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Archive 2019 · Expecting too much from Sigma 105mm f1.4
  
 
bobby350z
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Expecting too much from Sigma 105mm f1.4


New Sony user. Started with 85mm f1.8 and really liked it. Got Sigma 105mm f1.4 and I used it today for a shoot with my kids. It was with setting sun in the bg and using strobe on front. I am not impressed. The OOF back gounds are very nice but lens doesn't look sharp. I was shooting 1/200 and f1.4. Before we say I need higher SS, I used to use GFX50s with 110mm f2 (85mm f1.6 equivalent) hand held at 1/125 or even 1/100 and have no issues. Fuji is just wow. I am not seeing anything close to Fuji. Maybe expecting too much?

Maybe the strobe power too low but I am in general not happy with detail, focus and general look.


Here is a Fuji shot from 2 yrs ago.


I will try more in next few days. Any tips appreciated.


Dec 15, 2019 at 10:20 PM
bobby350z
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Expecting too much from Sigma 105mm f1.4


Edited: - Looking closely, it seems focus on his left (camera right) jacket collar's tip. I was using eye AF and I am pretty sure in AF-C. Camera is A7rIV.
Dec 15, 2019 at 10:28 PM
Bob_S
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Expecting too much from Sigma 105mm f1.4


Perhaps a bad copy?
Have you performed a focus test with a controlled scene?

Mine is absolutely tack sharp and focuses accurately with speed that shocks me for a lens of this size.
Dec 15, 2019 at 10:38 PM
RoamingScott
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Expecting too much from Sigma 105mm f1.4


I wouldn’t base your impressions of a single bad shot. Verify settings, try again in a variety of poses and distances and see what you find out. Clearly something is wrong with the shot but 99% of the time things like this are user error.


Dec 15, 2019 at 11:02 PM
sismailian
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Expecting too much from Sigma 105mm f1.4


Mine is super sharp & accurate as well.

I would definitely test more to verify there is actually something wrong. Are you still in the return/exchange period? You can always try another copy if possible....but honestly I myself have had instances too of missing focus one maybe 5% of my shots and it was just error on my part. The lens though is absolutely incredible in every way. Let us know what you find!
Dec 15, 2019 at 11:07 PM
JohnJ
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Expecting too much from Sigma 105mm f1.4




bobby350z wrote:
Edited: - Looking closely, it seems focus on his left (camera right) jacket collar's tip. I was using eye AF and I am pretty sure in AF-C. Camera is A7rIV.
This is the biggest problem I've had with sony bodies, they will focus on the nearest point, even on something very fine and seemingly inconsequential, but often this leaves you with a misfocused shot.
Dec 15, 2019 at 11:15 PM
numbertwo
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Expecting too much from Sigma 105mm f1.4


The picture is clearly front focused. Maybe the backlit made it difficult for the lens to focus? For this kind of posed backlit, maybe af-s works better. Have you tried other lighting conditions?
Dec 15, 2019 at 11:17 PM
bwcolor
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Expecting too much from Sigma 105mm f1.4




JohnJ wrote:
This is the biggest problem I've had with sony bodies, they will focus on the nearest point, even on something very fine and seemingly inconsequential, but often this leaves you with a misfocused shot.
This means that you need to use a different focus mode..ie avoid settings that select area focus which is closest..ie..avoid wide.
Dec 15, 2019 at 11:23 PM
derKoekje
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Expecting too much from Sigma 105mm f1.4


The copy I tried was very sharp, even wide open. Focusing was quick and reliable. Though I didn't try anything with flash.
Dec 16, 2019 at 12:57 AM
ftllens
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Expecting too much from Sigma 105mm f1.4


Try center lock on tracking with EYE AF on. Grab focus on subject then recompose. First time hearing Sigma 105 is soft lol
Dec 16, 2019 at 01:26 AM
Bob_S
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Expecting too much from Sigma 105mm f1.4


The Sigma 105 Art is a proven winner, it's sharp and fast focusing producing immaculately clean images with silky bokeh.

