Sigma's been disappointing me lately. I have the 50mm, and noticed that I've had more OOF images gradually through each wedding. The last two weddings had so many shots that were awesome, but the lens back focused on soo many of the images. I tried to setup a repair through Sigma's online process, and it's been 3 weeks, still no response. That's pretty bad customer service if you ask me. I actually went to my local store yesterday and rented the Canon 50 1.4, just so I know I have a working lens, and that's kind of sad. I was really looking forward to getting the 85 from them last year, but after all these issues with the 50, I'm just going to either wait for the 85L mk3, or pickup a good mk2 version.
Mike Mahoney wrote:
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"
Tom K. wrote:
Many times it's simply user error when shooting wide open.
So the same testers, rental companies, and photographers who don't have any focus problems with their other lenses only make "user errors" when shooting Sigma?
No doubt there have been problems with Sigma, I've had some myself. I bought the 50 1.4 just over 2 years ago and I had the same erratic AF so I sent it to Sigma. They replaced the PCB and calibrated the lens. I've used the lens constantly since then without any trouble. I bought the 85 when it first came out and had almost the same experience. Sigma replaced the GMR sensor and it's been a work horse for me. My feeling is that for the price, the customer service, the post-fix performance and the rendering I would probably pony up for a reasonably priced fast Sigma 35 for FX.
Yeah it would be great if the gear was perfect out of the box, but I've had trouble with Nikon (only brand new, never in the field) a few times and it hasn't stopped me from buying; An MB-D10 grip created electronic mayhem in any body it was attached to, a D300 needed AF adjustment to produce useable images and a $2500 70-200 VRII was no better than my $900 Sigma 85 in terms of reliability - that one I had replaced by the retailer after a few days of testing.
With my experience I suspect that the pro shooter problems are not cases of user error. But I think the defective Sigma thing has almost become a meme with the echo chamber of the internet forums.
I'd like to chime in on this once more. I've had my Siggy 85 for about 15 months, completely problem free, tack sharp, it's my favourite lens. I shoot weddings with 2 Canon 5D2's, last year I took around 150 000 shots, a good 40% of them with the Sigma 85 f/1.4
As a little side business I calibrate lenses for people, want to know the most problematic lenses? The Canon 24-70L and the Canon 50L. I see far more problematic copies of these lenses than Sigmas. The people that are saying it is simply a problematic lens are simply incorrect. More often than not what I have seen with Sigma lenses is that they require calibration a bit more than their "on brand" counterparts, but once calibrated are often fantastic. People need to learn the difference between a lens being a "problem lens" and simply requiring calibration.
Jon-Mark wrote:
I'd like to chime in on this once more. I've had my Siggy 85 for about 15 months, completely problem free, tack sharp, it's my favourite lens. I shoot weddings with 2 Canon 5D2's, last year I took around 150 000 shots, a good 40% of them with the Sigma 85 f/1.4
As a little side business I calibrate lenses for people, want to know the most problematic lenses? The Canon 24-70L and the Canon 50L. I see far more problematic copies of these lenses than Sigmas. The people that are saying it is simply a problematic lens are simply incorrect. More often than not what I have seen with Sigma lenses is that they require calibration a bit more than their "on brand" counterparts, but once calibrated are often fantastic. People need to learn the difference between a lens being a "problem lens" and simply requiring calibration....Show more →
Mike Mahoney wrote:
So the same testers, rental companies, and photographers who don't have any focus problems with their other lenses only make "user errors" when shooting Sigma?
Yeah, right.
Squeaky wheels. Not saying some people don't have problems, but that doesn't make it a "problem lens." Mine has been more reliable than the 85LII and 85/1.4G it replaced (which were good in their own rights.)
Interesting, sounds like a silent recall kind of approach based on how they treated you. I had a HORRIBLE experience with their repair department. Took forever. I have a really nice condition 85 Sigma for Canon if anyone wants to buy one Replaced the motor, filter and front element, so it's close to new as it gets
My experience is that the sigma 85 i tested was accurate once it locked focus, but it had problems on occasions even getting a focus lock. These cases weren't that difficult; the canon would easily acquire focus where the siggy would show some strange behaviour. Also, but that is my personal opinion, i think the 85L is slightly better in terms of iq but of course that is just what my eyes saw, with one sample of each lens so no scientic review for sure.
evertdoorn wrote:
My experience is that the sigma 85 i tested was accurate once it locked focus, but it had problems on occasions even getting a focus lock. These cases weren't that difficult; the canon would easily acquire focus where the siggy would show some strange behaviour.
These are the classic symptoms of a dodgy one, mine locks as well as any nikon lens even in pitch black receptions.
yes, and I've heard it's a sigma thing. My wife has a 105 2.8 macro which does the same thing; I myself have a sigma 50mm which does a lot better (does need a lot more micro adjustment than my canon lenses btw).
But I refused to play the change and return game and the 85L I already had and have was still marginally better anyway, so I just returned it. Besides, I use 85 a lot and whenever I have issues, CPS over here provides much better cs (quick turnaround, loaner if needed).
I have had my sigma 85mm for a few months now and after some pretty heavy use at weddings I can say it is a decent lens.
I too thought I was having horrible luck with the lens but it turns out it was me. Shooting wide open took a little getting used to, but now I feel a little more confident with the lens. Let's see how it goes within the next few months.
I lucked out and got a decent copy of this lens from day one. It indeed does misfocus once and while for no reason and that is critical when shooting at 1.4. But, most of the time, even in low light, it works very well. If I were a heavier user, I would opt for the Canon 85 1.2L. If I had to buy a new Sigma, I would be concerned that I would indeed get a bad copy and need to send it in. But, with that in mind, I would do it again!
Replaced the motor, filter and front element, so it's close to new as it gets