I am putting this in the wedding section because I know a lot of wedding shooters use this lens and have had issues with it.
I purchased a used Sigma 85mm 1.4 on the buy and sell board a few months back. When it arrived it had a focusing issue. It would not lock focus on just about anything and it was worse the closer I was to a subject. I contacted the seller and he would do nothing for me. Said I was making it up. There were so many stories about the lens not focusing very well I thought maybe that was just how the lens worked. I used it in manual focus for a few months and really liked it. I finally decided to send it in to Sigma for repair. I did some research and learned that the Actual Sigma repair center in NY was the best place to go. I shipped it off Priority Mail last Monday and it showed delivered on Wednesday. I figured they would contact me and give me a price for repair since I purchased it used and had no receipt. By Monday I had heard nothing so I called them and asked for the details. They said it had been shipped back to me and I should receive it soon. I asked if they had fixed it and they said "yes". I asked for the total and they said "no charge". It showed up today and guess what, it works flawlessly. They replaced the GMR sensor. That was the issue. I couldn't be happier
I have it. When I first got it everything was AWESOME. Very sharp and focused quickly and accurately. About a year later it began having focusing issues (extremely sporadic, won't lock at times, etc...) and I sent it to Sigma. They fixed it and it worked great again. 6 months later and I'm having the same issues.
Mine needed to go back to sigma twice, the first time to recalibrate it and the second they reset the af system (no idea what that means). Optically it beats the nikon 1.4G in a few areas which is why I was reluctant to get rid of it but I have to say this is probably my first and last 3rd party lens.
Sigma have a pretty good reputation in the UK for repairs and things like this, it's usually only on the "other side" that things don't seem to go so well, from what I've read... Anyway, glad it worked out well for you, that's great.
mikethevilla wrote:
I have it. When I first got it everything was AWESOME. Very sharp and focused quickly and accurately. About a year later it began having focusing issues (extremely sporadic, won't lock at times, etc...) and I sent it to Sigma. They fixed it and it worked great again. 6 months later and I'm having the same issues.
The lens is under engineered. Fact of life. Looks and feels great but any consistent use on servo and you will strip the focus gears inside.
Happened on two of mine when used on a D3.
I sent both in ... had them fixed up... and sold them. Bought the 85 1.8G and could not be happier.
1/3 the weight, same sharpness, and waterproofing.
joosay wrote:
I don't completely trust my sig 85. May go with canon 85 1.8
That's what I did - the Sigma 85 worked greatwith MA on my 50D. It back-focused badly on my 5Dc, though. So, I "downgraded" to the 85 1.8 and spent the difference on lighting equipment and to chip in towards a 135. Happy I did so!
i sent my Sigma 85 and my story is pretty much the same exact thing as the OP. I called them to make sure they received it, waited a few days, called back.. still no real answer, then it arrives back to me 2 days later good as new (GMR sensor as well) and never got any notification from Sigma NYC
I really like the lens since it's performing perfectly right now, but hearing all of the recurring issues makes me tempted to spend more cash and get a 85L
Great story and gives me a bit more confidence. Love my Sigma 50 and Sigma 85, although It seems the 85 is going soft on me and starting to miss focus, I think.
What did you tell Sigma when you initially shipped it I might have to give this a try, I have a few weeks off from any weddings mid season...
I'll 2nd the 35 f/1.4. Although I'd prefer a 24 f/1.4!!
MattSepeta wrote:
Great story and gives me a bit more confidence. Love my Sigma 50 and Sigma 85, although It seems the 85 is going soft on me and starting to miss focus, I think.
What did you tell Sigma when you initially shipped it I might have to give this a try, I have a few weeks off from any weddings mid season...
I'll 2nd the 35 f/1.4. Although I'd prefer a 24 f/1.4!!
I basically told them that it wasn't locking focus and that I had been using it in manual focus for months. They didn't ask any questions.
BTW - I love my Canon 35mm 1.4. Worth every penny.
You read these forums and a sort of conventional wisdom starts to materialize.
If you take the comments about the Sigma 85 you would think that every single 85mm lens sold by Sigma doesn't focus properly.......when in reality that is not the case at all. The overwhelming majority of Sigma lenses work perfectly from day one and rarly if ever require servicing.
People with lens problems have reason to be more vocal but it amplifies, distorts and gives a false impression that the Sigma 85mm lens is a dud. That is just not the case.
The Sigma 85 1.4 is a problem lens, period. You just don't know if and when it will focus and as a wedding photographer that won't do. When it works it's really nice but I'm sick of looking at missed moments because of this lens.
It's not only this board and other forums that have issues .. noted testers such as The Digital Picture had to purchase three copies to get one that focused properly (and not even then) and companies such as Lens Rentals actually have warnings about the lens.
Quote from Digital Picture review:
"I really like the image quality from the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Lens - it is really nice. But accurate focusing is this lens' definite weakness - getting accurate focus has been an issue.
As of Sigma 85mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Lens review time, I have purchased (retail) three and returned two of these lenses. The first lens was consistently front focusing. The second lens was focusing so inconsistently that I wished for the first one back. The third lens is focusing very inconsistently, but does seem to average to the correct focus distance. I cut my losses and kept this copy of the lens
Roger at LensRentals.com is having the same problem - at review time, he has a warning posted on his Sigma 85mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Lens rental page for this lens"
I might have to give this a try, I have a few weeks off from any weddings mid season...