Images from Sigma 35mm f1.4 dg


mouselet said:
Thanks for the comments!

I've tried shooting my cats with the focus point on their eyes, but somehow the eyes just don't look too sharp; their nose looks sharper Example -> http://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/842931_10151386635057278_260911768_o.jpg

I think the DOF is too thin at f/1.4 at such distances (~40-45cm subject distance) that the camera focuses on the surface of the eye, but can't get sharpness from the colours from the back of the eye. But apart from that I had no issues with the AF..perhaps I should use af-fine tune +10 only when i shoot my cats. Guess I need to improve on my focusing techniques too!
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If the focus was supposed to be on the eye on the right side of the photo, then your lens is probably front focusing. Front/back focusing can be quite common with Sigma lenses at such close shooting distances. You can bring your lens and camera body down to the service centre for them to check and recalibrate if it bothers you.
 

mouselet said:
Thanks for the comments!

I've tried shooting my cats with the focus point on their eyes, but somehow the eyes just don't look too sharp; their nose looks sharper Example -> http://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/842931_10151386635057278_260911768_o.jpg

I think the DOF is too thin at f/1.4 at such distances (~40-45cm subject distance) that the camera focuses on the surface of the eye, but can't get sharpness from the colours from the back of the eye. But apart from that I had no issues with the AF..perhaps I should use af-fine tune +10 only when i shoot my cats. Guess I need to improve on my focusing techniques too!
Click to expand...

Mouselet, have a look at these threads: New Sigma 35mm: AF way off on D800 outer focus points: Nikon SLR Lens Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review
Sigma 35mm f/1.4 with Nikon D800/600 UPDATE ON FOCUS ISSUES: Nikon SLR Lens Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

Some people have been experiencing some issues like you have described, as well as others on the Fred Miranda forums. So, rather than dismiss your issues as poor technique as others have been too quick to brand, I'd test it under very controlled conditions and send it in for calibration if necessary.

I tested 3 of these before deciding on the 3rd one: there were clearly focus issues with the other two. Good luck.....once you have it calibrated to your satisfaction, you'll have an outstanding lens that is my favourite at the moment as I put it through its paces while street shooting.
 

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John Mama said:
Mouselet, have a look at these threads: New Sigma 35mm: AF way off on D800 outer focus points: Nikon SLR Lens Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review
Sigma 35mm f/1.4 with Nikon D800/600 UPDATE ON FOCUS ISSUES: Nikon SLR Lens Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

Some people have been experiencing some issues like you have described, as well as others on the Fred Miranda forums. So, rather than dismiss your issues as poor technique as others have been too quick to brand, I'd test it under very controlled conditions and send it in for calibration if necessary.

I tested 3 of these before deciding on the 3rd one: there were clearly focus issues with the other two. Good luck.....once you have it calibrated to your satisfaction, you'll have an outstanding lens that is my favourite at the moment as I put it through its paces while street shooting.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the links..I didn't realise so many people had similar issues!

Unfortunately for me I didn't have the luxury to try multiple copies as the shop only had 1 set left when I went to get it. I'll be shooting around with it some more to determine if the focus issue is really there before deciding if it should be sent for recalibration. Do you know roughly how long will it take for sigma to do the calibration?
 

mouselet said:
Thanks for the links..I didn't realise so many people had similar issues!

Unfortunately for me I didn't have the luxury to try multiple copies as the shop only had 1 set left when I went to get it. I'll be shooting around with it some more to determine if the focus issue is really there before deciding if it should be sent for recalibration. Do you know roughly how long will it take for sigma to do the calibration?
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Doesn't calibration only make sense if it gets done with the body together? Otherwise there might be nothing to calibrate because every body is different.
 

ageha said:
Doesn't calibration only make sense if it gets done with the body together? Otherwise there might be nothing to calibrate because every body is different.
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Calibration of course has to be done with the camera body that the lens is used on. If the user don't bring his camera body down with him while still insisting that the calibration be done, Sigma Marketing might have no choce but to calibrate it to one of their own camera bodies that they have at the service centre, if they have one at all. That's as good as not calibrating at all.
The other alternative is to get the Spyder LensCal which is a minature version of the calibration setup at the service centre, to determine the amount of front/back focussing so that they could be corrected for in the camera's micro-adjustment focussing function.
 

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tomcat said:
Calibration of course has to be done with the camera body that the lens is used on. If the user don't bring his camera body down with him while still insisting that the calibration be done, Sigma Marketing might have no choce but to calibrate it to one of their own camera bodies that they have at the service centre, if they have one at all. That's as good as not calibrating at all.
The other alternative is to get the Spyder LensCal which is a minature version of the calibration setup at the service centre, to determine the amount of front/back focussing so that they could be corrected for in the camera's micro-adjustment focussing function.
Click to expand...

ageha said:
Doesn't calibration only make sense if it gets done with the body together? Otherwise there might be nothing to calibrate because every body is different.
Click to expand...

