Sigma 30mm f/1.4 User Group

[kelchew]

YAY! Just got my lens today! But...... I did some test shots at home and realized that it doesn't focus well every single time. In fact, only about 50-60% of the time it is focused properly :s
Might have gotten a sour one even though i checked the lens for like 20mins in the store.. Damn i suck at this..
Guess i still gotta send it down for calibration.. :s

Btw, when i was testing out the lens at SLRR, one of the staff actually came up to me and said to me: "Actually, all the Sigma lenses will not be properly focused. And well the warranty covers the calibration costs. So why not just use the warranty to go calibrate it. Seriously, its almost impossible to get a really sharp copy." Does that mean that i took too long to test out the lens? Were they telling me to just grab-and-go? :s

looking at the post on top, some mention they get the lens sharp from the box...

 

[shilldonix]

Congrats! Hmm Focus properly as in? Back focus / front focus uh? You could use the focus chart to test and let the other CS member see if there's problem with the focus. If you take a look in the previous few pages, got people send few hours at the shop, so 20mins ain't that long. It's fine!
Hmm isn't it better to get a sharp copy so that you wouldn't have to waste the warranty since max you can calibrate is twice. You could save it for instances like when you decided to upgrade your camera body!

Haha thanks!
Its like, after i snap a photo, it comes out blurred. I tried taking the same pic with the same settings and all, but sometimes it is sharp and sometimes blur.. I used the test chart at the shop and it seemed fine. No back/front focusing issues, just that even after it AFs, the end product is still blurry

Haha yea that's what i told the guy! I said that even though i may not get the Perfect one, the least i could do is get a decent one so that i won't have to spend time/travel fares/warranty just to calibrate it. His reply was the same as before: "Oh. Aiya, this kind won't sharp until how one la hor." I just looked at him, nodded and continued testing.. Felt like he was trying to pressurize me or something.

 

[shilldonix]

looking at the post on top, some mention they get the lens sharp from the box...

Yea man, that's why! Just i won't be one of them. Haha that's also why when the staff told me that, i felt.. as though he was trying to imply "Dude, what's with all the testing? Just grab and go to Sigma for calibration. That's what the warranty is for?"

 

[kelchew]

Yea man, that's why! Just i won't be one of them. Haha that's also why when the staff told me that, i felt.. as though he was trying to imply "Dude, what's with all the testing? Just grab and go to Sigma for calibration. That's what the warranty is for?"

oh that quite a bad exp than.. rushing you to get the lens...
(i think i read somewhere, sigma only can do 1 time calibration for you FOC)

from the previous post is it becos of handheld? try mount onto tripod and see how is it

 

[xDreamerZ]

Haha thanks!
Its like, after i snap a photo, it comes out blurred. I tried taking the same pic with the same settings and all, but sometimes it is sharp and sometimes blur.. I used the test chart at the shop and it seemed fine. No back/front focusing issues, just that even after it AFs, the end product is still blurry

I'm not quite sure about this, gotta ask the others who have this lens. But i heard as compared to nikkor 35mm F1.8, the sigma 30mm F1.4 sometimes misses focus while the nikkor lens almost always hit focus every shot. x/ so maybe it's the lens?

oh that quite a bad exp than.. rushing you to get the lens...
(i think i read somewhere, sigma only can do 1 time calibration for you FOC)

It's actually twice for free! After that it's $150 per calibration. ):

Just take your time, test till you happy then buy! Then the money is worth it. ^^

 

[shilldonix]

oh that quite a bad exp than.. rushing you to get the lens...
(i think i read somewhere, sigma only can do 1 time calibration for you FOC)

from the previous post is it becos of handheld? try mount onto tripod and see how is it

Haha yea man.. the feeling really sucks :s

Anyway, i just mounted it on a tripod and took some pics.
Seems that under Auto-Focus with all AF Points activated, nearly the whole picture was blurred. Tried 5 times, each using 10-Sec Timers.
But when i set it to only the Middle Focal Point, it seems to be okay.. Does that mean anything? Haha

 

[shilldonix]

I'm not quite sure about this, gotta ask the others who have this lens. But i heard as compared to nikkor 35mm F1.8, the sigma 30mm F1.4 sometimes misses focus while the nikkor lens almost always hit focus every shot. x/ so maybe it's the lens?

Ahhh! Seriously.. I missed that out.. But mine doesn't seem to only be 'sometimes' to me. Haha

It's actually twice for free! After that it's $150 per calibration. ):

Luckily its twice! Man if it was only once, then i'd be... /facepalm

Just take your time, test till you happy then buy! Then the money is worth it. ^^

Haha yea that's what i did, until the guy came to nag me.. :s
And it now seems like i didn't even take that long compared to some others!
Anyway, since i've gotten it already. So i'll just bring it out to test again this Saturday, and hopefully i won't have to send it for calibration. (Lazy + I don't wanna face the fact that after all that careful inspection i still have to bring it down to the service center ><)

 

[durainello]

From my point of view, everyone is just assuming and think that they have the perfect copy. i would rather send in for calibration to tune precisely to your body for a peace of mind since the warranty covers 2 free calibrations.

