Review: Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens

metacove said:
I have the Sigma 35 Art and the dock. They do allow you to program in different AFMA values at 4 different distances. Like 6", 18", 4', Infinity. I was able to really "dial" in my lens using their dock. Plus I get future firmware upgrades.

I suggest getting the dock just for future proofing the product.

How does dialing the different values for different distances work for multiple bodies? Is 1 set of Sigma dock distance values good for all bodies, or does it have to be done and recorded for each body?
 
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guys, how do you upload raw files? i tested the lens for some focus problems with the focus test chart...

i guess i have a good copy, or my camera body likes the lens...

i did 8 shots, flash assisted tests, flash failed 2 shots, but the focus is still spot on. I used center focus on 5d mark II.
 
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I found the time to run it through Focal today. In general I was a bit skeptical when I saw the spread/setting. Compared to for example the 85/1.2L II, it was not good. But I have now shot about 100 single shots (AF set to one shot) and almost every single one has been properly focused. Every shot has been at f1.4 and the majority has been shot indoors in not-well-lit surroundings. I was really skeptical, given my not so good experience with the 35 Art, but in stead I am actually quite impressed. But I was impressed with the 35 also. It took some time before I got quite inconsistent results, so I´ll await the champagne popping for a while.

I hope to have time this weekend to shoot something worth posting. I´ll also try to find time to do some direct comparison with the Otus.
 
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Eldar said:
I found the time to run it through Focal today. In general I was a bit skeptical when I saw the spread/setting. Compared to for example the 85/1.2L II, it was not good. But I have now shot about 100 single shots (AF set to one shot) and almost every single one has been properly focused. Every shot has been at f1.4 and the majority has been shot indoors in not-well-lit surroundings. I was really skeptical, given my not so good experience with the 35 Art, but in stead I am actually quite impressed. But I was impressed with the 35 also. It took some time before I got quite inconsistent results, so I´ll await the champagne popping for a while.

I hope to have time this weekend to shoot something worth posting. I´ll also try to find time to do some direct comparison with the Otus.

Same here, I went away from the FoCal values and went out shooting and dialed in a setting I felt was good, and it's been very good, I accept some fails just because, but I don't think my 50 L's were that much better. I'll buy the docking and have a go at the fine tuning, but so far, REALLY happy my money went into this lens. I missed a great 50 and the performance is stunning. And to able to shoot up close and a 50 with no distortion is a loong wait finally over.

If you're on the fence, just go for it!
 
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Random Orbits said:
metacove said:
I have the Sigma 35 Art and the dock. They do allow you to program in different AFMA values at 4 different distances. Like 6", 18", 4', Infinity. I was able to really "dial" in my lens using their dock. Plus I get future firmware upgrades.

I suggest getting the dock just for future proofing the product.

How does dialing the different values for different distances work for multiple bodies? Is 1 set of Sigma dock distance values good for all bodies, or does it have to be done and recorded for each body?

The dock makes changes to the lens regardless of what it is mounted to. I have found that once I set it up using one body that its been good on others. I do have a case where my 120-300 is proper on 2 70d's and a 40d but was backfocused a bit at 300 on the 6d. Instead of reprogramming the lens I just set the afma on the camera to-5 on the tele end and its fine.

So to me the calibration you do with the dock is something that I think should have been done at the factory. Anyhoo, the dock is very useful but it does irritate me that its necessary in the first place
 
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Eldar said:
I found the time to run it through Focal today. In general I was a bit skeptical when I saw the spread/setting. Compared to for example the 85/1.2L II, it was not good. But I have now shot about 100 single shots (AF set to one shot) and almost every single one has been properly focused. Every shot has been at f1.4 and the majority has been shot indoors in not-well-lit surroundings. I was really skeptical, given my not so good experience with the 35 Art, but in stead I am actually quite impressed. But I was impressed with the 35 also. It took some time before I got quite inconsistent results, so I´ll await the champagne popping for a while.

