Another Bigma Question

[LoveT]

I’ve had a Bigma since March this year, and it has always struggled a little with subjects (birds in flight) against bright/cloudy skies – I get a blue fringe around the subject. However, I just assumed it was a limitation of the lens.

Just over a month ago my E-3 had to be replaced under warranty (after being away for 6 weeks). When I got it back, the first time I was able to test the Bigma with it, I noticed that the blue fringe remained, but that subjects against a dark background now had a ‘ghost’ or fringe of their own, making the image not as sharp as I think it should be. This happened at both ends of the zoom spectrum. I shoot in RAW, and use Adobe RAW image processor and Photoshop, but nothing I ‘tweak’ works. DavyG has also given me some things to try, but so far without success, so it looks like next month I shall be packing the lot up and sending it to Sigma (here we go again).

I’ve been in touch with Sigma and emailed them some sample images. They have confirmed that the images are too soft and that they need the camera and lens to calibrate the two together. I think possibly the lens has always had a problem, but the issues I had with my previous camera body masked it to some extent.

I should have asked them this at the time, but my question is: if they calibrate camera and lens together, does that mean I won’t get good results if I subsequently use it with a different camera body (hoping to get a second hand E-1 some day)?

I’m also a bit confused because what happens if I were to buy a second hand Sigma lens (saw a used105mm macro recently on a certain auction website, which I really fancied!). Would that not produce good results on my camera unless I had that calibrated too? Am I right in assuming then that brand new lenses automatically calibrate themselves with the body they are on?

I’d be fascinated to know if anyone else out there has had a similar problem and what their experience was.

Thanks for looking

Cheers

Thea

[BillyPilgrim]

Hi Thea. I had a problem with a Canon 300mm f/4 L I bought it from ebay about a year ago. It was producing soft images so phoned the nearest repair centre for advice. They told me to bring both my body and the lens as the fault was usually lies with the body. I knew it was the lens as my other lenses didn't produce soft images but I took them both along to be checked.

It turned out that the lens needed calibrating and it cost £117. Since then its been tack sharp.

At no point did they mention that body/lens have to be calibrated together. Are you sure that Sigma don't simply want to check them both and fix the faulty one as happened with mine?

They checked the lens with specialist computer software and a factory-set body supplied by Canon. Same with the body but this time with a lens set by Canon.

I would have thought that the same process would apply to Sigma lenses? You certainly shouldn't have to 'marry' the lens and camera together. Having said that I've got no experience with an E-3!

[LoveT]

Thanks for the reply - I'm glad (if you see what I mean!) that I'm not the only one this sort of thing happens to.

From the email contact I have had with Sigma, they have advised me that it would be most helpful if the camera went back with the Bigma so that the lens itself could be properly calibrated, so I think (hope) you might be right.

I'm sincerely hoping that it won't cost me too much (or preferably anything ), as I've only had the lens approximately 5 months, and I think it might have had this problem from the outset. It was bought in this country (Warehouse Express), so hopefully there will not be a warranty problem with it (that's all I need right now ).

Thea

[BillyPilgrim]

It is still under guarentee and from what I've read on here Sigma are usually pretty decent so I doubt if you'll end up out of pocket.

One thing to look forward to is the feeling you will get when it is all fixed and your images suddenly appear sharp! Fingers crossed!

[PeterD]

I have exactly the same combination as you. I have had no focus problems with the Bigma ever since I purchased it. I did however have a problem with my Zuiko 70-300 lens which behaved in the manner you describe with the Bigma. I had always put it down to my lack of experience but, in the end, I thought the lens was faulty. It was and I got a foc replacement from Olympus. They even sent me back a copy of the service report for my old lens which confirmed the fault and that it required a full rebuild/set up.
I supposen what I am saying is that the big manufacturers will give you good support and that the fault is more likely with the lens. It could be the image defects are due to reflections within the lens groups - a condition that Sigma are proud to say they can avoid with the coated lenses.
I do not understand why they want you to return both the lens and camera unless they want to check for themselves that the system is OK. Then be able to gaurantee to you everything will work when it is returned.
Peter

[DavyG]

Originally Posted by LoveT

I should have asked them this at the time, but my question is: if they calibrate camera and lens together, does that mean I won’t get good results if I subsequently use it with a different camera body (hoping to get a second hand E-1 some day)?

I’m also a bit confused because what happens if I were to buy a second hand Sigma lens (saw a used105mm macro recently on a certain auction website, which I really fancied!). Would that not produce good results on my camera unless I had that calibrated too? Am I right in assuming then that brand new lenses automatically calibrate themselves with the body they are on?

Thea

Hi Thea,

I'm sorry to hear that your Bigma is still causing problems, I think you've been very unlucky with your kit.

I wouldn't worry to much about lenses not working with other bodies unless calibrated, we own E1's, an E500, an E510 and an E520, to date all of our Sigma lenses have worked fine with each body we've used.

I've found my Sigma lenses to be good and have experienced no problems with them, although that could be because I'm too inexperienced to notice!

Dave

[LoveT]

Thanks for all the responses:

Here's a sample of what Sigma have described as too soft:



This was taken at 1/800 sec. @149mm ISO640.

There is some wing blur evident - which I wouldn't have really expected at 1/800 sec, however the image is soft overall and if you were able to zoom in a bit you would see a distinct 'halo' around both the bird and falconer.

Like you guys, I can only assume Sigma want to ensure they get it as sharp as possible, which is why they said it would be helpful to have the camera as well.

I must say I am really looking forward to the day I get all this finally sorted !

Thea

[PeterD]

Originally Posted by LoveT

Thanks for all the responses:

Here's a sample of what Sigma have described as too soft:



This was taken at 1/800 sec. @149mm ISO640.

There is some wing blur evident - which I wouldn't have really expected at 1/800 sec, however the image is soft overall and if you were able to zoom in a bit you would see a distinct 'halo' around both the bird and falconer.

Like you guys, I can only assume Sigma want to ensure they get it as sharp as possible, which is why they said it would be helpful to have the camera as well.

I must say I am really looking forward to the day I get all this finally sorted !

Thea

Thea,

Your image is definately soft. I tried to find a point where the focus was sharp but failed. This was to check if the focus point was ahead or behind the intended point.
Have you tried to see how the camera focusses with the standard lenses?
Your focal length of 149mm would rule out camera blur at 1/800s particlarly if you have IS on.
I would check with a standard lens and use that result to confirm a faulty lens.
Good luck

Peter

[LoveT]

Thanks Peter

For what it's worth, I took lots of other images that day using my Olympus lenses as well, and all the photos taken with the ZD lenses are just fine and beautifully sharp (apart from my own errors !).

Thea

[PeterD]

Originally Posted by LoveT

Thanks Peter

For what it's worth, I took lots of other images that day using my Olympus lenses as well, and all the photos taken with the ZD lenses are just fine and beautifully sharp (apart from my own errors !).

Thea

To me thats pretty conclusive. I argued that the 70-300 lens had been faulty from receipt and Olympus agreed to the swap without any argument. From what I have heard of Sigma (and what has been written here), I would have thought that they would be helpful to you under the warranty you have. Give them a call again and see what they can offer. Do they for instance carry out the repairs in the UK and can they accelerate your repair/offer you a foc replacement given the circumstances.
As for the haloing effect, I think that again is due to unwanted reflections within the lens groups. I am sure Sigma will confirm this or otherwise. It may also help them make up their mind on how to handle your issue.

Good Luck

Peter