 

[r0ger]

u using auto AF point? I suggest u use manual and point ya focus on the subject and test. Test at a few aperture. I've previously uploaded my test chart. Sharp or not, u go decide. It was out of the box... I dun think ppl here will "Assume and think" they got a sharp copy...

Rather, i think ppl here are too paranoid. we are only a small % of the population using this lens. may not be a fair way to judge. but then again, if the so all calibration, which i dunno what they do to the lens or body, will placebo ya mind, then go ahead.

 

[shilldonix]

From my point of view, everyone is just assuming and think that they have the perfect copy. i would rather send in for calibration to tune precisely to your body for a peace of mind since the warranty covers 2 free calibrations.

Haha think I'll have my lens brought down for checking.. Just wondering, will the technician just bring it into his lab along with my camera body and then calibrate it til its tack sharp or would I have to be there to constantly check to see if its sharp enough?

Cos I was wondering if I could get my parents to help me bring it down for servicing as I may not be able to take leave that soon. Haha

u using auto AF point? I suggest u use manual and point ya focus on the subject and test. Test at a few aperture. I've previously uploaded my test chart. Sharp or not, u go decide. It was out of the box... I dun think ppl here will "Assume and think" they got a sharp copy...

Rather, i think ppl here are too paranoid. we are only a small % of the population using this lens. may not be a fair way to judge. but then again, if the so all calibration, which i dunno what they do to the lens or body, will placebo ya mind, then go ahead.

Yeaps, I was using auto AF points all along. Haha alright shall try it out tonight! I'll try to find the test chart you posted as well tonight.. Haha
Oh and if you don't mind me asking, if let's say when using manual focus the pictures are sharp, meaning only when using the auto AF the pics come out all blurry. Does that mean its either my settings are wrong or that the autofocusing has issues?

Haha thanks in advance!

 

[r0ger]

If manual AF pt solves the prob then it's clear not a lens issue but body issue. Auto AF point is not as intelligent as u tot. I've nv trusted it n nv use it, even for P&S cam. What body u using?

 

[maldito]

If manual AF pt solves the prob then it's clear not a lens issue but body issue. Auto AF point is not as intelligent as u tot. I've nv trusted it n nv use it, even for P&S cam. What body u using?

I didnt know you can MF in PnS

 

[shilldonix]

If manual AF pt solves the prob then it's clear not a lens issue but body issue. Auto AF point is not as intelligent as u tot. I've nv trusted it n nv use it, even for P&S cam. What body u using?

I see! I always thought that we were to use auto focus to test lenses >< Haha i'm a manual focus lover as well! Just feels good to know that you managed to hit the 'sweet spot' with your fingers =p
But sometimes I just need to snap something real fast so I can't always use MF. Haha I'm using a 600D

 

[shilldonix]

I didnt know you can MF in PnS

Hmm. The Canon S90, S95 and SX30 IS is able to MF. I'm not sure about others though.. Haha

 

[maldito]

Hmm. The Canon S90, S95 and SX30 IS is able to MF. I'm not sure about others though.. Haha

Oh is it? I thought s95 only have manual mode. I ddnt knw manual focusing of lens is possible

 

[r0ger]

I didnt know you can MF in PnS

Manual AF point selection, not MF.
Some P&S call it face detection etc... More often than not, it can't detect the face! hahaha

 

[r0ger]

I see! I always thought that we were to use auto focus to test lenses >< Haha i'm a manual focus lover as well! Just feels good to know that you managed to hit the 'sweet spot' with your fingers =p
But sometimes I just need to snap something real fast so I can't always use MF. Haha I'm using a 600D

Err... u must us AF to test lens, but u must control the AF point. Dun get confused with Auto AF point and AF. a lot of miscomm here coz of this.

 

[shilldonix]

Oh is it? I thought s95 only have manual mode. I ddnt knw manual focusing of lens is possible

IIRC, the front 'Aperture Ring' is used for MF as well. Haha

Manual AF point selection, not MF.
Some P&S call it face detection etc... More often than not, it can't detect the face! hahaha

Err... u must us AF to test lens, but u must control the AF point. Dun get confused with Auto AF point and AF. a lot of miscomm here coz of this.

OH! I totally got lost there, so sorry about that! So what you mean is that i should use the Mid AF Point?

Update: Okay, i just tried using MF. Results were that the pictures are only okay at most. I've retried using the AF as well, didn't try only using the Mid AF Point cos i only just saw this reply. Umm, there isn't really much difference between the 2 (AF and MF).
Now i'm also wondering, is there a possibility that the pictures don't look sharp because when i view them, they take up around 95% of my screen space (Possibly got blown up?)

I'll be out the whole day tomorrow, testing the lens outdoors. So hopefully i'll be able to determine how it really is by then. Shall try to update again on Sunday.

 

[r0ger]

http://focustestchart.com/chart.html


http://photo.net/learn/focustest/

google around for more guides.

 

[shilldonix]

http://focustestchart.com/chart.html


http://photo.net/learn/focustest/

google around for more guides.

I've tried the first chart before, seemed okay at the shop so i made the purchase. But when taking shots of other stuff, like objects, the problem arises.
The 2nd link is new to me! though it seems to utilise the same principle.. Haha thanks alot man! Appreciate it! ;D