I hope to have time this weekend to shoot something worth posting. I´ll also try to find time to do some direct comparison with the Otus.

Music to my ears Eldar ;)

I need to sell my 50L first.... ;D
 
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Dylan777 said:
Eldar said:
I found the time to run it through Focal today. In general I was a bit skeptical when I saw the spread/setting. Compared to for example the 85/1.2L II, it was not good. But I have now shot about 100 single shots (AF set to one shot) and almost every single one has been properly focused. Every shot has been at f1.4 and the majority has been shot indoors in not-well-lit surroundings. I was really skeptical, given my not so good experience with the 35 Art, but in stead I am actually quite impressed. But I was impressed with the 35 also. It took some time before I got quite inconsistent results, so I´ll await the champagne popping for a while.

I hope to have time this weekend to shoot something worth posting. I´ll also try to find time to do some direct comparison with the Otus.

Music to my ears Eldar ;)

I need to sell my 50L first.... ;D

wow.. :) can't imagine you'll do that :) it's nice to hear that this lens is so capable
 
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razeac said:
Dylan777 said:
Eldar said:
I found the time to run it through Focal today. In general I was a bit skeptical when I saw the spread/setting. Compared to for example the 85/1.2L II, it was not good. But I have now shot about 100 single shots (AF set to one shot) and almost every single one has been properly focused. Every shot has been at f1.4 and the majority has been shot indoors in not-well-lit surroundings. I was really skeptical, given my not so good experience with the 35 Art, but in stead I am actually quite impressed. But I was impressed with the 35 also. It took some time before I got quite inconsistent results, so I´ll await the champagne popping for a while.

I hope to have time this weekend to shoot something worth posting. I´ll also try to find time to do some direct comparison with the Otus.

Music to my ears Eldar ;)

I need to sell my 50L first.... ;D

wow.. :) can't imagine you'll do that :) it's nice to hear that this lens is so capable

I was just kidding about selling my 50L :P

I'll order the 50 art and give it a try - decision will be made once I hand on both lenses ;)
 
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candc said:
The dock makes changes to the lens regardless of what it is mounted to. I have found that once I set it up using one body that its been good on others. I do have a case where my 120-300 is proper on 2 70d's and a 40d but was backfocused a bit at 300 on the 6d. Instead of reprogramming the lens I just set the afma on the camera to-5 on the tele end and its fine.

So to me the calibration you do with the dock is something that I think should have been done at the factory. Anyhoo, the dock is very useful but it does irritate me that its necessary in the first place

Did you find that the -5 on the 6D was good for all distances?
 
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Random Orbits said:
candc said:
The dock makes changes to the lens regardless of what it is mounted to. I have found that once I set it up using one body that its been good on others. I do have a case where my 120-300 is proper on 2 70d's and a 40d but was backfocused a bit at 300 on the 6d. Instead of reprogramming the lens I just set the afma on the camera to-5 on the tele end and its fine.

So to me the calibration you do with the dock is something that I think should have been done at the factory. Anyhoo, the dock is very useful but it does irritate me that its necessary in the first place

Did you find that the -5 on the 6D was good for all distances?

Yes, it seems to me the way it works best is that you use the dock to calibrate the focus and then its within the tolerances you would expect on a particular body. If you put the lens on another body you may get a slight front or back focus due to a bit different allignment between the camera and lens but its consistent and easily correctable with in camera afma. You could use the dock to recalibrate the lens on different bodies but then you would have to do that every time you change bodies. The lens does not recognize what body it is mounted on and set itself accordingly like the camera can do with different lenses.
 
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I am actually a bit surprised, reading of all of you still waiting for your delivery. Norway is a tiny country, with a population similar to downtown Chicago. But we got the Zeiss Otus very early and everyone I know who ordered the 50 Art over here has now received it. I would have thought B&H, Adorama and their peers would have been first in line.
 
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