Sigma 50-150: Still problems out there?

yogestee wrote in post #9089302
Mine is and all the way to 150mm.. Maybe I just know my gear and know how to use it..

Sorry, but this comes across as quite arrogant. I can assure you that my copy was not ok, and the Sigma technician could document it. But you are elegantly insinuating that we with problems do not know how to use it

Lars Daniel wrote in post #9089793
Sorry, but this comes across as quite arrogant. I can assure you that my copy was not ok, and the Sigma technician could document it. But you are elegantly insinuating that we with problems do not know how to use it

I'm pretty sure he doesn't intend to insult anyone.

gcogger wrote in post #9089766
How is it at short distances at 150mm f/2.8? This seems to be the main problem area with this lens.

I rejected 2 copies of the Mk1 version of the lens for this front-focus problem, and gave up because Sigma had no confidence they could fix it. (No, it was not user error, it was consistent and repeatable, and did affect 'real' pictures as well as test shots. Just trying to cover all the usual objections to reports of focus problems ). I still wonder if I should have just lived with the problem, as it was a fantastic lens otherwise. I would have bought the Mk2 version, but found too many reports of the same problem when it was released.

EXIF
Make = Canon
Model = Canon EOS 50D
Exposure Time = 1/30"
F Number = F2.8
ISO Speed Ratings = 400
Focal Length = 150mm

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Lars Daniel wrote in post #9089793
Sorry, but this comes across as quite arrogant. I can assure you that my copy was not ok, and the Sigma technician could document it. But you are elegantly insinuating that we with problems do not know how to use it

I've posted evidence the Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 is a great lens.. Now it's your turn to post evidence it's not..

Don't you think in over 30 years in photography I haven't honed my skills and picked up a few pointers on the way??

Besides,,complaints are always heard loudest!!

RT McAllister wrote in post #9089332
I'm glad somebody swears by it. And I hope it's because you got a good copy because the AF micro adjustments on a 50D won't fix the problems I've been reading about.

I swear by mine also. I bought mine when they first came out . No need for micro adjustment.

yogestee wrote in post #9090562
I've posted evidence the Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 is a great lens.. Now it's your turn to post evidence it's not..

Geez, most of us don't keep our dud test pics laying around. If it's a great lens (yours certainly looks it), and if there are no duds, maybe you could offer to part with yours at a profit, then replace it with the next one off the shelf. No, you probably wouldn't part with yours for double the purchase price, because finding the equal to your lens would be an exercise in frustration.

EdZep wrote in post #9090681
Geez, most of us don't keep our dud test pics laying around. If it's a great lens (yours certainly looks it), and if there are no duds, maybe you could offer to part with yours at a profit, then replace it with the next one off the shelf. No, you probably wouldn't part with yours for double the purchase price, because finding the equal to your lens would be an exercise in frustration.

Funny this came up.. A friend borrowed mine for a shoot a few months ago mounted on his 40D.. He came away so impressed he took delivery of one about three weeks ago..

And you wouldn't believe it,,it's sharp..

Must be a miracle.. Praise the Lord!!

EdZep wrote in post #9090681
Geez, most of us don't keep our dud test pics laying around. If it's a great lens (yours certainly looks it), and if there are no duds, maybe you could offer to part with yours at a profit, then replace it with the next one off the shelf. No, you probably wouldn't part with yours for double the purchase price, because finding the equal to your lens would be an exercise in frustration.

About like getting a good 24-70L the first time around !

yogestee wrote in post #9090562
I've posted evidence the Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 is a great lens.. Now it's your turn to post evidence it's not..

See post #11 in this thread:

https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?p=6804993

I am encouraged by your own tests. If I knew that Sigma could correct the focus problems when I send it back I might chance it. But there are a lot of people saying front focusing never gets resolved.

This is too bad because now that the Tokina is defunct (for canon anyway), this lens is the only one that makes more sense than a 70-200 on a cropped sensor IMO. (which is too long for me).

Maybe you're right. The U.S. is the dumping ground for all the bad copies.

Mine is a II version of this lens, and it did have to go back to Sigma Canada because it consistently Front-focused. I believe that MA would have fixed it, because the problem was consistent.

However, after that calibration it has been awesome. It sucks that I had to send it back, but it was worth it in the end.

Here are shots at 102mm and 150mm at f/2.8 from about 4 feet. Camera was a tripod-mounted 30D and the focus point was the knot. The lens was sent to Sigma based upon these shots, but returned as being "within spec". Outside of 8 feet the focus was perfectly fine at 150mm.

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RT McAllister wrote in post #9089279
Why would I buy one just to find fault with it? Sounds kind of stupid to me.

The reviews I've read go back to '07. I was simply asking if "recent" buyers of this lens have had a different experience. So far for some it doesn't sound like it. But if this thing is dependable at 2.8 all the way up to 130-135 I'd be fine with it.

I've found a Tokina... just waiting to pull the trigger on it but I haven't yet.

Still sounds like you're leaning towards the Tokina. All I was trying to say was that it sounds like you believe the Tokina is a better lens and if you bought the Sigma you would not be happy with it.

yogestee wrote in post #9089302
Mine is and all the way to 150mm.. Maybe I just know my gear and know how to use it..

I have to agree with yogestee, if you know how to use your gear you get good shots, most not all but most bad copies are do to user error. This is why a lens will be sent back more than once. It gets sent back, manufacturer finds it in spec, gets sent back again, still found in spec but tweaked to one side or the other.

150mm
1/60
f/4
ISO 400

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One thing to remember when doing a lens test, everyone always shoots at an object on an angle, using the center focus point, and when using a fast aperture you get narrow DOF. The focus point will pick up the contrasting edges closest to the camera in the focus point's coverage area. The coverage area is larger than the focus box in the viewfinder, so the closer you are to the subject and the further the lens is zoomed the greater change the picture will look front focused due to the angle you are shooting to the object.

Eagle wrote in post #9091107
One thing to remember when doing a lens test, everyone always shoots at an object on an angle, using the center focus point, and when using a fast aperture you get narrow DOF. The focus point will pick up the contrasting edges closest to the camera in the focus point's coverage area. The coverage area is larger than the focus box in the viewfinder, so the closer you are to the subject and the further the lens is zoomed the greater change the picture will look front focused due to the angle you are shooting to the object.

Well, since this is obviously directed at me...

Here's a straight-on shot at about 7 feet when I was exhaustively testing this lens (rev 1). Unprocessed other than conversion to JPEG, 150mm at f/2.8. The center focus point is the left eye. Clearly, the point of focus is closer to the lips, which are in front of the eyes. I took many, many shots and this was the "best" of them. No other lens that I (have) own(ed) has behaved in this way. And since we're throwing in experience, I've been doing this since 1976.

While I'm sure there are plenty of copies that are fine throughout the range of this lens, there are a lot of others that have ff issues at the long end.

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yogestee wrote in post #9090534
EXIF
Make = Canon
Model = Canon EOS 50D
Exposure Time = 1/30"
F Number = F2.8
ISO Speed Ratings = 400
Focal Length = 150mm

Thanks. What distance was that, and is that the full image or a crop?