Review: Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens
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sagittariansrock said:I'm afraid I caved in. Sold my Sigma 35 and bought the 35L...
I know I will love the L, but feeling sort of guilty of betraying the Sigma brotherhood...
Any such "brotherhood" is a figment of your imagination.
A lense either works for you or it doesn't.
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distant.star said:sagittariansrock said:I'm afraid I caved in. Sold my Sigma 35 and bought the 35L...
I know I will love the L, but feeling sort of guilty of betraying the Sigma brotherhood...
Any such "brotherhood" is a figment of your imagination.
A lense either works for you or it doesn't.
Well, I didn't really give the 35A a fair chance. And I know mine was a perfectly fine copy, no AFMA needed.
Unfortunately, the resale value of Sigmas (especially mine was a refurb on top of that) is so poor, I couldn't afford to take a chance.
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I hope that improves with these newer lenses, but I took a beating (nearly 50% loss) on my mint condition Sigma 12-24 II when I sold it, while breaking even or making money on every Canon I've sold. My Tokina 16-35 held it's value quite, well, too.sagittariansrock said:
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mackguyver said:
Well, the 35A sells for $ 700-720 on FredMiranda only a year and a half from its release, about $ 200 less than the new price. That wasn't promising. I got offers of $ 500-550 for my mint, refurb lens and realized returning it to Sigma was the smart thing to do.
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I have not bothered to run mine through focal as i dont want to adjust AFMA if i dont need to and to be honest focal is a fair bit of work on the 5Dmk3
so i just tried the sigma dock first
it gives you the ability to change 4 distances
MFD 0.4m
0.7m
1.5m
and infinity
I knew i was happy with infinity from the city shots the other night in shanghai
I was fairly sure it was pretty good at MFD but checked anyway and shot a bunch at 0.7 and 1.5
MFD was 100% ok
i had a couple of wacky mis focuses at 0.7 but most were spot on so i decided to leave 0.7 as is
but 1.5 showed consistant front focus of 40 to 50mm so i dialed in -10 in the sigma software and the front focus got worse (looks like its not intuitive you need to dial in + to correct front focus and - to correct back focus
)
so i dialled in -10 now it look a little back focused so i dialled it down to -5 and it was a bit front focusing still so I decided to settle on -7 which looks pretty good
I haven't gone and shot anything properly other than bits and pieces around the house but so far AF looks to be pretty bang on every time at every distance now
I would be carefull doing a blanket AFMA as it will change the distance for all focal lengths and in my case i only needed to correct the 1 distance in the mid focus range as MFD and inifinity were fine.
I think the sigma dock is a better way to go for this If i can be bothered or need to check more i'll run it through focal and see what it comes back with and i'll test the lens on a bunch more bodies (another 5Dmk3 a couple of 5Dmk2 a 1Dmk3 and 600D and EOS-M)
once i've done some serious shooting I'll get back but so far it looks good !
so i just tried the sigma dock first
it gives you the ability to change 4 distances
MFD 0.4m
0.7m
1.5m
and infinity
I knew i was happy with infinity from the city shots the other night in shanghai
I was fairly sure it was pretty good at MFD but checked anyway and shot a bunch at 0.7 and 1.5
MFD was 100% ok
i had a couple of wacky mis focuses at 0.7 but most were spot on so i decided to leave 0.7 as is
but 1.5 showed consistant front focus of 40 to 50mm so i dialed in -10 in the sigma software and the front focus got worse (looks like its not intuitive you need to dial in + to correct front focus and - to correct back focus
)so i dialled in -10 now it look a little back focused so i dialled it down to -5 and it was a bit front focusing still so I decided to settle on -7 which looks pretty good
I haven't gone and shot anything properly other than bits and pieces around the house but so far AF looks to be pretty bang on every time at every distance now
I would be carefull doing a blanket AFMA as it will change the distance for all focal lengths and in my case i only needed to correct the 1 distance in the mid focus range as MFD and inifinity were fine.
I think the sigma dock is a better way to go for this If i can be bothered or need to check more i'll run it through focal and see what it comes back with and i'll test the lens on a bunch more bodies (another 5Dmk3 a couple of 5Dmk2 a 1Dmk3 and 600D and EOS-M)
once i've done some serious shooting I'll get back but so far it looks good !
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Got my 50mm 1.4 art one week ago (Norway, FotoVideo.no)
After one week of use with 5d mk III my intuitive impression was that focus accuracy was quite OK at infinity, but not perfect. However, at closer distance it was very much off.
Using the USB-dock I experimented with test shots for a couple of hours, ending up with the following adjustments:
0.4 m : +15
0.7 m : +14
1.5 m : +7
infinity: +1
I based the adjustments mainly on comparing live view focusing with normal AF, trying to make focus hit the same way with mirror up and mirror down. Live view focus with mirror up was of course extremely consistent, but slow. Normal AF with mirror down varied a bit in some test shots, but not noticeable more than what I was seeing when calibrating focus on my Canon 70-200 2.8L IS mk II.
