Nice test of Sigma's newly released lens calibration dock

Review on PetaPixel. Sounds like it will be a very useful tool on the new Sigma lenses.

Bob

Maybe they should invent a quality control position at their manufacturing plant that can maybe get the lenses done right the first time.

Thanks for that! Great link!

thanks for the link

4g63photo wrote in post #16019056
Maybe they should invent a quality control position at their manufacturing plant that can maybe get the lenses done right the first time.

Maybe Canon can do the same as my 50/1.2L required a -14 correction on my 6D.

The article was originally posted here: http://www.lensrentals​.com …mization-pro-and-usb-dock
(and I believe there is already a discussion topic started with this link)

4g63photo wrote in post #16019056
Maybe they should invent a quality control position at their manufacturing plant that can maybe get the lenses done right the first time.

May be they already have, I don't see many complaints regarding their newer class of lenses.
In fact, the new 35Art it the number one AF lens in 35mm for both Canon and Nikon mounts.

FWIW, My 2 Canon bodies are +5 AFMA different to each other.
My Canon L lenses also require AFMA adjustment, not better than Sigma.

Until now, the user only had the ability to adjust AF with in the capabilities of the body, some only allow adjustment at one focal length for zooms, others at both wide and long ends. Sigma has stepped up the ability for users to more accurately adjust lenses, by allowing far more points of adjustment.

4g63photo wrote in post #16019056
Maybe they should invent a quality control position at their manufacturing plant that can maybe get the lenses done right the first time.

Yeah I reckon Sigma gets an disproportionate amount of sprays* directed its way, even though Canon's QC over AF accuracy of Primes is shocking.

*I learnt recently that in the U.S. "to spray someone" has a very different meaning than in Australia. In Australia it means "yell or criticise" (spray denoting saliva from someone shouting) - that's the context I'm using it in

Not to mention, at an affordable price.
I wander what the price would be for a Canon dock should they ever follow this road?
$800?

4g63photo wrote in post #16019056
Maybe they should invent a quality control position at their manufacturing plant that can maybe get the lenses done right the first time.

They invented a calibration dock (for profit) and outsource quality control to end users (for free). Win-win.

morph2_7 wrote in post #16019415
They invented a calibration dock (for profit) and outsource quality control to end users (for free). Win-win.

The issue is not if QC is performed or not (it is), it's the issue of QC tolerances, and what tolerance is deemed acceptable or not

This link describes the issue of compounding errors (the summation of the +/- error from the camera and the lens)

http://www.lensrentals​.com …s-is-soft-and-other-myths

The USB dock is extremely valuable. I have a very good copy of the sigma 35. +0 MA and af is consistent in all light conditions. But since I bought the USB dock with the 35, I was compelled to use it. It's odd that you have to used the software's fixed distances of 12", 15" , 26" and infinity. Turns out that I calibrated my lens to +4,+6, +4, + 0. Now my sigma is tack sharp at MDF through infinity. My autofocus now is on par with live view focus at every distance except about the 3 feet range. At 3 feet, it is only a tad less sharp than with contrast detect focus. None of my lens can compete with contrast detect focus through the entire range of distances.

4g63photo wrote in post #16019056
Maybe they should invent a quality control position at their manufacturing plant that can maybe get the lenses done right the first time.

Yep...that is why Canon put MA into their cameras...because their lens are always bang on out of the box.

It is a great idea, and very poor implementation on the part of Sigma. There are no principal obstacles to making the dock connect to the lens attached to the camera (something like micro USB connector on the lens), so no need to switch the lens back and forth between the dock and camera (attached to tripod). If they did it right, one could write a software which would do the whole calibration fully automatically. Sigma missed a big opportunity here. Tamron might come out with the right way to do it.

pulsar123 wrote in post #16020021
It is a great idea, and very poor implementation on the part of Sigma. There are no principal obstacles to making the dock connect to the lens attached to the camera (something like micro USB connector on the lens), so no need to switch the lens back and forth between the dock and camera (attached to tripod). If they did it right, one could write a software which would do the whole calibration fully automatically. Sigma missed a big opportunity here. Tamron might come out with the right way to do it.

I'm a canon fan, but sigma is ahead of the pack here.