Sigma wants my camera to calibrate 24-70 macro

[y33r]

I sent my 24-70 Macro for front focusing, they returned it and now it is back focusing when its at 24mm-35mm. It seems they over-corrected the front focusing.

I spoke with them today and they said I must send in my 30D so they can calibrate the lens to my camera. Has anyone ever sent their camera to Sigma for this type of calibration? I'm somewhat sketchy, but I want this lens to focus properly! :evil:

[4x4rock]

Hmmm... When I sent my 24-70 in for softness, they calibrated and never asked for the camera.

[PaulB]

If they can't calibrate the lens to be 'correct' by itself and they calibrate it to your camera then can you be sure that it will work on another body?
The whole idea of interchangable lenses is that every EF lens will work on any EF mount body.
Perhaps Sigma should be given another chance to calibrate their lens to the EF mount standard before they start wanting to mess around with your body.
Conversly get your body calibrated by Canon - they use a standard 'tool' lens to do this - then you know your body is OK and that it is definitly the Sigma at fault.

[y33r]

If they can't calibrate the lens to be 'correct' by itself and they calibrate it to your camera then can you be sure that it will work on another body?
The whole idea of interchangable lenses is that every EF lens will work on any EF mount body.
Perhaps Sigma should be given another chance to calibrate their lens to the EF mount standard before they start wanting to mess around with your body.
Conversly get your body calibrated by Canon - they use a standard 'tool' lens to do this - then you know your body is OK and that it is definitly the Sigma at fault.

I had my 30D check out by Canon to make sure it wasnt the problem, the lens still back focuses.

I agree with you, EF lenses should be interchangable and work. Sigma told me its because of "AF variation" between every camera. Give me a break, how much varaition could there be, besides the back focus is quite severe.

I will send in the lens again and include some photos to show them how it performs on my 30D.

[gasrocks]

Tell them you have more than one body and you expect it to work on all of them.

[y33r]

Tell them you have more than one body and you expect it to work on all of them.

Thats a good idea, but I hope they dont say "send all your bodies in". Thatd be freakin rediculous hahaha

[MeNiS]

this was the reason why i just returned my lens instead of sending it to sigma. i didn't want to deal with the trouble. i too had major focusing issues with the lens. it seem like a majority of people have to send their "new" lens to sigma to get it calibrate. i find that QC is unacceptable. but yes, the lens can be very sharp/great if you are lucky to get a good copy.

[Tsmith]

Its not unheard of even by Canon but usually the third party lens companies have the bodies already for testing is my thinking. Maybe Sigma hasn't invested in a 30D yet ... :lol:

[mbellot]

Its not unheard of even by Canon but usually the third party lens companies have the bodies already for testing is my thinking.

My understanding was that Canon wants everything (if you're seeing variable results) so that they can calibrate everything, but they do it all independantly - not as a "set".

They wanted my 20D, 17-85 and 70-200 IS back in January. Good thing too, turns out the 20D and 17-85 was out of cal and the 70-200 had a defective IS unit.


If the OP is not having issues with any other lenses (and in fact had the camera checked by Canon) I'd tell Sigma to stuff it.

[y33r]

I'll be mailing the lens only and I included a cd with a focus chart. They better not pull some BS with me or I will be contacting Sigma Japan and letting them know about their service.

I will keep everyone posted with the results...

[form]

I expect they'll be about as warm and friendly with you as they were with me.

I'm pretty sure they know very well what they put out as far as quality of service and QC.

[Cadwell]

Canon CPS service recently requested that I send my EOS 1DII camera body in after yet another aborted attempt to get my EF 135mm f/2L focusing correctly. I did explain to them beforehand that the camera focused correctly with all my other (10) Canon lenses, (2) Sigma lenses and (1) Tamron lens and that the EF 135L doesn't focus well with my 10D or a friend's 1DMkI.

Seems to be a common story from camera service centres.

The reality of the matter is this. The cameras are calibrated to focus within a certain tolerance as are the lenses. If the camera body is calibrated at one extreme of that tolerance and the lens is calibrated at the other then focus is not going to be optimal even though both units are nominally "in spec". That is why service centres sometimes ask for the body plus the lens. It's a normal request and they all do it. It is, of course, your call as to whether you want to send your camera in but I wouldn't knock Sigma for trying to do the best job they can for you.

[y33r]

I received the lens a few days ago (about a 2 week turn around) and it works PERFECT NOW. I didn't have to send in my camera like they requested.

They included a CD with focus charts and real world shots (I requested it). They took a few photo's of some lens boxes to show it was perfect focus. This lens is great and I think its well worth the trouble because its so cheap compared to Canon's and has same performance.

[Raymate]

I received the lens a few days ago (about a 2 week turn around) and it works PERFECT NOW. I didn't have to send in my camera like they requested.

They included a CD with focus charts and real world shots (I requested it). They took a few photo's of some lens boxes to show it was perfect focus. This lens is great and I think its well worth the trouble because its so cheap compared to Canon's and has same performance.

Thats good to hear . enjoy :)

[steved110]

It's just such a shame that they can't get it right the first time - I hate the thought of buying somethign that doesn't work properly, and having the worry and hassle of having to send it back.
I'm considering getting a Sigma 30 f/1.4 but this sort of story puts me off.

[Cadwell]

It's just such a shame that they can't get it right the first time - I hate the thought of buying somethign that doesn't work properly, and having the worry and hassle of having to send it back.
I'm considering getting a Sigma 30 f/1.4 but this sort of story puts me off.

So go and buy a Canon. It took them 10 weeks elapsed time and three return visits to calibrate my EF 100-400L IS USM correctly, 2 return visits and 6 weeks elapsed time to calibrate my EF 135mm f/2.0L properly. They had to replace my Ef 24-105mm f/4L because of a design flaw... They've had to fix faults on both my camera bodies... yeah... Canon get it right every single time. Mind you, I was lucky. I'm a CPS member so I get preferential treatment :lol:

[Mr. Clean]

Are you sure it's the lens?

Read this.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=202102

[y33r]

So I got my lens back a few weeks ago and it looked great, they even included a CD with focus charts.

The lens works fine, except at 24mm with subjects appx 8+ feet. It's basically hit & miss with the majority of it being miss. Now I dont know what to do because I need this lens to work for a cruise I'm on going.

The parfocal technique works, but I cant be doing that EACH time I want something 24mm. Any suggestions?

Oh and Mr. Clean, it is the same lens, 24-70 f2.8 ex dg maco