Sigma 30mm f/1.4 User Group (Part II)

[SilentSeth]

Hi silentseth, thanks for your input

I think i would buy local set instead of grey for a piece of mind

I may bring the focus test chart down to the shop, in you guys opinion, will it be a good indication of any focusing issue? and some guys have mentioned about the sigma being accurate and great at short focusing distance, but becomes erratic once focus on infinity, how to spot this kind of issue?

thanks in advance!

If your camera can do manual micro focus adjusment (for example Canon 7D), then you can buy the grey set and adjust the focus yourself.

About the erratic focus.. well I think you must try at the shop. Try to focus on something far. Also, front/back focus issue is one problem. Don't forget to check the right-left sharpness of the lens. Sometimes left is a bit soft but right is sharp, or vice versa. Try until you get a copy you're satisfied with. (I don't say perfect, but at least up to your standard )

 

[SilentSeth]

Good ol' December, the lights are blinking
Good ol' December, Christmas is coming

 

[SoundOfSilence]

Hi guys, just now went MS Colour to try out the sigma 30mm f1.4
I didnt buy it cause i wasnt sure about the focusing issue, so come here seek advice first before deciding whether to go down buy
here are some test shots, any comments are greatly appreciated!

f1.4

f1.4

f2.0

f2.8

what im concerned about are, is the focusing correct on the test chart?

 

[SoundOfSilence]

Here are some sample shots i shot there
Only crop and adjust exposure, no PP/Sharpening done

f1.4

Focus was on the kettle @ f1.4

Focus on the spoon @ f1.4

Focus on the black Sony P&S @ f1.4

For this copy, are the images at f1.4 acceptable?

 

[SilentSeth]

Here are some sample shots i shot there
Only crop and adjust exposure, no PP/Sharpening done

For this copy, are the images at f1.4 acceptable?

Bro IMHO it's a bit soft. Can you also provide a 100% crop of the test cart at F1.4?

If you can back track a bit on this thread (or part I), I remember some of us posted their 100% crop of the test cart, probably can compare yours with theirs.

Does your camera have manual/micro focus adjustment feature? If not, I suggest you to ask & test for another copy of this lens.

Of course if you buy with Sigma's local warranty, you can always have yours calibrated for free.

 

[SoundOfSilence]

Bro IMHO it's a bit soft. Can you also provide a 100% crop of the test cart at F1.4?

If you can back track a bit on this thread (or part I), I remember some of us posted their 100% crop of the test cart, probably can compare yours with theirs.

Does your camera have manual/micro focus adjustment feature? If not, I suggest you to ask & test for another copy of this lens.

Of course if you buy with Sigma's local warranty, you can always have yours calibrated for free.

Hi bro, heres the 100% crop

http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/479/img8304100.jpg
http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/2871/img8293100.jpg

Im using the 550D, so no micro-adjustment feature, i tested 2 copies, both same results LOL

 

[SilentSeth]

Hi bro, heres the 100% crop

http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/479/img8304100.jpg
http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/2871/img8293100.jpg

Im using the 550D, so no micro-adjustment feature, i tested 2 copies, both same results LOL

OK this is mine, as a comparison. 100%. I used center focus point, F1.4.

This is another sample of some Christmas decoration @ Orchard also at F1.4 (but resized).

Not the sharpest copy, it also front focuses a bit, but well.. you get the idea. Hope this helps.

 

[SoundOfSilence]

OK this is mine, as a comparison. 100%. I used center focus point, F1.4.


This is another sample of some Christmas decoration @ Orchard also at F1.4 (but resized).


Not the sharpest copy, it also front focuses a bit, but well.. you get the idea. Hope this helps.

yea, MSC said new stocks arriving next week...maybe next week go try

btw you tried before canon 28mm 1.8 to this sigma, wanna see your views.. I would have gotten the canon if not for the F1.4 lol

 

[SilentSeth]

yea, MSC said new stocks arriving next week...maybe next week go try

btw you tried before canon 28mm 1.8 to this sigma, wanna see your views.. I would have gotten the canon if not for the F1.4 lol

About the Canon 28mm, I only rent it for about 2-3 days, and, to my non-critical eyes, it did a good job. AF was accurate, slightly better than the Sigma IMHO. Let's say that out of 100 shots, Canon has 90 spot-on AF while the Sigma has 80 (But it's just a very rough measurement, yours may vary). I never pixel-peep the results, so can't really comment much on that area.

