Hopefully there isn't excessive copy variability.


Nov 07, 2010 at 06:18 PM
myam203
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Sigma 85 1.4 Round 2


Wow I want one!!


Nov 07, 2010 at 07:05 PM
MagicNikon
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Sigma 85 1.4 Round 2


Looks good to me.


Nov 07, 2010 at 07:23 PM
Gary Clennan
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Sigma 85 1.4 Round 2


Verrrrry nice! I want one.


Nov 07, 2010 at 10:37 PM
mendofr
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Sigma 85 1.4 Round 2


Can I buy your copy?


Nov 07, 2010 at 10:41 PM
amachi
Offline

Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Sigma 85 1.4 Round 2


Wouw. Simply wouw... I was set to get a 85mm f1.4G, and now I seemed to change my mind. Is it the lens that good or it is you?

I own a Sigma 50mm and I always dislike the AF at far distance (infinity), from your samples, looks like this is really not a problem for Sigma 85mm. Outstanding...



Nov 08, 2010 at 05:56 AM
Bruce Sawle
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Sigma 85 1.4 Round 2


amachi wrote:
Wouw. Simply wouw... I was set to get a 85mm f1.4G, and now I seemed to change my mind. Is it the lens that good or it is you?

I own a Sigma 50mm and I always dislike the AF at far distance (infinity), from your samples, looks like this is really not a problem for Sigma 85mm. Outstanding...



Surprisingly most of the fast glass have problems at distances or MFD this lens seems to handle all distances well.



Nov 08, 2010 at 09:59 AM
Goofy-Footed
Offline

Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Sigma 85 1.4 Round 2


Oh yeah, I'm definitely grabbing one of these. Thanks for taking the time to post this.


Nov 08, 2010 at 02:41 PM
marylya
Offline

Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Sigma 85 1.4 Round 2


If Sigma could just solve their quality control issues and build customer confidence they would easily double their sales. I really want to pick up their 50, 85 and 150 OS lenses, but I don't want to be playing a game of chance and have to send these lenses in for calibration.


Nov 08, 2010 at 02:48 PM
slowdad
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Sigma 85 1.4 Round 2


i baught one and had to return it. completely defective AF system. hunted and would not lock in AF. Ive tried to get a new one but B&H has no anticipated shipping date so they are refunding my credit card. Im going to look for a clean 85L unless someone can tell me where i can get one. There has been a few sent back for this.


Nov 08, 2010 at 02:54 PM
ariel777
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Sigma 85 1.4 Round 2


slowdad wrote:
i baught one and had to return it. completely defective AF system. hunted and would not lock in AF. Ive tried to get a new one but B&H has no anticipated shipping date so they are refunding my credit card. Im going to look for a clean 85L unless someone can tell me where i can get one. There has been a few sent back for this.


Shortly after you posted the above, I received notice from B&H that the lens was "in stock". I would hope they are not recycling defective lenses; this is not what I would like to expect from B&H......but.....



Nov 09, 2010 at 04:17 PM
Bruce Sawle
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Sigma 85 1.4 Round 2


ariel777 wrote:
Shortly after you posted the above, I received notice from B&H that the lens was "in stock". I would hope they are not recycling defective lenses; this is not what I would like to expect from B&H......but.....



Yikes that would suck.



Nov 09, 2010 at 04:33 PM
Vertigo2020
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Sigma 85 1.4 Round 2


Bruce Sawle wrote:
Yikes that would suck.


I think I remember Henry saying sometime in the past that B&H doesn't do that type of thing. Maybe he'll chime in and confirm. Given their return policy it wouldn't make much sense to keep recycling a defective lens.



Nov 09, 2010 at 04:42 PM
Gary Clennan
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Sigma 85 1.4 Round 2


The focus issues with Sigma are not as widespread as some would have you believe....


Nov 09, 2010 at 04:53 PM
1
       2       3       end




FM Forums | Nikon Forum | Join Upload & Sell

1
       2       3       end
    
 

You are not logged in. Login or Register

Username       Or Reset password



This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.