Re: Testing the sigma 20/1.8 a few galleries of test, snapshots
From: Larry Colen On Dec 15, 2009, at 3:59 PM, Mark Roberts wrote: On 12/15/09 4:29 PM, Carlos R wrote: you must be sure you disengage AF by using both the camera AF/MF switch and also by pushing the focusing ring on the lens towards the camera body, as, unfortunately, these Sigma lenses can't deactivate the AF motor in the camera body only by using the lens clutch, like genuine Pentax FA* lenses do (FA* 24 mm. 2.0, FA* 300 mm. 4.5, FA* 80-200 mm. 2.8 and some others). I'll second that. Both the Sigma EX lenses I've owned worked this way: You need to switch off AF on the camera body and pull the lens focus ring toward you. Works very well then. Not as convenient as the Pentax FA* lenses, but then again, they're about half the price of equivalent Pentax FA* glass :) I've got no problems with the functionality. It seemed odd, especially since the AF/M ring on my bigma disengages the drive gear. It's just got a horribly lumpy feel in manual focus. They said it'll take 3-4 weeks for them to repair it, so I'll send it in after the holidays. I've got too much need of it right now. I have 4 Sigma lenses. The Bigma and the 300/2.8 both have the focus ring that disengages the drive gear when you shift to MF on the lens. You don't have to turn AF off on the camera. The 10-20 the 30/1.4 don't have AF/MF shift on the lens, so you have to turn AF off on the camera to use manual focus. None of my lenses have any kind of lumpy feel when using manual focus, so I think you do have a bad example of the lens. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Re: Testing the sigma 20/1.8 a few galleries of test snapshots
Larry, I see nothing wrong with your test pics. Why is it exactly that you want to return the lens or send it to Sigma? BTW, I really like the close-focus feature of my Sigma 24mm. I don't know why most non-macro Pentax lenses don't focus closer than they do; I like to get in really close with my wide angles. Now I feel like eating some mushrooms for lunch... :-) Cheers, --M. -- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- http://www.EnticingTheLight.com -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 2009/12/15 Larry Colen l...@red4est.com: I've been putting the Sigma 20/1.8 through its paces today. I need to decide whether to return it, exchange it at 47st, or send it to Sigma for repair. Optically, I have no complaints. There are undoubtably sharper lenses of about this length, but there aren't many faster, at least not at a price I can afford. In theory, I could exchange it at 47st and have a replacement within a week, but while it may be better, I suspect that it won't feel as good as I'd like. I'm hoping that if I send it to sigma, they'll give it a little extra attention and I'll get something back at the other end of the spectrum when it comes to focus feel. I'm afraid that rather than doing the things I ought to, I kept using testing the lens as an excuse to spend a few minutes taking some test photos. Here are some quick and dirty sets, minimal processing, everything hand held, most at ISO 100 to get an idea of the performance of the Sigma. I'm definitely satisfied with it. As a gallery, I should definitely toss the shots that aren't as good, but it's a test of the lens, not the photographer: On my way back from mailing one of the packages, I took a short drive down Lockhart Gulch road because I keep noticing scenic little bits there. I uploaded those shots to flickr at full resolution for the pixel peepers: http://www.flickriver.com/photos/ellarsee/sets/72157622876841535/ There are some mushrooms growing on a stump in my front yard and did a side by side between the sigma and my dfa 50 as macros: Sigma http://www.flickriver.com/photos/ellarsee/sets/72157622877880533/ Pentax http://www.flickriver.com/photos/ellarsee/sets/72157623002486404/ I had to run to the lumber yard, took a few shots of the old sawdust burner and decided to see if I could get any shots at Roaring Camp Railroad next door: http://www.flickriver.com/photos/ellarsee/sets/72157623002558356/ -- Larry Colen l...@red4est.com sent from i4est -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Re: Testing the sigma 20/1.8 a few galleries of test snapshots
