Report from new SD14 user

Chromelight,
Ken,

Very sorry to hear of your difficulties. I have no idea what the % of unsatisfactory units may be. Apparently it is in a relatively small minority but obviously if you're in that minority it doesn't make you feel any better.

A few thoughts in no particular order.

1. I'd get on the line with your supplier at start of business if you feel the need to consider exchange. I don't know how "most" dealers handle apparently defective merchandise. We've heard anecdotes that suggest major dealers will try to accommodate. And by all means get Sigma in on it if return or repair is needed.

2. I've had no obvious "front focusing" but I too have noticed that some distant objects and/or low contrast and/or low light seem to challenge the AF. I've experienced that on other kinds of cameras as well. I use AF a lot but I also try to recall my film experience and use manual as needed.

3. I've never been happy with camera download. I havee a name brand card reader and never have problems with going that route.

4. Good observation on cleaning up the CF before changing use (e.g., from firmware downloads to picture taking and back. I think I've done an in-camera format before firmware downloads just in case and then clean off the firmware immediately after update.

I hope both of you get the glitches resolved. Anytime a new purchase doesn't work overall satisfactorily out of the box you have a right to be disappointed. If you don't lose confidence and work through the problems (which aren't unique to this manufacturer and technology) I think you will find the picture taking very satisfactory.

Regards,
--
Ed_S
http://www.pbase.com/ecsquires

Ken N said:

I don't know exactly what to tell you about getting an SD14
(actually, I don't think you really asked my opinion). lol. I
know all the companies have their problems, and I know that there
aren't any companies that turn don't turn out a few bad copies every
so often, but being honest about it, Sigma does seem to have more
than their share of problems. My first Sigma (an SD-9) had to have a
new sensor installed.

Click to expand...

Look at the problems with the AF on the new Canon 1D MKIII. That's inexcusable for a camera in that price range. I've no problem "forgiving" Sigma for the quality problems of the SD14, as you say no company is perfect. But I did expect better QC. Despite any of the problems, I haven't been put off about eventually getting an SD14.

Ken N said:

The photos are great, the price seems more than reasonable
considering what a comparable Canon or Nikon would cost, but you
really have to be devoted to taking care of some of these problems
and possibly sending the camera back to Sigma so they can finish what
they started.

Click to expand...

The price, IMO , wasn't reasonable at release but it is getting there. My problem is that I can't get the CFO to be reasonable and sign the purchase order I work right near Sigma USA so I would have no problem dropping a camera or lens off to them for work. It is always nice to see some of the faces there too. They are a genuinely nice group of people there and I greatly appreciate the support they show for the SUGs.

Ken N said:

Are the results worth the efforts? Some days "yes", some days "no".
It's more of a calling than a decision.

Click to expand...

I still think the results I manage to get of the SD9 every now and then are worth the effort. I expect nothing different of the SD14 except maybe a little less effort being required.

I'm still a happy Sigma customer. They've earned my business.
--
My humble photo gallery: http://ntotrr.smugmug.com

I'm actually with you on this Ken...I think the camera was announced far too early, and what went on the market had ... lets think of words that won't upset too many of the Sigma congregation...er... a few issues that needed to be addressed, both in the camera and the raw processing software supplied. Given the price, this was almost as ridiculous as the Leica fiasco.

Well Phil, I think you know I feel that PMA was the proper timing for the SD14 release and DP1 updates, including 'live' demo models, and I'm glad I could buy a SD14 in March. I have 3000+ photos I wouldn't have had otherwise. I think a lot of SD14 users feel the same. I'm glad I don't have the 'lost opportunities' as I call them. The SD14 can handle scenes easily the SD10 cannot.
Best regards, Sandy
[email protected]
http://www.pbase.com/sandyfleischman
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sandyfleischmann

Hi Sandy:

That is exactly what I did. I asked a technician at Jebsen&Jessen (Thailand)(authorized distributor of Sigma) to calibrated the camera and both lenses. It took him a couple of hours to do it and now the camera works as it should. I had the same problem with my Nikon D70s before but only the camera needed to be calibrated.

Many thanks to Jebsen&Jessen (Thailand), their staff are very nice. I didn't buy the cam from them, they don't even sell SD14 and yet they provide excelence services to me without any charge.

Teera

Thanks very much for your post and the outcome. And that's a great recommendation for the local service shop. You can always buy generic acessories there ?;-) That's what I do, I have a good local camera shop that doesn't carry Sigma (hey, I keep trying...) but they're good for monopod, tripod, ballhead, albums, filters, etc, all those little things for photography which add up in costs, LOL.

