Sigma 85mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM

Went out to Fort Vancouver to shoot since it was nice out. The sigma was great up close but still can't focus worth a damn outside of around 20 feet. Here's some samples..

I took about 15 of the same shot from the same distance and missed focus on every single one. Pulled out the 135L and set the same FOV and it hit first time. This was also stopped down to f/2

Hey Chris, send in your findings with the lens to Sigma and get it fixed, mine nails them when it's supposed to....Your's should too.....

Thanks Matt, I was actually planning to as soon as I'm done moving. I've seen plenty of great examples of it hitting at all distances so I'm sure it can do it. The shots up close are very, very nice though. I have nothing but good things to say about this glass in that range.

ni$mo350 wrote in post #11876034
Went out to Fort Vancouver to shoot since it was nice out. The sigma was great up close but still can't focus worth a damn outside of around 20 feet. Here's some samples..

I took about 15 of the same shot from the same distance and missed focus on every single one. Pulled out the 135L and set the same FOV and it hit first time. This was also stopped down to f/2

100% crop

But not all the shots were missed. Here's a couple good ones

2nd photo has CA. The CA shows up at the edge of picnic table.

It wasn't a shot I was going to keep. I only posted it to show the missed focus issue so I didn't clean up CA any in post.

ni$mo350 wrote in post #11876933
It wasn't a shot I was going to keep. I only posted it to show the missed focus issue so I didn't clean up CA any in post.

Do you still plan on keeping your copy? I might get rid of mine if I pick up a 100L or 135L. Having a prime from Sigma (who is known to produce plenty of bad copies) always put a thought in the back of my head during each shot. It always makes me wonder if it's an user error or lens error. That's why I really want to get the 100L or 135L and try to love whichever one I get.

does the 50 have the same focusing issue in terms of distance?

danny819 wrote in post #11877250
Do you still plan on keeping your copy? I might get rid of mine if I pick up a 100L or 135L. Having a prime from Sigma (who is known to produce plenty of bad copies) always put a thought in the back of my head during each shot. It always makes me wonder if it's an user error or lens error. That's why I really want to get the 100L or 135L and try to love whichever one I get.

I'm going to send it in to Sigma and see if that fixes the issue. If it does, then I'll definitely keep it but I also don't want to send it back and forth a bunch of times and will just sell it and pick up an 85Lii used here. I already had the money for the 85L so it's just sitting there. It's wicked up close but far away is really hit and miss, but like Matt said, there are people who have no issues with their copy of it. We'll see how things go though. I'm still willing to give this a try when I get it back from Sigma.

I know it's not user error. I've shot at multiple distances through the aperture range in daylight and minimum 1/1000 sec. If I don't ever miss a shot with my 135L in the same scenario, I can eliminate myself as a factor in missing shots.

sinjans wrote in post #11878055
does the 50 have the same focusing issue in terms of distance?

The 50's have their fair share of AF issues including front/back focusing but also like this lens, when you get a good copy, it's a killer and well worth the money.

Chris,

did you try microadjusting it? I found my was fine close up but off at distance... still have not fully tested it on a focus chart at distance. but will do on a tree when I get a chance to mimic real life.

My MA'd -14 found it work to have distance sharp and close up was fine with it. shooting sports at f1.4 to f2 also some at f2.8 ...focus was fast enough.

maybe you just needed that. good luck... i am going to keep mine happy with it... if I have to get it readjusted then I will.

keep shooting...I am shooting an indoors tournament with it again in a couple of weeks.

I recently had my lens tweaked by Sigma. Drove out there and it took them all of 10 mins to adjust for slight BF.

@F2

arcticfoxchar wrote in post #11879286
Chris,

did you try microadjusting it? I found my was fine close up but off at distance... still have not fully tested it on a focus chart at distance. but will do on a tree when I get a chance to mimic real life.

My MA'd -14 found it work to have distance sharp and close up was fine with it. shooting sports at f1.4 to f2 also some at f2.8 ...focus was fast enough.

maybe you just needed that. good luck... i am going to keep mine happy with it... if I have to get it readjusted then I will.

keep shooting...I am shooting an indoors tournament with it again in a couple of weeks.

I MA'd the day I got it to +10 and then a week later readjusted it to +12. It hits perfect up close but beyond 20 feet it back focuses.

maxwell1295 wrote in post #11879632
I recently had my lens tweaked by Sigma. Drove out there and it took them all of 10 mins to adjust for slight BF.

Very nice shots! Hopefully I will get the same results when I get it adjusted.

1 strobe camera right w/ 53" octa
1 strobe camera left bouncing off ceiling.

http://www.flickr.com …/tylerhaegele/5​463032644/

one light camera left w/ 39" elinchrom deep octa

http://www.flickr.com …/tylerhaegele/5​461943855/

antropus wrote in post #11869005
My friend Paul at work yesterday. Wide open, ISO 3200 on my 5DMkII:

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/krisantropus/5​455081975/
Paul by KrisAntropus, on Flickr

-Kris

Thats a good looking, flattering portrait shot. Nice work.

Drozz119 wrote in post #11868886
Thanks guys!

I'm glad it's working for you Dave.. Do u think you'll hang on to it?

Definitely. I like the lens a lot. And actually purchased it more for portrait shooting than doing the basketball games. When I saw how well if performed indoors shooting the games, the Canon 85mm f/1.8 sold the next day!

Actually, I liked the Sigma 85mm so much, I bought the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 a couple of weeks later. Like 'em both a lot. Sigma really hit home runs on both of these lenses!

dave

maxwell1295 wrote in post #11879632
I recently had my lens tweaked by Sigma. Drove out there and it took them all of 10 mins to adjust for slight BF.

This is exactly what I am going to do in the next few weeks b/c while I like the lens when it hits, it was very inconsistent for me first time out on the streets testing this lens out. It does well on close to medium distance shots. It was extremely inconsistent tracking moving targets, easy ones like moving car, etc. Distance shots seem rather underwhelming and while I expect some level of CA from any prime in this range, it seems rather excessive. Hopefully a trip to Sigma is all that it needs.