Sigma 50mm Art 1.4 Focusing problems

[rs]

All Sigma lenses have focusing problems! I had two of the a 24-700 and 70-200 last versions - I sent them to be calibrated with my body and then everything was ok.

This is FALSE. I have two Sigma lenses that have had no focusing problems. (I don't consider improving AF accuracy with in-camera AFMA to be part of a "problem.")

But the 50 Art that I received did have erratic, unreliable AF that could not be helped with AFMA.

So, if online chatter can lead to Sigma fixing the problem, we aren't helping by using sweeping, ranting statements such as "All Sigma lenses have focusing problems!"

I stated this before and say this again: I did not and do not have AF problems with my 50Art. And I agree with YuengLinger. It is wrong to make statements like "All Sigma lenses have focusing problems!" - it is not true. Sigma did a great job with the Art series.

+1

My second copy of the Sigma 50/1.4 (non Art) focuses very accurately and consistently. The same can't be said of the first though :

 

[thestructured]

I put in my order for a FOURTH sigma 50 art. Unfortunately, from 47th street photo who is selling them at an inflated price, but whatever, I don't care much about $100 difference IF I get a good, consistently working copy.

Back to my original post, where I said copy #2 was fine; it was fine in that all focus points were accurate unlike copy #1 and #3 where using any outer points results in front focusing- I just got done editing the first wedding I used #2 at and there are so many out of focus shots that it's embarrassing. I guess it wasn't a perfect copy after all. It seemed to have a particularly bad time with servo focusing. I hope sigma can make this all better with a firmware update.

And to those of you still talking about AFMA; the reason that won't help in this case is because the focus is only off when using outer focus points, and mostly accurate when using center points (I've found that any of the center cluster on the 5d3 works, not just the middle one). AFMA to fix the outer points will make the center points off. I've tried it on both, you cannot fix it.

Having said that, my sigma 35 art is very, very reliable. I love that friggen lens. Even servo focusing in the dark with outer 6d single orientation points consistently gives me in focus photos. It helps that the DOF at 35mm is greater than at 50mm, of course.

crossing my fingers for 50 art #4.....

for those of you that do not have problems, here are some files of center focus points vs outer ones. You can see the shift in focus to the front, and it's just enough to give you OOF photos.

 

[YuengLinger]

Based on seat of my pants calculations it seems like these lenses have a problem in about one out of three cases. Does that seem fair?

 

[mrsfotografie]

I have an original Sigma 5Omm f/1.4 and it focuses just fine on my 5DIII. Out of the box no adjustments.
I also own a Sigma 35mm Art and it performed just fine right out of the box as well. No adjustments.

+1

 

[wickidwombat]

Based on seat of my pants calculations it seems like these lenses have a problem in about one out of three cases. Does that seem fair?

not really you are taking an extremely small sample group from an internet forum there are probably many many more buyers that dont come here who knows what their experiences are

got to love internet induced fear and mass hysteria....

 

[Loswr]

Based on seat of my pants calculations it seems like these lenses have a problem in about one out of three cases. Does that seem fair?

not really you are taking an extremely small sample group from an internet forum there are probably many many more buyers that dont come here who knows what their experiences are

True. That's the problem with a small, non-representative sample size like CR forums. For all we know, it could be that everyone in the world who has gotten a good Sigma lens is posting here, and 99.99% of lenses out there have problems.

 

[wickidwombat]

Based on seat of my pants calculations it seems like these lenses have a problem in about one out of three cases. Does that seem fair?

not really you are taking an extremely small sample group from an internet forum there are probably many many more buyers that dont come here who knows what their experiences are

True. That's the problem with a small, non-representative sample size like CR forums. For all we know, it could be that everyone in the world who has gotten a good Sigma lens is posting here, and 99.99% of lenses out there have problems.

haha entirely possible

I have 3 sigma lenses actually had 4 including the previous sigma 50 which i gave away after i got the art but it was pretty flakey on my bodies however it seemed fine on my wifes 5Dmk3 though...

the 85 which i love was my first and out of the box it was horribly back focusing the the degree of the 13 adjustment in AFMA, i sent it in to sigma and it was back in under week and was spot on i dont have that lens set to any AFMA value on any camera and its been used on 2 5Dmk2 bodies 2 5Dmk3 a 1Dmk3 a 600D a 550D and 2 different EOS-M bodies all are fine. it does however miss focus occasionally but not very often.

the 35 was perfect out of the box is amazing tracks so fast is incredibly accurate and just mindblowingly good it just never misses. EVER

the 50 ART was off and i knew it as soon as i picked it up in the store nut hey it was the first and only copy in china so i didnt have alot of choice, i bought the dock and calibrated it and it seems fine but it still misses sometimes but is FAR and away more reliable than the 50 1.4 canon or sigma old version or the 1.8 canon (I never bought the 1.2 but tried it many times and never could feel it was worth the price)
after calibration the 50 ART is pretty great and I've been using it alot its an amazing piece of glass especially considering the price.

