Sigma 30mm 1.4 - soft widen open, should I send it in? (pics included)

I have been quite disappointed with my real world results with the Sigma 30mm/1.4. I purchased this lense for low light use and have found it to be VERY soft wide open. Others on the forums and on review sites rave about how sharp this is, but I'm just not seeing these results.

Should I send it in for calibration?

Some examples (100% crops - sooc):

1.4

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Hmm that wide open shot is pretty soft...have you tried taking any other shots?

My 30/1.4 looked like this wide open (center crop):

I recently got one and sent it back. It did tend to look quite soft wide open but that primarily seemed to be due to the backfocusing. If you stopped it down of course the DOF improved the image quality. I found the backfocusing was better near the closest focusing end than it was if you stepped back just a foot or two. I can't tell from this if you've got just a sharpness or focus issue but it could be either or both.

If the second one I get is no better I'm sending it in for calibration probably, I do like the lens but the quality control on these just seems to be so flaky.

Mrvile wrote in post #6114154
Hmm that wide open shot is pretty soft...have you tried taking any other shots?

Yes I did take other shots, these are not the worst of the lot, but I felt was the most realistic indicator.

Mine is also a centre crop. Yours is much, much better.

emorphien wrote in post #6114185
If the second one I get is no better I'm sending it in for calibration probably, I do like the lens but the quality control on these just seems to be so flaky.

I think I'll send it in, its not going to get much camera time with results like this.

I have one too and I've had the same thought bugging me. Out of curiosity, anyone know how much they charge to calibrate?

maxxed wrote in post #6114190
I think I'll send it in, its not going to get much camera time with results like this.

Same thing for me, the 30 1.4 is meant to be the main lens on my Rebel XTi point and shoot! I tested it on the Rebel and my 1D MK II and had the same issues. Once in a while it seemed OK but for the most part I was underwhelmed.

yunaiseng wrote in post #6114217
I have one too and I've had the same thought bugging me. Out of curiosity, anyone know how much they charge to calibrate?

My understanding is that it's free as long as the lens is still under warranty, not sure after that. I'd like verification too, though.

Calibration is free under warranty, which is assuming anyway (you usually get a dud lens calibrated soon after you purchase it) but you will have to pay for shipping TO Sigma, which will be like $5-10. They will pay to ship it back.

I doubt that's actually a soft copy. As others have said it's more likely that your copy is just front- or back-focusing (as many of them do from the factory). Just email/call them and they'll give you a form you need to send in with the lens. They kept mine (including the body, which I sent with the lens as suggested) for 2 days and then shipped it back and it's pretty much dead on now (although a shaky hand at f/1.4 will still leave you with soft images).

maxxed wrote in post #6114131
1.4

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it looks like AF issue, similar to my copy. this sigma is sharp wide open.

send it in. they will take care of you. it may take up to 15 days to get your lens back but once you do you'll love it. it is my most used lens at the moment.

damnnit wrote in post #6115826
send it in. they will take care of you. it may take up to 15 days to get your lens back but once you do you'll love it. it is my most used lens at the moment.

Did you send your camera in with it?

I sent my 30 to Long Island for its third trip and got a call that it was fine on their 40D and that I would need to send my 40D to them to see if there was a problem. Since I didn't want to be without my body, I drove out there, and sure enough, they had to re-calibrate the lens.

It should be sharper than that wide open, but I agree with others to make sure that it's focusing correctly.

As for cost, it's free. Their service is really top notch. Another guy came in with 3 VERY old Sigma lenses (out of production for 5 years or so) and the quote that I overheard them tell him to fix the AF in 2 of the lenses plus tighten up the barrel on the third, was $150 for all three. That is really really cheap.

TaDa wrote in post #6116240
I sent my 30 to Long Island for its third trip and got a call that it was fine on their 40D and that I would need to send my 40D to them to see if there was a problem. Since I didn't want to be without my body, I drove out there, and sure enough, they had to re-calibrate the lens.

I am about to do the same thing next week. Can you tell me if they calibrated the lens while you wait, and if so, how long was the wait?
Thanks

this is why it's good to test all copies for a sharp one at the local store before buying it. Hard to do that with mail order