New Sigma 35mm f/1.4 HSM DG

and now the other half

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oh and forgot to mention the shutter was at either 1/4000, 1/5000 or 1/6400 all have ISO 100 and at f/1.4

Hello everyone! I just accidentally posted my question on the Sample Image forum, so I will repost it here, since this should be the right place:

I've bought this lens a couple of days ago and been having very bad results with focussing. Almost all my shots are front focused and I wasn't sure if it was the lens or the camera.

However, I'm still not sure. I own the 550D (I know it's a beginner's camera but should still focus just fine) and my partner the 600D. There don't seem to be any problems when using his camera, but on my camera there's some quite severe front focus.

So I figured: It's the camera.

But before sending my camera away, I ran some tests with my other lenses, since I never had the feeling that my pictures were not sharp in the right places. I tested my 50mm 1.8 mark II and it focuses absolutely fine! Also my 15-85 seems to be focused right where I want it to be. I didn't do extensive special tests, but simple tests on flowers, or objects that were just a little behind each other to see if the focus was correct using just the center AF point. If I use the same test under the same circumstances with my Sigma 35 1.4, the focus is always in front of where it should be.

Does this sound more like a lens problem or a camera problem?
The only reason I started doubting my camera is since it's focusing fine on the 600D of my partner.

Any tips would be great! Too bad it's sunday tomorrow, because I would love to test another example of the lens in the store and see if the problems are the same.

Vixen89 wrote in post #15508626
Okay I'm starting to see what Cory and the rest mean by shooting past 10-15 ft for the environmental portraits. I completely forgot Dan's shots are 80-90% wide open and he's standing super far away to get the gorgeous backdrop that he always does! At least now I know what to test for and it's a nice bright and sunny Saturday.

Exactley, Then try it at a bit lower light. Maybe my expectations are a little high, but ....(see my reply to you next post)

Vixen89 wrote in post #15508775
oh and forgot to mention the shutter was at either 1/4000, 1/5000 or 1/6400 all have ISO 100 and at f/1.4

you are def. getting better results than I was. Most of those shots would have been OOF with the copy I had. Thank you very much for taking the time to put up those samples. I have been wanting to see basic test shots such as these taken at those distances to compare to what I was getting. Mine would have been all over the place and would have had no chance on focusing on power line and the such. THanks

Again, is there anything I can test with my copy for you guys? I'm stuck at home and the alternative is reading and I don't feel like it.

Maverique wrote in post #15509048
Again, is there anything I can test with my copy for you guys? I'm stuck at home and the alternative is reading and I don't feel like it.

Sure! Go outside and crack off a few shots at 5-10 meters at 1.4-1.6 and show us how the focus is. POst it up like Vixen did. Thanks!

Storm outside. No.

Hi Cory sorry for being not up to date, but you've returned yours for another copy? What is the exact problem? I thought you are the one that says don't worry and just go out and shoot?

I need to test mine more..but like I've presented mne definitely front focusing......

Typical Sigma, looks like sigmalux all over again...

I shot a couple longer shots wide open and at 5.6 or so to see if there was any difference. There of coarse is! It's all right though I bought this lens for portraits mostly and if I take a low light landscape type shot I will use a tripod. Looking at my other shots today (I took mostly shots based on testing the wide open beyond 10ft problems) I think its going to be acceptable stopped down to 2.8 or so at longer distances. Most landscapes lens are not that fast anyway.
Honestly I wont deny that the lens has a problem here, but I would have probably never noticed on my own. I just can't think of situation where I would purposely shoot a landscape type shot at f1.4, but than again my fastest lens before this was only 2.8.

Sample

Fuhrtographer wrote in post #15509235
I shot a couple longer shots wide open and at 5.6 or so to see if there was any difference. There of coarse is! It's all right though I bought this lens for portraits mostly and if I take a low light landscape type shot I will use a tripod. Looking at my other shots today (I took mostly shots based on testing the wide open beyond 10ft problems) I think its going to be acceptable stopped down to 2.8 or so at longer distances. Most landscapes lens are not that fast anyway.
Honestly I wont deny that the lens has a problem here, but I would have probably never noticed on my own. I just can't think of situation where I would purposely shoot a landscape type shot at f1.4, but than again my fastest lens before this was only 2.8.

Pretty much my thoughts on it. I feel mildly irritated my £800 lens can't focus properly beyond 30 feet. Be nice if Sigma could sort this stuff out.. But will it actually affect my photography? probably not - like you i probably would never had noticed if i hadn't read this thread and gone looking for it.

All images taken on a tripod, these are examples of my lens up close, far away, with normal AF and with live view AF, at f1.4 and at f8.


Normal AF. F1.4 15-20 ft (Full Image)

Normal AF. F1.4. ~100ft. Focus on doorway. (Full Image)

kin2son wrote in post #15509165
Hi Cory sorry for being not up to date, but you've returned yours for another copy? What is the exact problem? I thought you are the one that says don't worry and just go out and shoot?

I need to test mine more..but like I've presented mne definitely front focusing......

Typical Sigma, looks like sigmalux all over again...

Yes, returned...see my posts for my reasons....front focus maily, what else?...Indeed I have said go out and shoot. Initial testing is cool, all of us will do this. But if it seems okay, I don't usually keep testing to look for problems. My problems all kept arising while doing just that, everyday shooting. I didn't go lookin for problems, they found me! Hoping for the best with the next one, I only need one good one, then I'm outa this thread!! In the meantime, nothing else to do at work but hang around in here!

RMH wrote in post #15509371
Pretty much my thoughts on it. I feel mildly irritated my £800 lens can't focus properly beyond 30 feet. Be nice if Sigma could sort this stuff out.. But will it actually affect my photography? probably not - like you i probably would never had noticed if i hadn't read this thread and gone looking for it.

I had a number specific occasions that I wanted cool shots of my daughter in a certain settnig. She would be maybe 20-30ft out. Mine would not land the shot no matter what. I kept blowing it off because I don't normally shoot like that. But it kept happening. Then I noticed it was happening, just more sporadically at closer distances. Back it went. I'm with you, I just want a 900 dollar lens to focus where it should when I want it to. Wide open or stopped down. When stopped down it is still OOF, that doesn't help if the focus is off. yes the Dof is greater, but it is not dead on.

drZenitram, yours looks great! I would not do another test. I want one like that. Mine would have been WAY oof in those shots.

I feel the same way. Don't get me wrong it's great value, but the AF is inconsistent and I just didn't want the trouble of it all. Going to try and stick with Canon from now on.

AlanU wrote in post #15508350
Ok. I see you have a logo "Kinson C Photography." If your going to shoot an event as a paid professional or as a sideline as a semi professional will you trust your S35? Your next copy will you trust it too?? I found in dynamic lighting situations is where Sigma rears its ugly random oof AF issues. Hard to explain clients you wanted to save money on a sigma instead of a 35L. Landing the shot with excellent composition is equally as important on focusing on the subject :P

So far some have called me a Sigma "hater". Of all of my Sigma prime lenses I've purchased I've never had a solid performer.


This random focusing issues is why I am vocal about my personal tests with the Sigma primes. The AF issues are quite real and not over blown Internet talk.

I can see people quietly shifting to a different canon lens after all this excitement blows over. Sigma still cant fix the high percentages of sigmadud 50mm af issues "BUT" maybe there's a glimmer of hope with this "new tech" design of the Sig 35mm.

I only get bad misses due to user error. So far I've been extremely pleased with my canon lenses when accuracy is concerned.