Dilemma. Help?

This might be lengthy; for you redditor's:

TL;DR; Think my T4i is front focussing, get a body with AFMA? or keep my current camera, send to canon for calibration, and get the 18-35 1.8 Siggy when available.

The Story:

I got into photography this summer because of my saltwater reef tank and a new baby on the way (November, my first). I liked it so much I have recently sold my tank and have some funds to invest into the camera.

I currently have a T4i gripped with a canon 50 1.4 and the kit lens, and a Yongnuo 560 Mk III. I had major issues with a Sigma 50 1.4 front focusing. It was unusable compared to my canon 50 1.8 at the time. (I tested two copies from Amazon) I sent the Sigma back and got the Canon 1.4 version refurbished. I have been overall happy with this lens, though I feel I am getting an unacceptable amount of soft images. I know I'm new, but even tripod shots, with remotes and flash, will miss; and there is a noticeable difference in accuracy with live-view (which I know is to be expected... right?).

So I plan to take some newborn shots, of my own and my wife's friends for fun. I got the poser and backdrop stand and props already. I also plan to shoot kids often, and other general use stuff. No sports for a while, no birds, no weddings (unless I feel comfortable enough), no crazy landscape stuff though I do really like the UWA shots and want to someday.

Do I send the T4i to Canon and see if I'm crazy? Do I look for a 7d, 70D, 5DMkii, or 6D?? If i keep the T4i I like the 18-35 Sigma as my next Lens purchase. It makes sense for children indoors.

What would you do?

Thank you for any input!

Hmm, first off is to get a good "evaluation" of your gear:

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=857871

I've done about every test I could. Most tests lead to a slight front focus the majority of the time at under 2.0. The issue I find is inconsistency, sometimes it behaves fine, and onder the same setup later it may not.

I usually am around 2.8 and above when shooting, but I hate to worry about focus under those apertures and why buy a 1.8 constant focus zoom if I have to stop down so much all the time?

Edit:

One thing I haven't thought about much is how much sharpening I should be adding post. I shoot RAW exclusively so maybe I am expecting too much from the straight from camera images?

chubbyone wrote in post #16296908
Edit:

One thing I haven't thought about much is how much sharpening I should be adding post. I shoot RAW exclusively so maybe I am expecting too much from the straight from camera images?

probably, if you shoot RAW then you should check levels, exposure, and at least do unmask sharpening

You should understand that Canon won't calibrate the body. What they can do is make sure the body is within an acceptable tolerance. From that point on lenses are calibrated to match the body but in that respect Canon won't touch a Sigma lens. You would have to send the lens to Sigma to have it checked and they typically request the body be included just to be certain the exact combination works properly.

If you are shooting the T4i, you are using a cropped sensor so why not investigate the 35mm Sigma that uses the dock and then you can adjust the lens yourself? The dock isn't excessively expensive (street $60) and can give you flexibility with future lenes by Sigma as well. Another consideration if you are willing to give up a bit of speed is the Sigma17-70mm F2.8-4 DC Macro HSM in the Contemperary series, also compatible with the dock. It as recently been marked down to $500 bby Sigma.

How are you using your t4i/50f/1.4 together?

One shot or AI Servo?
Center point focus and recompose or are you using the outer focus points?
Tripod or not when using apertures wider than f/2.8?
When using apertures wider than f/2.8 is there a possibility the subject besides a baby could be moving outside the focal plane?

watt100 wrote in post #16297499
probably, if you shoot RAW then you should check levels, exposure, and at least do unmask sharpening

I will have to look more into this.

John from PA wrote in post #16298067
You should understand that Canon won't calibrate the body. What they can do is make sure the body is within an acceptable tolerance. From that point on lenses are calibrated to match the body but in that respect Canon won't touch a Sigma lens. You would have to send the lens to Sigma to have it checked and they typically request the body be included just to be certain the exact combination works properly.

If you are shooting the T4i, you are using a cropped sensor so why not investigate the 35mm Sigma that uses the dock and then you can adjust the lens yourself? The dock isn't excessively expensive (street $60) and can give you flexibility with future lenes by Sigma as well. Another consideration if you are willing to give up a bit of speed is the Sigma17-70mm F2.8-4 DC Macro HSM in the Contemperary series, also compatible with the dock. It as recently been marked down to $500 bby Sigma.

Isn't the 18-35 Dock compatible? I am willing to send the camera in if it comes back more accurate. I'm not confident enough that it isn't some fault of mine yet though.

Thorrulz wrote in post #16298101
How are you using your t4i/50f/1.4 together?

One shot or AI Servo?
Center point focus and recompose or are you using the outer focus points?
Tripod or not when using apertures wider than f/2.8?
When using apertures wider than f/2.8 is there a possibility the subject besides a baby could be moving outside the focal plane?

Mostly One Shot, some center recompose and some just center with room to crop a bit.

Everything is pretty much handheld except the testing I did. The subject could be moving I suppose, but even at the narrower apertures I am finding more foreground in focus than I am happy with.