The reason I chose the Siggy was the F1.4, for its low-light ability and thin DOF (and I kinda like the new built of this lens). Saw some nice sample pictures, and I decided to get it.

Sigh.. Threads in Clubsnap are really2 poisonous aren't they :bsmilie:

 

[Blitzkriegh]

How much now is this lens? Does newer models still got calibration issues?

 

[SilentSeth]

How much now is this lens? Does newer models still got calibration issues?

Local set with SG warranty should be around 700 plus.
Grey set should be around 500.
Best to call the shops & ask directly.

Yeah some focus issues still exist. Test before you buy.

 

[Blitzkriegh]

Hi Guys, i bought a 30mm Sigma from a fellow CS and the lens seems to have front focus, can someone help me verify based on this test shot?

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Did an AF Micro adjust by +/- 5 Micro Adjust and seems to correct it although not sure if I'm doing it the right way.

With +5 AF Micro Adjust

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With -5 AF Micro Adjust

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[swbull]

If your camera can do manual micro focus adjusment (for example Canon 7D), then you can buy the grey set and adjust the focus yourself.

About the erratic focus.. well I think you must try at the shop. Try to focus on something far. Also, front/back focus issue is one problem. Don't forget to check the right-left sharpness of the lens. Sometimes left is a bit soft but right is sharp, or vice versa. Try until you get a copy you're satisfied with. (I don't say perfect, but at least up to your standard )

i owned a 7D and Sig 30mm1.4. Used a SpyderLensCal to calibrate my lens.. it works well. SpyderLensCal - Datacolor - Global Leader in Color Management Solutions

 

[Blitzkriegh]

i owned a 7D and Sig 30mm1.4. Used a SpyderLensCal to calibrate my lens.. it works well. SpyderLensCal - Datacolor - Global Leader in Color Management Solutions

Hey bro, also using a 7D but just want to seek ur expertise that is my lens has front focus, using the 7D micro adjustment, do u adjust to the left or right to correct front focus? Been looking for a good reference on the procedures but cant find one. Appreciate ur reply.

 

[swbull]

Hey bro, also using a 7D but just want to seek ur expertise that is my lens has front focus, using the 7D micro adjustment, do u adjust to the left or right to correct front focus? Been looking for a good reference on the procedures but cant find one. Appreciate ur reply.

I was reading somewhere in a magazine i recently bought and they explained sharpness: "The area of depth-of-field extends one-third in front of the focused point and two-thirds behind, in other words, you get more depth-of-field behind the subject than in front of it."Essential Guide to Landscape Photography, 2011 Edition . So i have this in mind before i calibrate my lens.

Anyway, for front focus, you go to the right increase in +5, +10, +15 to see the effect of change. My MKII Eyeball cannot see such micro changes.. u have to use the LensCal then u know what i mean. Maybe this youtube video can help. How to Adjust Your Autofocus - YouTube

 

[SilentSeth]

Hi Guys, i bought a 30mm Sigma from a fellow CS and the lens seems to have front focus, can someone help me verify based on this test shot?

[/url][/IMG]

Did an AF Micro adjust by +/- 5 Micro Adjust and seems to correct it although not sure if I'm doing it the right way.

With +5 AF Micro Adjust

[/url][/IMG]

With -5 AF Micro Adjust

[/url][/IMG]

It's weird that both -5 or +5 adjustment work LOL.. Again I have no experience with the micro adjust function, so can't really comment about it

By the way.. why do they look.. foggy / hazy?

 

[Blitzkriegh]

It's weird that both -5 or +5 adjustment work LOL.. Again I have no experience with the micro adjust function, so can't really comment about it

By the way.. why do they look.. foggy / hazy?

i think it could be a slight noise, took this shot in the evening... i know i should have taken t in well lit environment though...

 

[SilentSeth]

i think it could be a slight noise, took this shot in the evening... i know i should have taken t in well lit environment though...

I see.. well if the focus is now sharp, time to have fun with it and post some pictures =D

 

[hawthorne907]

DSC_6764 by dingdwong, on Flickr

Shot to share with the lens. Self calibrated might still have some problems.

 

[jxong]

I'm looking to get this lens.. Have tried 3 copies and on the spot try to calibrate with body still can't get the perfect copy.. Sad.. Is the focusing beyond 3m an inherent prob ?