On Dec 15, 2009, at 5:19 AM, Miserere wrote: Larry, I see nothing wrong with your test pics. Why is it exactly that you want to return the lens or send it to Sigma? Because the manual focus on it feels horrible. It's lumpy getting stiff with every rotation of the auto focus drive screw, then loose on the other half. This also sort of makes it tough to focus accurately if the focus point is where it doesn't want to turn. If the lens were bad optically, I'd just return it. It's too much to ask that all lenses feel like a supertak 50, but this one is beyond reasonable. BTW, I really like the close-focus feature of my Sigma 24mm. I don't know why most non-macro Pentax lenses don't focus closer than they do; I like to get in really close with my wide angles. The funny thing is that I wanted a longer macro lens, not a shorter one. Now I feel like eating some mushrooms for lunch... :-) Cheers, --M. -- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- http://www.EnticingTheLight.com -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 2009/12/15 Larry Colen l...@red4est.com: I've been putting the Sigma 20/1.8 through its paces today. I need to decide whether to return it, exchange it at 47st, or send it to Sigma for repair. Optically, I have no complaints. There are undoubtably sharper lenses of about this length, but there aren't many faster, at least not at a price I can afford. In theory, I could exchange it at 47st and have a replacement within a week, but while it may be better, I suspect that it won't feel as good as I'd like. I'm hoping that if I send it to sigma, they'll give it a little extra attention and I'll get something back at the other end of the spectrum when it comes to focus feel. I'm afraid that rather than doing the things I ought to, I kept using testing the lens as an excuse to spend a few minutes taking some test photos. Here are some quick and dirty sets, minimal processing, everything hand held, most at ISO 100 to get an idea of the performance of the Sigma. I'm definitely satisfied with it. As a gallery, I should definitely toss the shots that aren't as good, but it's a test of the lens, not the photographer: On my way back from mailing one of the packages, I took a short drive down Lockhart Gulch road because I keep noticing scenic little bits there. I uploaded those shots to flickr at full resolution for the pixel peepers: http://www.flickriver.com/photos/ellarsee/sets/72157622876841535/ There are some mushrooms growing on a stump in my front yard and did a side by side between the sigma and my dfa 50 as macros: Sigma http://www.flickriver.com/photos/ellarsee/sets/72157622877880533/ Pentax http://www.flickriver.com/photos/ellarsee/sets/72157623002486404/ I had to run to the lumber yard, took a few shots of the old sawdust burner and decided to see if I could get any shots at Roaring Camp Railroad next door: http://www.flickriver.com/photos/ellarsee/sets/72157623002558356/ -- Larry Colen l...@red4est.com sent from i4est -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions. -- Larry Colen l...@red4est.com sent from i4est -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Re: Testing the sigma 20/1.8 a few galleries of test snapshots
Larry Colen escribió: Because the manual focus on it feels horrible. It's lumpy getting stiff with every rotation of the auto focus drive screw, then loose on the other half. This also sort of makes it tough to focus accurately if the focus point is where it doesn't want to turn. If the lens were bad optically, I'd just return it. It's too much to ask that all lenses feel like a supertak 50, but this one is beyond reasonable. I have the Sigma EX 28 mm. 1.8 macro. I know it isn't the same lens, but it is closely related, and the manual focus feeling doesn't have anything to do with your experiences with the EX 24 mm. If you disengage autofocus BOTH on the camera and lens, manual focusing with my lens isn't stiff at all, it is very fluid and nearly as good as with traditional manual focus lenses. So I'd say that your 24 lens is defective and you should exchange it. Like I wrote in a previous message some days ago, you must be sure you disengage AF by using both the camera AF/MF switch and also by pushing the focusing ring on the lens towards the camera body, as, unfortunately, these Sigma lenses can't deactivate the AF motor in the camera body only by using the lens clutch, like genuine Pentax FA* lenses do (FA* 24 mm. 2.0, FA* 300 mm. 4.5, FA* 80-200 mm. 2.8 and some others). Carlos -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Re: Testing the sigma 20/1.8 a few galleries of test snapshots