So, to isolate your issue you have to look at the variables, it's either your body, the camera AF settings or your lens copy.

If your other lenses are sharp and focusing fast and accurately it's most likely your lens copy, but could be settings.

Run a bunch of controlled tests and document the results and come back to us?

I've purchased dozens of Sigma products over 15 years and 2 have been bad copies, the most recent was a 35 f1.2, the second copy us perfect. The first one was a 50 f1.4 HSM.


I use AF-C, wide, 20fps.
I only use it with the A9, so cannot comment about other bodies.
Dec 16, 2019 at 03:02 AM
JohnJ
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Expecting too much from Sigma 105mm f1.4




bwcolor wrote:
This means that you need to use a different focus mode..ie avoid settings that select area focus which is closest..ie..avoid wide.
I don't use wide.
Dec 16, 2019 at 06:31 AM
Kildras
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Expecting too much from Sigma 105mm f1.4


Have you tried to do a comparable shot in a comparable situation?

I remember there's some feedback about the sigma 105 1.4 doesn't perform well in backlit situation but your background just rendered poorly and I doubt the Fuji would have rendered it better


Dec 16, 2019 at 06:43 AM
rps_23
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Expecting too much from Sigma 105mm f1.4


numbertwo wrote:
The picture is clearly front focused. Maybe the backlit made it difficult for the lens to focus? For this kind of posed backlit, maybe af-s works better. Have you tried other lighting conditions?

Looks front focused to me as well. The collar looks plenty sharp. The thinner dof of the 105 makes getting critical focus more important as well. If the sigma was stopped down to f2 to match the fuji, it likely would look fine.



Dec 16, 2019 at 07:18 AM
RayinNY
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Expecting too much from Sigma 105mm f1.4


You are expecting too much from Sigma.
Dec 16, 2019 at 08:35 AM
bobby350z
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Expecting too much from Sigma 105mm f1.4


Yes I was using tracking eye AF. Will do some controlled tests. Going to call email Adorama by Wednesday if I don't see any improvements. All the shots show no clear focus on the eye. Camera was showing green bon on the eye. I will also test using AF-S mode. Just little bumped.
Dec 16, 2019 at 09:18 AM
bobby350z
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Expecting too much from Sigma 105mm f1.4


Kildras wrote:
Have you tried to do a comparable shot in a comparable situation?

I remember there's some feedback about the sigma 105 1.4 doesn't perform well in backlit situation but your background just rendered poorly and I doubt the Fuji would have rendered it better

It seems focus issue but need to check more. GFX50s with slow as molasses focussing compared to A7rIV never gave me any focus problems, slow yes, but always nails it. In last 2+ yrs, maybe < 10 total focus issue shots.

Should add the Sony 85mm f1.8 using same settings was doing very good a week before.
Sony 85mm f1.8 at f2

f2.8


Of course these are not at f1.4 but then with mirrorless I haven't seen focus problems like with dSLRs. I have had only Fuji, XT1 with 56mm f1.2 and the GFX50s with 110mm f2.
Dec 16, 2019 at 09:21 AM
GabrielPhoto
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Expecting too much from Sigma 105mm f1.4


JohnJ wrote:
This is the biggest problem I've had with sony bodies, they will focus on the nearest point, even on something very fine and seemingly inconsequential, but often this leaves you with a misfocused shot.

That sounds like user error. Especially is using Eye AF, that is pretty much fool proof.
Dec 16, 2019 at 10:44 AM
GabrielPhoto
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Expecting too much from Sigma 105mm f1.4


The 105mm is a VERY sharp lens and focusing is pretty fast and surely accurate with my R3 and A9 so what you are experiencing is not normal for this lens.
Dec 16, 2019 at 10:52 AM
Mystik
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Expecting too much from Sigma 105mm f1.4


Are you using tracking AF area per chance? I've noticed with the a7rIV, for posed shots live tracking AF is a little too reactive to movement will sometimes jump off the eye unnecessarily.


Dec 16, 2019 at 11:10 AM
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