p.40 #1 · Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM first impressions
mike hogle wrote:
I would really like to have a sharp copy of this lens that would work without adjustments on both my 5Dc and 1Diii, and I am ready to spend the money. But I don't want the hassle of doing a bunch of testing and sending back several before I get a good one. After reading this entire thread, I am not sure what percentage of people are unhappy with the focus precision. Is it 10% or 40% or somewhere in between? Also, what happens to the returned lenses, lets say at B&H, Beach Camera, or Adorama? Do they get shipped back to Sigma, or just sent out to the next buyer? If they don't send them back for service checks, then you have the same "bad" lenses going out again and again, which would be terrible publicity for Sigma.
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ALL the ones returned to Adorama go back to Sigma, along with ALL the ones which we test prior to shipping and find to be not up to the standard we expect.
Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador [email protected]
p.40 #2 · Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM first impressions
The zeiss could be 3x as sharp as the canon and sigma, and 1/3 of the cost.
I wouldn't buy it.
The sigma and canon af 1,000,000,000,000 x better.
quote]Sven Jeppesen wrote:
The Zeiss ZE with Canon mount can easily match and beat the 35L. The best 35mm lens for a decade It's a good lens, but certainly not the best....
p.40 #3 · Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM first impressions
ALL the ones returned to Adorama go back to Sigma, along with ALL the ones which we test prior to shipping and find to be not up to the standard we expect.
Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador [email protected]
Thank you Helen!
That is valuable information to me, and is just what should be happening. It is, IMHO, one of the biggest reasons to use a reliable, & reputable dealer.
Are you doing significant testing with this particular lens, and if so, what are the results on the up-to-standards test?
p.40 #4 · Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM first impressions
mike hogle wrote:
Thank you Helen!
That is valuable information to me, and is just what should be happening. It is, IMHO, one of the biggest reasons to use a reliable, & reputable dealer.
Are you doing significant testing with this particular lens, and if so, what are the results on the up-to-standards test?
From our tester:
"I make sure the mechanical aspect of the lens is working properly, hooked up to the same camera the customer uses at home.
I also check for the defects we are aware of from Sigma, including spots, bubbles, dust trapped inside etc before giving it the OK"
Apr 04, 2013 at 08:43 AM
Lars Johnsson Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
p.40 #5 · Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM first impressions
p.40 #6 · Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM first impressions
Helen, can you describe how your shipping manager tests the lenses? I ask because when I ordered mine it shipped literally within hours. Manny said it went out fast because it was a slow day. I found AF to be very erratic on my 5D2 in all light conditions and distances. I sent it to Sigma last week where they said they did an AF software update. However, I still need at least -12MA on my camera. While I am getting much sharper pictures and the inconsistencies between lighting conditions do not seem to be there anymore, (or at least as abundant) there are times where focus is off by a fair amount.
p.40 #7 · Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM first impressions
From our tester:
"I make sure the mechanical aspect of the lens is working properly, hooked up to the same camera the customer uses at home.
I also check for the defects we are aware of from Sigma, including spots, bubbles, dust trapped inside etc before giving it the OK"
p.40 #10 · Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM first impressions
I bought one. I have owned two 35L's in the recent past. The Sigma is much better than the 35L. Less distortion, much sharper, less lens flare. When you shoot it for the first time you will be astonished at just how sharp it is at f/1.4. I was checking the exif data just to verify that it was in fact f/1.4. It is truly a special lens. I am one who never buys third party lenses. Sigma made a believer out of me with the 35mm.
p.40 #11 · Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM first impressions
The only thing I'm now seeing is that if I shoot a person of average height (5'5" to 6') from head-to-toe standing up, and I use the outer-most right edge AF point on my 5D3 (in portrait orientation) to focus on the face/eyes, the resultant image isn't quite in focus. I'll have to develop some other technique on landing the AF point so that I still get a sharp photo from taking the full-body shot. Otherwise, still loving the lens.
Apr 09, 2013 at 04:47 PM
Lars Johnsson Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
p.40 #12 · Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM first impressions
Patman99 wrote:
The only thing I'm now seeing is that if I shoot a person of average height (5'5" to 6') from head-to-toe standing up, and I use the outer-most right edge AF point on my 5D3 (in portrait orientation) to focus on the face/eyes, the resultant image isn't quite in focus. I'll have to develop some other technique on landing the AF point so that I still get a sharp photo from taking the full-body shot. Otherwise, still loving the lens.
The outer point is just a horizontal line AF point. If you use the second outer AF point instead. You will have a cross point with both horizontal and vertical lines.
p.40 #14 · Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM first impressions
Helen Oster wrote:
ALL the ones returned to Adorama go back to Sigma, along with ALL the ones which we test prior to shipping and find to be not up to the standard we expect.
Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador [email protected]
We need a "love" button rather than "like" for Helen.
p.40 #15 · Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM first impressions
Lars Johnsson wrote:
The outer point is just a horizontal line AF point. If you use the second outer AF point instead. You will have a cross point with both horizontal and vertical lines.
I had planned on reading up on the cross points this weekend, so thank you for the info, I'll re-adjust my shooting and see if I get better results.
p.40 #16 · Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM first impressions
Helen Oster wrote:
From our tester:
"I make sure the mechanical aspect of the lens is working properly, hooked up to the same camera the customer uses at home.
I also check for the defects we are aware of from Sigma, including spots, bubbles, dust trapped inside etc before giving it the OK"
Helen, Do i make a request to test specifically when i buy the lens..? If yes how do i do that?.. should i call customer service and give my order number and also tell the body i am using it with and make a request for testing before shipping?
p.40 #19 · Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM first impressions
venkidesh Iyer wrote:
Helen, Do i make a request to test specifically when i buy the lens..? If yes how do i do that?.. should i call customer service and give my order number and also tell the body i am using it with and make a request for testing before shipping?
Yes we can do that, provided we have both the lens and a demo body in at the same time. You need to be aware of - and agree to - the following:
• we cannot guarantee 100% that you will not still need to send your own body and lens off to Sigma together for re-calibration, but we are definitely finding that by carrying out these checks beforehand that we've been able to reduce significantly the possibility of this being required
• your purchase will in theory be 'open box', but we will nevertheless need to charge you the full purchase price, as we are only opening it up to provide you with this additional service
• Shipping may be delayed by a couple of days as our DC manager does this himself on request, and needs to fit it into his existing workload.
What you need to do is call or email your order in to Manny in our sales department - [email protected]. 800.223.2500 | Local 212.741.0401
Explain to him what you want - he needs to personally forward your order confirmation number to Adam in our DC so that it doesn't enter the main shipping process.
Customer Service are NOT able to deal with this - they go into a tailspin if asked!
It's a good lens, but certainly not the best....