On 12/15/09 4:29 PM, Carlos R wrote: you must be sure you disengage AF by using both the camera AF/MF switch and also by pushing the focusing ring on the lens towards the camera body, as, unfortunately, these Sigma lenses can't deactivate the AF motor in the camera body only by using the lens clutch, like genuine Pentax FA* lenses do (FA* 24 mm. 2.0, FA* 300 mm. 4.5, FA* 80-200 mm. 2.8 and some others). I'll second that. Both the Sigma EX lenses I've owned worked this way: You need to switch off AF on the camera body and pull the lens focus ring toward you. Works very well then. Not as convenient as the Pentax FA* lenses, but then again, they're about half the price of equivalent Pentax FA* glass :) -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Re: Testing the sigma 20/1.8 a few galleries of test snapshots
On Dec 15, 2009, at 3:59 PM, Mark Roberts wrote: On 12/15/09 4:29 PM, Carlos R wrote: you must be sure you disengage AF by using both the camera AF/MF switch and also by pushing the focusing ring on the lens towards the camera body, as, unfortunately, these Sigma lenses can't deactivate the AF motor in the camera body only by using the lens clutch, like genuine Pentax FA* lenses do (FA* 24 mm. 2.0, FA* 300 mm. 4.5, FA* 80-200 mm. 2.8 and some others). I'll second that. Both the Sigma EX lenses I've owned worked this way: You need to switch off AF on the camera body and pull the lens focus ring toward you. Works very well then. Not as convenient as the Pentax FA* lenses, but then again, they're about half the price of equivalent Pentax FA* glass :) I've got no problems with the functionality. It seemed odd, especially since the AF/M ring on my bigma disengages the drive gear. It's just got a horribly lumpy feel in manual focus. They said it'll take 3-4 weeks for them to repair it, so I'll send it in after the holidays. I've got too much need of it right now. -- Larry Colen l...@red4est.com sent from i4est -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Testing the sigma 20/1.8 a few galleries of test snapshots
I've been putting the Sigma 20/1.8 through its paces today. I need to decide whether to return it, exchange it at 47st, or send it to Sigma for repair. Optically, I have no complaints. There are undoubtably sharper lenses of about this length, but there aren't many faster, at least not at a price I can afford. In theory, I could exchange it at 47st and have a replacement within a week, but while it may be better, I suspect that it won't feel as good as I'd like. I'm hoping that if I send it to sigma, they'll give it a little extra attention and I'll get something back at the other end of the spectrum when it comes to focus feel. I'm afraid that rather than doing the things I ought to, I kept using testing the lens as an excuse to spend a few minutes taking some test photos. Here are some quick and dirty sets, minimal processing, everything hand held, most at ISO 100 to get an idea of the performance of the Sigma. I'm definitely satisfied with it. As a gallery, I should definitely toss the shots that aren't as good, but it's a test of the lens, not the photographer: On my way back from mailing one of the packages, I took a short drive down Lockhart Gulch road because I keep noticing scenic little bits there. I uploaded those shots to flickr at full resolution for the pixel peepers: http://www.flickriver.com/photos/ellarsee/sets/72157622876841535/ There are some mushrooms growing on a stump in my front yard and did a side by side between the sigma and my dfa 50 as macros: Sigma http://www.flickriver.com/photos/ellarsee/sets/72157622877880533/ Pentax http://www.flickriver.com/photos/ellarsee/sets/72157623002486404/ I had to run to the lumber yard, took a few shots of the old sawdust burner and decided to see if I could get any shots at Roaring Camp Railroad next door: http://www.flickriver.com/photos/ellarsee/sets/72157623002558356/ -- Larry Colen l...@red4est.com sent from i4est -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