Please keep us posted of your progress with the SD14 and please don't hesitate to post inquiries. We were all in the same situation at some point, new with the Sigma SDx camera, and the information resources through users on this forum are tremendously helpful.
Looking forward to some photos from Thailand,
Best regards, Sandy
[email protected]
http://www.pbase.com/sandyfleischman
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sandyfleischmann

Ken N said:

I have the same problem....can't focus on distant objects. I've
tried manual focusing, and it doesn't help. The macros look fairly
decent, but macros pretty much always look decent.
I also have problems with the camera just freezing up after taking a
shot. It just sits there, and I can't take anymore photos until I
turn the camera off and start it back up again. Shots lost, never to
be found again.
There's also a variety of problems with downloading from the camera
and the card reader. I get a partial download, and the whole thing
just freezes up. File problems, incompatability, etc. What a total
mess. $1200 for a camera that has to be sent in for a variety of
intermittent problems that Sigma may or may not be able to address.
I really wanted a camera that works properly and not have to send
back immediately so that they can finish doing the work that they
should have done before it left the factory.

Never buy a camera that the manufacturer that has constant delays
getting it to the market.

Click to expand...

My camera had the same issues. I sent it back and it was replaced by another

new one. Now the replacement camera is much better but the focus problems persist. I will send it to Sigma to be fixed. But now I do not have faith on SIGMA anymore. I suspect they will end up with a class action lawsuit.

Hi Teera

It is not strange. It is clearly a calibration issue. It is perfectly possible to have variance between what you see in the viewfinder, what the AF system thinks and what you get on the sensor, as all distances are adjustable. It has happen to many people and is caused by manufacturing tolerances set to wide. Which has something with price and profit to do. While it is VERY annoying, you need to get your camera replaced (and hope it is better), or send your camera back, together with all your lenses.

Teera said:

Tomorrow I will test the lenses with other camera. It is strange
that when I manually focus the 18-50 although the images in the
viewfinder are ok but it sill produces very blur image even worse
than auto-focus. Very strange, any ideas?
Well, Mike Chaney also had problem with his first SD14 and his
problem seems similiar to mine.

Teera

Click to expand...

--
Kind regards
Øyvind Strøm
http://www.pbase.com/norwegianviking/sd14
http://www.norwegianviking.smugmug.com
http://www.pbase.com/norwegianviking

Hello

This is most likely a problem with the battery.

Almost everyone had a very low number of pictures on the first cycle. It should get better soon. Charge them up, discharge by using slideshow, charge again. After a few cycles they shouyld be alligned and seasoned.

ChromeLight said:

Thanks. My camera came with the most recent firmware. Either there is
something wrong with the camera, or something wrong with the battery
and or charger. Because Sigma didn't include an AC adapter, I can't
tell if the battery is at fault.

Does anyone know how Sigma retailers deal with faulty merchandise?
I'd love to just give it back to them and have them exchange another
SD14 for mine. But I have a feeling they'll make me send it to Sigma.

Ken N said:

I've been doing some work on the situation today. I really don't
want to have to send my camera to Sigma.....as I'm sure you don't
want to send yours back either.

Here are a couple of things to try. a) If you used your memory card
to download the new version of firmware and you're using that memory
card to take photos, be sure that you've deleted the firmware from
the card and reformatted it before using it to take photos. The
memory cards don't/won't record photos if they have the firmware
update on them.

I found out that if there are any remnants of the old programming
used to process the SD-9 photos left on your computer, they seem to
interfere with the new software you put on your computer to process
the SD-14 uploads. I had an SD-9, and I thought I had deleted all of
the old related processing programming prior to uploading the SD14
SPP, but apparently I hadn't. I lost the backfill light function,
and after uploading the SD14 SPP a second time, the backfill light
function popped up to where it should be.

The other thing I found is that using the apperature priotity
setting gave perfectly clear photos with the exception of my 70-300mm
lense used at the 300 setting....still don't knw why, but I'm still
playing around with it.

I hope some of this helped. If I find anything more, I'll post.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
Kind regards
Øyvind Strøm
http://www.pbase.com/norwegianviking/sd14
http://www.norwegianviking.smugmug.com
http://www.pbase.com/norwegianviking

yvind Strm said:

Hello

This is most likely a problem with the battery.
Almost everyone had a very low number of pictures on the first cycle.
It should get better soon. Charge them up, discharge by using
slideshow, charge again. After a few cycles they shouyld be alligned
and seasoned.

