Is the Sigma 50mm 1.4 REALLY soft at 1.4?

I just received a Siggy 50/1.4 in the mail today from Amazon Warehouse. I need to test for the usual front/back focusing, but I've taken about 60 shots at f/1.4-2.8. The lens seems fine at 1.8-2.8, but VERY soft at 1.4. Is this typical for this lens? It's almost unusable, and I'm wondering why I shouldn't return it for a Canon 50/1.8. I was really looking for a useable 1.4.

No, its sharper than canon 50 1.4. You got a bad copy.

WT21 wrote in post #15037083
I just received a Siggy 50/1.4 in the mail today from Amazon Warehouse. I need to test for the usual front/back focusing, but I've taken about 60 shots at f/1.4-2.8. The lens seems fine at 1.8-2.8, but VERY soft at 1.4. Is this typical for this lens? It's almost unusable, and I'm wondering why I shouldn't return it for a Canon 50/1.8. I was really looking for a useable 1.4.

Have you tried your 50 1.8 at f1.8? Mine is pretty incredibly soft wide open. Frankly, it doesn't get sharp until f8 or so.
And, of course it doesn't give you anything at 1.4

I don't have personal experience with the sigma 1.4 but I think if it is "fine" at 1.8-2.8 you've got a pretty good lens there.

I don't have a 1.8 anymore. I'll try to post some samples. Maybe my expectations are too high, or maybe I had a really great copy of the 1.8 I shouldn't have let go. The variables can be killer sometimes.

WT21 wrote in post #15037083
I just received a Siggy 50/1.4 in the mail today from Amazon Warehouse. I need to test for the usual front/back focusing, but I've taken about 60 shots at f/1.4-2.8. The lens seems fine at 1.8-2.8, but VERY soft at 1.4. Is this typical for this lens? It's almost unusable, and I'm wondering why I shouldn't return it for a Canon 50/1.8. I was really looking for a useable 1.4.

I have tested 4 copies of Sigma 50mm, all were horrible. They all suffer from similar out of focus/softness issues, I will never buy any Sigma product (I tried other lenses from them as well, they all had similar issue).

Just remember this, it's hard to accept for most people, but if its too good to be true, its usually too good to be true. There is a reason why canon costs 2 or 3 times as much. This is the kind of stuff you have to deal with when you buy from Sigma.

My Canon 50f1.4 is fine at f1.4 and f1.6.
You may have another fuzzy/problem lens.

The Canon 50/1.4 and Sigma 50/1.4 are about the same price used. I head heard the Sigma had better bokeh, and I know from previous that the Canon had some AF fail issues over the years, so I decided to try the Sigma. The bokeh seems pretty smooth, but I'll have to test the AF.

On second look, it might have been inside it's MFD, which I thought it wouldn't have allowed the shutter to click, but it did. Also, I see sometimes I fell below the 1/focal length shutter speed rule of thumb, so that's my fault. I'll have to try some more rigorous testing.

TheLensGuy wrote in post #15037284
Just remember this, it's hard to accept for most people, but if its too good to be true, its usually too good to be true. There is a reason why canon costs 2 or 3 times as much. This is the kind of stuff you have to deal with when you buy from Sigma.

the canon 50mm f1.4 costs $100 less than the sigma 50mm f1.4....

IF it isn't sharp your very likely front or back focusing. Your copy is probably bad like majority of all sigma 50mm.

The lens is kinda of funny. I notice when it locks focus, the focus point (I use center focus on my 5D pretty much exclusively) flashes twice, but there is a longer than normal pause between the first flash and the second.

As I just repurchased back into Canon, and this is my only lens at present, comparisons are based on memory and old pictures from my lightroom database.

What camera body do you have? Try to micro-adjust it if your camera has that feature or get it calibrated. I'm sure you will be happy after it's calibrated.

5Dc, no M.A.

its pretty good but it really shines at f2-f2.8

It's sharp wide open, so long as you send it in to get calibrated.

Post photos so we can see what you're talking about...