As you probably realise, the adjustments I ended up with is not something that could have been corrected only by micro adjustment in the 5D mk III.
Portraits shot near 0.7 m and 1.5 m seems to hit with focus around 75% of the time for me at aperture f/1.4, after adjusting focus with Sigma USB-dock. Before adjusting it was not focusing well at these distances.
I have only been shooting in good light, although with heavily back lit subjects (shooting more or less into the sun).
the 25% misses are probably my mistake, dealing with moving subjects or me moving. The misses on the 25% were only slight misses, with somewhat blurred eyes, and quite even spread where sharp focus had hit either just behind or just in front of the eyes.
DoF at f/1.4 is so narrow that subject motion or camera motion easily makes the shot OoF.
I only have one other lens, the Canon 70-200 2.8L IS mk II. For me there is no practical difference in focus speed and accuracy between that high end tele zoom and the Sigma 50 art. Shooting at f/2.8 at 200 mm gives me about the same focus hit ratio (75%) with the Canon and the Sigma 50 art at f/1.4, when shooting at high enough shutter speeds to eliminate camera shake and subject motion blur. Both lenses has been focus micro adjusted. Probably, I am guilty of some slight recomposition after focus confirmation, risking an OoF shot while trying to improve image composition.
As I said above, I think the 25% misses that I experience is mainly due to subject motion or camera motion in the time from focus confirmation to shot taken. It is really difficult to judge when not using a tripod, and when the subjects are people that move around a bit. To me, the AF and sharpness in Sigma 50mm 1.4 Art lens really gives confidence so far, just like my Canon 70-200 2.8L IS mk II.
It is fantastically sharp at f/1.4, and gets even slightly sharper when stopped down a bit
. I will probably use it at 1.4 most of the time, as it is more than sharp enough for my use, and I like the blurred backgrounds at this aperture.
Just keep in mind, if I had to use this lens without adjusting focus in Sigma USB-dock, I would have been extremely unhappy with the performance, and probably would have returned it within the first week of use. In my opinion, it is no point buying this lens without having access to the USB-dock, as it is a very high risk of focus inconsistency before correcting it in the USB dock.
After one week of use with 5d mk III my intuitive impression was that focus accuracy was quite OK at infinity, but not perfect. However, at closer distance it was very much off.
Using the USB-dock I experimented with test shots for a couple of hours, ending up with the following adjustments:
0.4 m : +15
0.7 m : +14
1.5 m : +7
infinity: +1
I based the adjustments mainly on comparing live view focusing with normal AF, trying to make focus hit the same way with mirror up and mirror down. Live view focus with mirror up was of course extremely consistent, but slow. Normal AF with mirror down varied a bit in some test shots, but not noticeable more than what I was seeing when calibrating focus on my Canon 70-200 2.8L IS mk II.
As you probably realise, the adjustments I ended up with is not something that could have been corrected only by micro adjustment in the 5D mk III.
Portraits shot near 0.7 m and 1.5 m seems to hit with focus around 75% of the time for me at aperture f/1.4, after adjusting focus with Sigma USB-dock. Before adjusting it was not focusing well at these distances.
I have only been shooting in good light, although with heavily back lit subjects (shooting more or less into the sun).
the 25% misses are probably my mistake, dealing with moving subjects or me moving. The misses on the 25% were only slight misses, with somewhat blurred eyes, and quite even spread where sharp focus had hit either just behind or just in front of the eyes.
DoF at f/1.4 is so narrow that subject motion or camera motion easily makes the shot OoF.
I only have one other lens, the Canon 70-200 2.8L IS mk II. For me there is no practical difference in focus speed and accuracy between that high end tele zoom and the Sigma 50 art. Shooting at f/2.8 at 200 mm gives me about the same focus hit ratio (75%) with the Canon and the Sigma 50 art at f/1.4, when shooting at high enough shutter speeds to eliminate camera shake and subject motion blur. Both lenses has been focus micro adjusted. Probably, I am guilty of some slight recomposition after focus confirmation, risking an OoF shot while trying to improve image composition.
As I said above, I think the 25% misses that I experience is mainly due to subject motion or camera motion in the time from focus confirmation to shot taken. It is really difficult to judge when not using a tripod, and when the subjects are people that move around a bit. To me, the AF and sharpness in Sigma 50mm 1.4 Art lens really gives confidence so far, just like my Canon 70-200 2.8L IS mk II.
It is fantastically sharp at f/1.4, and gets even slightly sharper when stopped down a bit
. I will probably use it at 1.4 most of the time, as it is more than sharp enough for my use, and I like the blurred backgrounds at this aperture. Just keep in mind, if I had to use this lens without adjusting focus in Sigma USB-dock, I would have been extremely unhappy with the performance, and probably would have returned it within the first week of use. In my opinion, it is no point buying this lens without having access to the USB-dock, as it is a very high risk of focus inconsistency before correcting it in the USB dock.