Click to expand...

I took 214 SD14 photos last Saturday. I changed battery when the battery indicator light began to flash, I think from my recollection in reviewing photos, around shot 171. Might have been nearer #180. That's with auto focus on 28-70mmEX and 28-300mm lenses, fair amount of reviewing on LCD screen, no flash.
That's probably typical battery usage for me. I have 2 Sigma batteries.
Best regards, Sandy
[email protected]
http://www.pbase.com/sandyfleischman ( some recent)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sandyfleischmann (most recent from Saturday)

Sandy and all,

My Battery Update - finally,

Now that I have the Brand X NP400s from Accessory Genie, I had the opportunity to run my Sigma battery (finally) down to the flashing signal level and a little beyond. Subject to a senior moment in accounting for the battery change points, I got about 220 in several sessions over a few days, up to 1/2 of them with built in flash, only the routine/auto review on LCD. Seems pretty good to me.

Now have the first of two Brand Xs in the camera - all working well. Better charge up the Sigma battery.

Regards,

Ed

SandyF said:

yvind Strm said:

Hello

This is most likely a problem with the battery.
Almost everyone had a very low number of pictures on the first cycle.
It should get better soon. Charge them up, discharge by using
slideshow, charge again. After a few cycles they shouyld be alligned
and seasoned.

Click to expand...

I took 214 SD14 photos last Saturday. I changed battery when the
battery indicator light began to flash, I think from my recollection
in reviewing photos, around shot 171. Might have been nearer #180.
That's with auto focus on 28-70mmEX and 28-300mm lenses, fair amount
of reviewing on LCD screen, no flash.
That's probably typical battery usage for me. I have 2 Sigma batteries.
Best regards, Sandy
[email protected]
http://www.pbase.com/sandyfleischman ( some recent)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sandyfleischmann (most recent from
Saturday)

Click to expand...

--
Ed_S
http://www.pbase.com/ecsquires

According to Sigma Japan, you should send both lenses and camera in together. That way they can find the true source of your headache. You contact your local dealer for more info on where to send.

I'm talking too fast too, sometimes.

--
Carl @ Rytterfalk .com (Göteborg, Sweden)
http://www.rytterfalk.com
Proud SD14 User.

Teera,

My camera exhibits the exact same problems you described.

Where can I find Jebsen&Jessen? I'd like to stop in for a visit if they are close.

I'm from the US, but will be in Thailand for most of August. If they are located in Bangkok, I will surely bring in my brand new SD14 for calibration.

Thanks,

-spyz

1) If you manually focus so that the image is sharp in the viewfinder yet blurry when you take a picture, then you need to adjust the diopter setting for the viewfinder. I adjust mine by using autofocus to focus on an isolated vertical object, like the edge of a tree, then move the diopter adjustment slider left or right until the image is sharp in the viewfinder. It helps to look away after a few seconds and then look back, so that your eye doesn't compensate for a slightly out-of-focus viewfinder.

2) Have you installed the latest firmware? I've found that my SD14 works MUCH better, all-around, running v1.04, which is available off the Sigma website.

Re focusing, a good focusing test is to set your camera up on a tripod about 2' above a yardstick on a table. Use the autofocus to focus on a specific number (centimeter or inch mark) on the yardstick, then take the picture. You can also use this to calibrate your viewfinder focus to your autofocus. Once the viewfinder is calibrated to the autofocus, the images should also be sharp.

--
'Do you think a man can change his destiny?'
'I think a man does what he can until his destiny is revealed.'

SD14 users in Bangkok ;> ) J&J is located at 23/110-117, Sorachai Bldg., 27th Fl., Ekamai road (Sukhumvit 63). You can call them at 02-787-8170 or 02-787-8118. K. Somyos is the technical support of the camera division, ask for him. Have a nice stay in Bangkok.

Thanks Teera! Your info was most helpful. I'll definitely stop by and check them out.

Regards

Just a quick update. I'm in Thailand on holiday now. I did stop by at Jebsen & Jessen while I was staying in BKK. They did a fantastic job calibrating my lens (yes it was a problem with the 20mm and crazy front-focus issues) they didn't touch my SD14 other than to use it for testing adjustments. They had it back the same day and it was all under warranty. I didn't have my warranty card so I printed out my Adorama/B&H shipping receipts as proof of purchase date. Altogether a good experience, I'm glad my new lens takes sharp pictures.

Ok, back to my holiday (and thanks a bunch for this big tip Teera!). If you run into a guy in BKK with an SD14 be sure to say hi

-spyz