Fred Miranda wrote:
I love this lens' rendering but hate missing so many shots due to AF-C inaccuracy. I'm using my CV 40/1.2 Nokton much more because of that...
Fred, we're in the same boat here (your first sentence). I am loathe to let go of my Samyang 45/1.8 as I know for sure it can focus where the Sigma can't..
Mar 09, 2020 at 01:04 PM
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Fred Miranda wrote:
I love this lens' rendering but hate missing so many shots due to AF-C inaccuracy. I'm using my CV 40/1.2 Nokton much more because of that...
I suppose that AF-C is rather useless on the CV 40 as well.
I'm interested in why you'd prefer to use the Nokton in manual focus mode rather than focus manually with the Sigma or use it with AF-S.
zugzwang2 wrote:
I suppose that AF-C is rather useless on the CV 40 as well.
When I manual focus the 40/1.2 with still subjects, I get 100% accuracy and that's not the case with the Sigma 45/2.8.
AF-S is slightly better but still too many misses if lighting is not optimal. Personally, if I'm taking a AF lens, I want focus accuracy, otherwise I'm fine using my MF lenses.
Mar 09, 2020 at 02:59 PM
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That's totally fair. I also feel more comfortable using mf, but I appreciate the convenience of one-handed shooting (like when watching 3 kids simultaneously at the park) so the Sigma was mostly purchased for that application. It's a bonus that it's among my favorite lenses ever for rendering, but no- I wouldn't stake my career on af accuracy with it. Fine in decent light and AF-S, though, so it suits my purpose well enough. It's also my only current af lens, so I lack a good reference point.
Fred Miranda wrote:
When I manual focus the 40/1.2 with still subjects, I get 100% accuracy and that's not the case with the Sigma 45/2.8.
AF-S is slightly better but still too many misses if lighting is not optimal. Personally, if I'm taking a AF lens, I want focus accuracy, otherwise I'm fine using my MF lenses.
Fred Miranda wrote: zugzwang2 wrote:
Thanks for your response, Fred. Since you wrote earlier that "The manual focus ring has linear coupling and is a joy to use" I was wondering if manual focus might be as useful for still subjects as it is with the Voigtlander, with the plus that when the Sigma is closed down a bit AF-S might be helpful. FWIW, I use manual focus most of the time (I have only one autofocus lens), but I certainly miss focus on moving subjects with some regularity--and I can't blame the lens.
Been long over due since I’ve been wanting to post some images in this thread. The rendering from this one is definitely something. Really smooth bokeh makes it pretty outstanding in my opinion. A bit over saturated but I like it!
Fred Miranda wrote:
When I manual focus the 40/1.2 with still subjects, I get 100% accuracy and that's not the case with the Sigma 45/2.8.
AF-S is slightly better but still too many misses if lighting is not optimal. Personally, if I'm taking a AF lens, I want focus accuracy, otherwise I'm fine using my MF lenses.
I wonder if this is just a Sony issue? After reading all the comments about focusing problems and lack of sharpness wide open, I was reluctant to try this lens, but a used one in L-mount came up for sale locally, and I decided to give it a try. So far, the AF performance on my S1R has been impeccable, and the lens is tack-sharp even at f2.8, within the zone of focus.
This is my first Sigma lens in many years, and I'm glad to see the name no longer stands for SIGnificant MAlfuntion...
Finally have the 45C coming my way. More interesting is the 1-diopter B+W closeup filter that I hope will clear up the spherical aberration at 1m and closer. No plan to shoot actual macro with this lens.
Received this lens today and I give it a big thumbs-up after some brief testing. The size and handling is ideal for an Alpha 7 body. Metal build, including the filter ring, is a really pleasant change from plastic-clad barrels (however fine the plastic used). The hood is totally awesome: metal, smooth attachment, bayonet style, reversible. I also like the internal focus. The aperture ring makes easy the use of A-priority autoexposure, my norm when shooting the film SLRs of Contax. I also bought a B+W 1-diopter closeup filter (one element) which appears not to improve the SA at 1m as I hoped but does provide about 1:2 magification. Frankly, the optical performance at .6m is more than acceptable to my eye, and .3m is pin sharp at f/5.6, so I'm totally happy to gain the awesome b/g blur in trade. In keeping with the laws of physics the f/g blur is relatively choppy but that's where the STF steps in. I also notice the midfield is sharper than the center for nearer distances and wide open (not tested at infinity yet).
Based on comments by Sigma CEO we can expect more lenses with the same aesthetics as the 45C. I'm eager to see this lineup expand.
Wow, very nice and tones near monochrome are hard to get right. Amazing what high magnification can do for diffraction effects. Taking this opportunity to bemoan the lack of full aperture MTF series. The aperture ring goes to f16 or f22 for good reason, you get lovely flat curves meaning fade is ultra consistent, just what the eye expects.
Having been told by the YouTube stars that a lens is very sharp wide open, people will snap away all day at f1.4, and never realise f16 gives better detail sharpness for many, many lenses. It's a piece of lost knowledge.
philip_pj wrote:
Having been told by the YouTube stars that a lens is very sharp wide open, people will snap away all day at f1.4, and never realise f16 gives better detail sharpness for many, many lenses. It's a piece of lost knowledge.
Thanks, Philip! I shoot at f/22 all the time to induce diffraction which eliminates moire, the nemesis of tabletop and fabric. The key to diffraction-based photography is sharpening in post. In this image, however, I just wanted more DOF. If not testing a particular lens like this Sigma, I would attack this kind of subject with t/s methods.
Call me obsessed but garlic is unexpectedly photogenic. One more pic with more light, more distance to subject, more DOF, more sharpening.
A7ii, Siggy 45/2.8 C @ f/22, B+W 1-diopter, SB-5000, SB-800. I have a Marumi 3-diopter coming from Japan which will properly allow the .3m test for SA correction.
First real assignment with this Siggy (wifey's work):
A7ii, 45/2.8 @ f/8, JPEG, uncropped, curves, mild web sharpening. As expected, lens controls CA on high-contrast edges with aplomb, corners are pin sharp, b/g blur is smooth without color fringing. Manual exposure trimmed with the aperture ring—so cool.
Saw the deal and am on the fence still because of the reported AF issues. This lens is right up my alley for family stuff. Is the AF that bad? I'm good with slow AF...but inaccurate AF I can't tolerate.
I'm using my CV 40/1.2 Nokton much more because of that...