So while i'm a fan of sigma primes I full agree that they definitely have a high frequency of issues out of the box but with some perseverance these can be fixed.

 

[gruhl28]

Since it is the camera that determines whether something is in focus or not, can someone explain to me how it is that some lenses could focus inconsistently but others focus consistently on the same camera body? I can understand the need for AFMA if the focus sensor isn't in the same plane as the image sensor, but how can there be inconsistency with some lenses and not others?

 

[Stephen Melvin]

Back when I was shooting APS format cameras, I found myself buying a number of Sigma lenses, because Canon wasn't making what I needed. I want to say about 4 or 5. Each and every one had focusing issues. The 18-50 f/2.8 started front focusing on one end and back focusing on the other, about two years after I bought it (this was long before Canon brought out the 17-55). The 30 f/1.4 always back focused (and this was years before AFMA). I did a lot of manual guesswork with that one.

The 50-150 f/2.8 always back focused. I got into a routine where I would turn the focusing ring a little after AF was done. Worked pretty well.

Then I got a 7D and did an AFMA of +20 (!) and suddenly this became a gorgeous lens.

And then the flex board went out on it and it wouldn't AF at all. That was an expensive fix.

My 12-24 FF lens was fine, but that was probably the deep DOF and soft IQ.

Glad to see Sigma is nothing if not consistent. Never had a problem with a Tokina (love their lenses!!) or Tamron. Hell, even my cheap Phoenix macro gave me no issues, ever. But Sigma? I'm done.

 

[thestructured]

I got my 4th copy of the sigma art today.


Same problem, again.

Not sure whether to just hold onto it and use center focusing only until they release a firmware update or make the software to fix this in their service centers, to try a 5th copy, or to just give up.

As for 'just a few of us on the net coming here to complain'..... the few of us here have had this problem with multiple copies coming from multiple dealers. Getting one would be unlucky, getting 5 with the same problem is a manufacturing problem.

 

[wickidwombat]

I got my 4th copy of the sigma art today.


Same problem, again.

Not sure whether to just hold onto it and use center focusing only until they release a firmware update or make the software to fix this in their service centers, to try a 5th copy, or to just give up.

As for 'just a few of us on the net coming here to complain'..... the few of us here have had this problem with multiple copies coming from multiple dealers. Getting one would be unlucky, getting 5 with the same problem is a manufacturing problem.

have you tried calibrating it with the sigma dock?

 

[thestructured]

have you tried calibrating it with the sigma dock?
[/quote]

Again, as I've stated previously, along with the others having this problem, it cannot be user calibrated because it's only off center points having the issue and any calibration gets applied to all focus points, throwing the center point(s) out. Neither in camera AFMA nor the sigma dock can fix this issue, and sigma service has stated that they cannot fix it either until the sigma corporation finishes writing the software necessary to do it with (note: they said it's software to be used at the service centers, so it will still not be a user serviceable issue). At least it sounds like they are working towards making it fixable, god knows how long that will take.

 

[mrsfotografie]

have you tried calibrating it with the sigma dock?

Again, as I've stated previously, along with the others having this problem, it cannot be user calibrated because it's only off center points having the issue and any calibration gets applied to all focus points, throwing the center point(s) out. Neither in camera AFMA nor the sigma dock can fix this issue, and sigma service has stated that they cannot fix it either until the sigma corporation finishes writing the software necessary to do it with (note: they said it's software to be used at the service centers, so it will still not be a user serviceable issue). At least it sounds like they are working towards making it fixable, god knows how long that will take.
[/quote]

Errrhhh... so you're saying Sigma needs to calibrate the calibration dock?

 

[YuengLinger]

So where else is this lens being discussed in English? Sigma Rumors looks like nothing but a promo site.

B&H reviews are all 4 & 5 stars, don't see chatter about the AF problems. Amazon has a few mentions of the AF woes, but I bet those are from CR members!

As for those here buying up to 4 copies to find a good one, consider this: If you are able to order and receive one within a week or two, you are almost certainly getting one that has been exchanged, meaning you are increasing your chances of getting another bad one.

I'm hoping Sigma comes clean and publicizes the fix(es) when and if.

I'm also hoping Canon comes up with new version of the 50 1.2 in the meantime.

