Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art

I had to adjust mine on the 1Diii but on my 5d it is spot on.

Aressem wrote in post #17507840
Perhaps you're not super picky? I LOVE Sigma lenses but j have to admit, I do NOT expect any of their lenses to work perfectly without any fine tuning.

I don't expect any lenses to work perfectly on any camera without fine-tuning. That's just the way it is. I've had a several sigma lenses and several canon lenses. They all required a little MA. I know that people have lenses they feel work well without any MA, but my guess is these folks are in the minority. As far as trying 4 copies and thinking about trying a 5th, that seems a little odd. I would think with a little effort one would be able to get at least 1 out of 4 to work well…especially with the sigma dock. Just my two cents…felt compelled to chime in.

idsurfer wrote in post #17508564
I don't expect any lenses to work perfectly on any camera without fine-tuning. That's just the way it is. I've had a several sigma lenses and several canon lenses. They all required a little MA. I know that people have lenses they feel work well without any MA, but my guess is these folks are in the minority. As far as trying 4 copies and thinking about trying a 5th, that seems a little odd. I would think with a little effort one would be able to get at least 1 out of 4 to work well…especially with the sigma dock. Just my two cents…felt compelled to chime in.

Exactly. I typically get a lens and shoot about 500 shots through it just testing the AF. This gives me an idea of how it behaves... what to expect... and what to adjust. I test indoor lighting... various distances and outdoor daytime... nightime... servo all sorts of stuff.

after 500 shots and a few adjustments I feel pretty confident in whats up.

The problem Im having unfortunately isnt just a micro adjustment fix. Some shots are horrendously back focused (for no reason) and others are focused on the tip of the nose, when focus was right on the eyeball.

All 4 have exhibited this behaviour.

During testing I have dialed in MFA on them all, the current on being on +17 and this gives me sharp results! (during testing at home) but as soon as it gets to a real wedding, the focus is all over the place, some miles in front, some miles behind.

My last one being shot at ISO 200, 1/160th, f1.4 so lighting conditions were great, yet focus was all over the place!

If you'd like to post your Sigma Art AFMA info please do, be useful to have it in one place.

https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1425091

@ futureal33 … That sounds very very frustrating. I can't stand wacky AF issues. I would have either picked one of the lenses and sent it to Sigma with my camera body or (more likely) just given up and looked for an alternative. Having to go through 4-5 copies that can't be properly MA'd is unacceptable IMO.

What body/s are you using? And are you shooting other fast primes to compare your shooting technique? Are you shooting one shot or servo? And are you using outer points or af then recompose? Hopefully there is a solution for you because this is a great lens!

futureal33 wrote in post #17508957
The problem Im having unfortunately isnt just a micro adjustment fix. Some shots are horrendously back focused (for no reason) and others are focused on the tip of the nose, when focus was right on the eyeball.

All 4 have exhibited this behaviour.

During testing I have dialed in MFA on them all, the current on being on +17 and this gives me sharp results! (during testing at home) but as soon as it gets to a real wedding, the focus is all over the place, some miles in front, some miles behind.

My last one being shot at ISO 200, 1/160th, f1.4 so lighting conditions were great, yet focus was all over the place!

This describes exactly what I had on my 35 art (which the dock cured). Its due to focus distances. The lens is doing different things (back focus front focus etc) depending on focus distance. No amount of in camera MFA in the world will sort that. Do yourself a favour and get the dock. You can then MFA at 4 different distances which should fix the issue

Yeah both of my sigma lenses performed differently at different focus distances. The dock cures this well but it takes time to get it right.

My Sigma 35A is my best focusing lens that I have, it ALWAYS nails the focus even at f1.4.

vertigo235 wrote in post #17509245
Yeah both of my sigma lenses performed differently at different focus distances. The dock cures this well but it takes time to get it right.

My Sigma 35A is my best focusing lens that I have, it ALWAYS nails the focus even at f1.4.

same as my 35 was after I cured it with the dock. The dock really transformed it into a monster of an AF machine.

I can tell you I need to do this with my 50....

xpfloyd wrote in post #17509232
The lens is doing different things (back focus front focus etc) depending on focus distance. No amount of in camera MFA in the world will sort that. Do yourself a favour and get the dock. You can then MFA at 4 different distances which should fix the issue

This was my experience with the 18-35 Art. Four different distances (multiplied by 4 different focal lengths--ugh). It took a lot of work, but I sorted it out with the dock. My 50A, on the other hand, appears accurate right out of the box.

Also, it's not just Sigma lenses, if I put my Canon 85mm f1.8 on FoCal it also seems to require different MA at different distances, but I just set it in the camera for the "most commonly used distance" setting. It seems to do fine, but that lens doesn't have a really close focus distance so there is less of an issue up close, and at infinity it's not really a big deal and I've never seen a problem in actual photos.

Bought this lens today, hopefully Ill get it tomorrow. The shop didnt have the dock in stock, so im gonna order one if the lens shows any focus issues, which i hope it wont. My old Canon 50mm 1.4 has gone bust, AF doesnt work. Still works with MF but this should be a very good upgrade for it. Hope to post ITT soon . . .

Haven't shot with the 50 Art in a while but used it lots on a shoot today, almost forgot just how sharp it can be.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/s5aK​Me