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+1 for the docking, it is needed, no doubt.
I have winged my calibration so far and it depends very much on the "mood" of the lens, I can sometimes shoot 30 shots in a row on static subjects that are perfectly tack sharp, but then the next day at the same distance it just can't hit. It's a bit of a concern.
I will do FoCal calibration tonight at all the 4 distance and compare to my on the fly settings. And tomorrow I'll be doing more testing with more moving subjects. As of now I feel the tracking sometimes is REALLY good even at 1.4, but then I can go an hour without a sharp picture, again a bit of a worry for me.
I have winged my calibration so far and it depends very much on the "mood" of the lens, I can sometimes shoot 30 shots in a row on static subjects that are perfectly tack sharp, but then the next day at the same distance it just can't hit. It's a bit of a concern.
I will do FoCal calibration tonight at all the 4 distance and compare to my on the fly settings. And tomorrow I'll be doing more testing with more moving subjects. As of now I feel the tracking sometimes is REALLY good even at 1.4, but then I can go an hour without a sharp picture, again a bit of a worry for me.
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No one else got theirs yet?
I'm having a hard time with my 50... I have done FoCal at all the four distances and 4000 testshots and gone through a variety of my own adjustments, but nothing seems very stable and accurate. It seems really good for a while then I get nothing sharp, tracking so far is worse than the 1d3 and canon 50 f1.4...
One shot or Servo doesn't matter it's to unstable to really determine a front or back focus at any distance. About to throw in the towel..
I'm having a hard time with my 50... I have done FoCal at all the four distances and 4000 testshots and gone through a variety of my own adjustments, but nothing seems very stable and accurate. It seems really good for a while then I get nothing sharp, tracking so far is worse than the 1d3 and canon 50 f1.4...
One shot or Servo doesn't matter it's to unstable to really determine a front or back focus at any distance. About to throw in the towel..
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It seems to me that you have done a lot more with yours than I have so far. I have only done FoCal on app. 2 meters and so far everything seems to be working well on all distances. I will put it through some more challenging light and subject situations and see.Viggo said:
In fact, what I have seen so far is good enough for me to question whether I should keep the Otus or not. But that requires stable and reliable autofocus.
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used the dock?Viggo said:
i dont think a general focal and afma is the way to go ith this lens
see my previous post regarding my copy
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wickidwombat said:
See my posts two posts up
I have done FoCal at all 4 distances that can be adjusted via docking.
0.4m = +1
0,7m = +17
1,5m = +10
Infinity = 0
It seems quite good in daylight, although it's raining today and that plays havoc with AF. But in tungsten indoors is really poor.
But again, that could change in an hour. It's no clear cut miss to the front or back.
*EDIT* Care to share the AF settings you guys use
With it?
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did you check you measured your distances from the target to the mark on the top of the camera that marks the sensir plane like a O with a line through it and not the front of the lens?
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This all sounds a bit alarming to me. As someone who's very much into 'plug & play' I think I'll be sticking to Canon; hurry up with the EF 50 1.8 IS
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wickidwombat said:
FoCal tells me the distance, but also double checked with the distance scale on the lens.
Tried it more outside today, and it's the same story, I can shoot 30 shots, refocused in between, and it is VERY sharp and clearly spot on. Then turn around at another distance, go back to the first and it just won't lock no matter what I do. And it's not always about the distance, but some subjects I just won't focus on, and then it will. Impossible to get consistent hit or miss.
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I just wonder.....I do not own the Canon 50mm f/1.4 or Canon f/1.2......are they always spot on with the autofocus? I assume you have to AFMA with those as well. And they may differ in copies.
I am going to pickup my Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art tomorrow. I am very curious about the quality of my copy. Anyhow I ordered the dock based on experiences here. I may go into Focal AFMA on Friday
I am going to pickup my Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art tomorrow. I am very curious about the quality of my copy. Anyhow I ordered the dock based on experiences here. I may go into Focal AFMA on Friday
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sgtpepper said:It is fantastically sharp at f/1.4, and gets even slightly sharper when stopped down a bit
Just keep in mind, if I had to use this lens without adjusting focus in Sigma USB-dock, I would have been extremely unhappy with the performance, and probably would have returned it within the first week of use. In my opinion, it is no point buying this lens without having access to the USB-dock, as it is a very high risk of focus inconsistency before correcting it in the USB dock.
Wow, good to know! Thanks for this post.
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zlatko said:
Imagine a company like Sigma deciding to make something like the unprecedented USB dock. How many consumer complaints, lens returns, and bad publicity it must have taken to force Sigma to market the usb dock, which is meant to accomplish things that should have been done at the factory :'(
Even with the USB dock, it seems like there are copies out there that have AF that "drifts" over time and are consistent even after the dock adjustments. Having dealt with Sigma service before, all I would say is buy it from a store that will let you return/refund without too much hassle.
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