I'm full of hope.

 

[infared]

I bought one at B&H and it front-focused and was all over the place with the focus, even with the dock I could not get it to focus In all zones..plus, I was wasting my life away doing someone eles's job! LOL.
I called B&H up, got an RMA and a return label and had them send me another copy. No problem & no cost to me.
Surprisingly this lens seems like it is right on the mark with the AF in all zones right out of the box...I am going to run it through some paces tomorrow, but I think this one is a keeper, which is great, because it is soooooooo sharp wide open! ;D. The bokeh seems better to me than the reviews that I read,also.

 

[LovePhotography]

Is this also a problem with 6D bodies, or primarily 5DIII's? Thx

 

[Eldar]

Is this also a problem with 6D bodies, or primarily 5DIII's? Thx

I have had two copies, which have been tested on 5D, 5DII, 5DIII and 1DX. The lenses performed the same way on all bodies. The first copy was totally off and useless. The second was better, but still sufficiently unstable to be useless. I have now returned it and got my money back. I also have a 35/1.4 Art. Same problem there, with unstable AF. I bought the dock to try to help out the situation, but you cannot adjust for instability.

I do not understand how Sigma can continue to ship these lenses to customers. Their quality control is clearly insufficient and unless something radical happens and it is well documented, I have bought my last Sigma. I really wanted the 50 Art, because of the optical performance, which, when focus is right, is outstanding.

 

[infared]

I have a 35mm Art as well and it was great right out of the box. ..I plan on keeping both lenses as they (when working as designed) are incredible creative tools...but I have to agree, Sigma needs to do that last 10% and get a serious grip on quality control??? It is nonsense to spend $950 on a 50mm lens and then have to wonder and test and calibrate to see if your particular copy is worth keeping.
I wonder what was the cause of the extreme difference I had between my two copies of the lens???? Perplexing to say the least. ..I am wowed when I look at the images that the lens can create, so the whole situation is a shame for all of us.

 

[pwp]

I have never owned a Sigma lens with focusing problems. But then...I've never owned a Sigma lens.

I have tried a couple, and found the focus to be erratic on both.

I think it's fair to say that some lenses have focus issues, across all brands. The proportion of those problematic lenses does seem higher with Sigma.

I had the original Sigma 50mm f/1.4 and it was so erratic I never built enough trust in it to actually use it on a job. Sometimes it was crazy sharp even under f/2. I had high hopes for the 50mm Art, but it looks like a no-go too.

But it's not just Sigma. My most erratic lens is the occasionally awesome 24 f/1.4II. I really wanted to love this lens, but it's in the same class as my Sigma 50 f/1.4...can't be trusted on a paying job.

-pw

 

[switters]

Again, as I've stated previously, along with the others having this problem, it cannot be user calibrated because it's only off center points having the issue and any calibration gets applied to all focus points, throwing the center point(s) out. Neither in camera AFMA nor the sigma dock can fix this issue, and sigma service has stated that they cannot fix it either until the sigma corporation finishes writing the software necessary to do it with (note: they said it's software to be used at the service centers, so it will still not be a user serviceable issue). At least it sounds like they are working towards making it fixable, god knows how long that will take.

Interesting. I just came to the forum to post exactly the same issue with the 35A I have. My first two copies were so far off that I had to return them; I used both FoCal and the dock to calibrate them, but they couldn't even focus properly with center point and a focus target with camera mounted on a tripod.

My third copy is much better. I was able to use the dock along with FoCal to get it consistent using center-point focus, though it did need large adjustments (something like +9, +5, +4, +3 IIRC).

However, when using outer focus points, it's ridiculously off. It will focus on an object a foot in front of what I'm actually focusing on—it's not even close. For example, I took some shots of my daughter sitting on the couch holding a friend's newborn on her lap. Even though I was focusing on my daughter's eyes (with a cross-focus point a little left and above center), the lens decided to focus on the baby's face... which was a good 8-10" in front of my daughter's eyes, and at least 12-16" below.

Like everyone else, I am blown away by the sharpness and clarity of the 35A when it hits. But being forced to use the center focus point in order to get those results is a dealbreaker. 90% of the pictures I take are of people that are moving. Focus and recompose is not an option.

So I am selling my 35A and buying a 35 IS. And as excited as I was about the 50A, I'm going to pass on that as well. Still hoping Canon will come out with a 50 IS or revamped 50/1.4. In the meantime, may just skip up to the 85/1.8 and have a 35/85 combo with two small, compact lenses. This appeals to me because my main workhorses are the 24-70 II and the 70–200 IS.