Yea I understand that the body and lens both needs to go to the svc center together if recalibration is needed..but does anyone know roughly how long will it take? A few years ago when i sent in my previous body + nikon 1.8g to nikon svc center for recalibration it took like 3 weeks! lol
 

mouselet said:
Yea I understand that the body and lens both needs to go to the svc center together if recalibration is needed..but does anyone know roughly how long will it take? A few years ago when i sent in my previous body + nikon 1.8g to nikon svc center for recalibration it took like 3 weeks! lol
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You will usually get it back within the same day if you make an appointment first. If you walk in without an appointment, then it will take a few days as yours would be put at the end of the queue of those with appointments in the days ahead.
 

You would still need a setup like LensCal to determine the amount of adjustments needed for that camera body to use the USB dock, I would think.
 

tomcat said:
Calibration of course has to be done with the camera body that the lens is used on. If the user don't bring his camera body down with him while still insisting that the calibration be done, Sigma Marketing might have no choce but to calibrate it to one of their own camera bodies that they have at the service centre, if they have one at all. That's as good as not calibrating at all.
The other alternative is to get the Spyder LensCal which is a minature version of the calibration setup at the service centre, to determine the amount of front/back focussing so that they could be corrected for in the camera's micro-adjustment focussing function.
Click to expand...

Dfive said:
You'll be able to calibrate most of the new ART and SPORT range with Sigmas own lens calibration tool.... soon :

See here :

Sigma USB Dock First Look - YouTube

More here ;)

photokina 2012: Sigma Future Vision Press Conference 2 - YouTube

Very cool development !!
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Got a question. If one send his lens together with the dslr he's gonna use for calibration, the lens will be calibrated to the dslr that was sent in. Now what if someone has few dslr bodies? Its not calibrated to the other bodies...so how?

As for the Sigma calibration tool, does one need to calibrate it everytime he/she switches body?:sweat:

Sorry for the question as i've never had to send lens for calibration...might need to if i were to buy this lens...have to be prepared...:bsmilie:
 

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tomcat said:
Calibration of course has to be done with the camera body that the lens is used on. If the user don't bring his camera body down with him while still insisting that the calibration be done, Sigma Marketing might have no choce but to calibrate it to one of their own camera bodies that they have at the service centre, if they have one at all. That's as good as not calibrating at all.
The other alternative is to get the Spyder LensCal which is a minature version of the calibration setup at the service centre, to determine the amount of front/back focussing so that they could be corrected for in the camera's micro-adjustment focussing function.
Click to expand...
If you send a Sigma body to Sigma for calibration together with a Sigma lens, or any other brand to their respective service centers, do they really just use the AFMA to calibrate it? I was under the impression that they have access to a lower level. Can Sigma even calibrate a Nikon body properly to a Sigma lens? I have my doubts they can do it perfectly. I think if you want a perfectly calibrated combo you're better off with a Nikon lens and a Nikon body in your case. Of course I might be wrong. :)
 

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ageha said:
If you send a Sigma body to Sigma for calibration together with a Sigma lens, or any other brand to their respective service centers, do they really just use the AFMA to calibrate it? I was under the impression that they have access to a lower level. Can Sigma even calibrate a Nikon body properly to a Sigma lens?
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They calibrate the lens to the Nikon body instead of the other way around, I believe?
 

ageha said:
If you send a Sigma body to Sigma for calibration together with a Sigma lens, or any other brand to their respective service centers, do they really just use the AFMA to calibrate it? I was under the impression that they have access to a lower level. Can Sigma even calibrate a Nikon body properly to a Sigma lens? I have my doubts they can do it perfectly. I think if you want a perfectly calibrated combo you're better off with a Nikon lens and a Nikon body in your case. Of course I might be wrong. :)
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Yes, the lens is calibrated to the body. Nothing is done to the body.
 

roDz said:
Got a question. If one send his lens together with the dslr he's gonna use for calibration, the lens will be calibrated to the dslr that was sent in. Now what if someone has few dslr bodies? Its not calibrated to the other bodies...so how?

As for the Sigma calibration tool, does one need to calibrate it everytime he/she switches body?:sweat:

Sorry for the question as i've never had to send lens for calibration...might need to if i were to buy this lens...have to be prepared...:bsmilie:
Click to expand...

The lens can only be calibrated to one body. If you intend to use the lens on several bodies, then make sure that all your bodies have micro-adjustment focusing function so that you can micro-adjust the focusing with that lens for each of the bodies separately. If your camera bodies don't have the micro-adjusting function, then you are out of luck. ;)
 

I am loving this lens's image quality and sharpness wide open at F1.4, but can't help but feel that the AF speed is lacking compared to the canon 35L which I sold to get this.
 

ricleo said:
I am loving this lens's image quality and sharpness wide open at F1.4, but can't help but feel that the AF speed is lacking compared to the canon 35L which I sold to get this.
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lol, what a surprise. Ring USM is still top notch, Sigma's and Tamron's ultrasonic motors aren't exactly on the same level but close enough for many. Why did you sell it before trying out the new one? Don't believe every hype on the net, better try it out yourself. ;)
 

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