MC-11 and 24-105 updates - Finally

SIGMA has released an update for the MC-11 and the 24-105 mm Art (and some others), hopefully finally fixing the inconsistent AF on that lens.



If it turns out to be good, the only thing missing from the 24-105 mm lens is smoother stabilization for video shooting. Canon's 24-105 does that better; Sigma is sticky. They should, if technically possible, make it a choice in Optimization Pro, because the lens does not have user settings and some might prefer the stickier stabilization for photography.

holin said:

SIGMA has released an update for the MC-11 and the 24-105 mm Art (and some others), hopefully finally fixing the inconsistent AF on that lens.

http://www.sigma-photo.co.jp/english/new/new_topic.php?id=671

http://www.sigma-photo.co.jp/english/new/new_topic.php?id=673

If it turns out to be good, the only thing missing from the 24-105 mm lens is smoother stabilization for video shooting. Canon's 24-105 does that better; Sigma is sticky. They should, if technically possible, make it a choice in Optimization Pro, because the lens does not have user settings and some might prefer the stickier stabilization for photography.

Click to expand...

Well, better late than never.

They FINALLY delivered the update they promised for near the end of last summer.

Now it's time to order a dock for my 17-70. (You didn't mention in your post, but the 17-70, 18-200, and 18-300 are also covered)

Following to hear how it turns out. Interested in this combo.

This update surprisingly seems to have fixed the issues I had with AF consistency on my 50Art and 135Art too. If they only would officially support AF-C and the teleconverters too now things would start to look great.

Focus on 135 improved!

After further check, no improvement at all!

Ran the updates and took the Sigma 24-105 mm for a little walk. Overcast day. I would say that the results are encouraging. I was using flexible spot S and M in AF-S. A7 mk1 body.

I get the impression that AF is slightly slower now. The wide end was slow before (full sweep at 24 mm, always), but then AF got progressively much faster after 35-50 mm or so. It's still the same, but now there seems to be more tiny back'n'forth with the longer FLs, too, and it resorts to doing a full sweep more often.

The main advantage, indeed, appears to be that AF is actually quite accurate now. Even the longest FL, 105 mm, focuses correctly, whereas before it usually just green lighted but was way off, and focusing to more than a couple of meters away didn't really catch focus ever. Near infinity, however, still has some problems, or rather, all the misfocused shots I got were at infinity or near it, or... really weren't... should have been.

My camera is at f/w 2.0, which would likely not be among Sigma's tested configs.

Didn't test video, yet.

To bad I already sold the lens and adapter 6 months ago because they wouldn't fix the issue...

kelly15 said:

After further check, no improvement at all!

Click to expand...

I think the AF consistency does improve a bit for my 135 ART. Before the update, it yields wrong focus points from time to time. After the update, it is much harder to produce wrong focus points, from my limited testing so far.

Everythingis1 said:

To bad I already sold the lens and adapter 6 months ago because they wouldn't fix the issue...

Click to expand...

Seems pretty standard to me that a product hugely dependent on software is getting actually usable approx. a year from release. What might make the situation better now is that Sigma's own camera bodies are mirrorless, too, and they will likely struggle with the same issues that the adapter has.

Well, it seems it's time to find a Sigma dock somewhere to update my lens.

Well, it had been a while since I got out with my 150-600mm and last weekend updated to the latest firmware at the time (one before this), and I was impressed with how they had come along.

I didn't consider afc usable above 400mm before, and it was behaving much better. Went out for walk and it hardly ever threw a wobbly in afc. And focus seemed more accurate.

It's not lightening fast, but a couple more updates in the current direction and I may be able to stave off the temptation of the fe 100-400mm. At least until I can get one and a 1.4 to for under £2000

Probably install this firmware anyway, and head out for another walk today.

holin said:

Everythingis1 said:

To bad I already sold the lens and adapter 6 months ago because they wouldn't fix the issue...

Click to expand...

Seems pretty standard to me that a product hugely dependent on software is getting actually usable approx. a year from release. What might make the situation better now is that Sigma's own camera bodies are mirrorless, too, and they will likely struggle with the same issues that the adapter has.

Click to expand...

Seems to me a product hugely dependent on software would have the software in good shape BEFORE they released the product. I had focusing issues with Sigma on DSLR's too, now I'm never buying of their products again.

Everythingis1 said:

holin said:

Everythingis1 said:

To bad I already sold the lens and adapter 6 months ago because they wouldn't fix the issue...

Click to expand...

Seems pretty standard to me that a product hugely dependent on software is getting actually usable approx. a year from release. What might make the situation better now is that Sigma's own camera bodies are mirrorless, too, and they will likely struggle with the same issues that the adapter has.

Click to expand...

Seems to me a product hugely dependent on software would have the software in good shape BEFORE they released the product. I had focusing issues with Sigma on DSLR's too, now I'm never buying of their products again.

Click to expand...

Rarely happens these days. Unfortunately, the industry norm seems to be that the early adopters are the beta testing team. The biggest problem is when the product never leaves its beta phase..

holin said:

Everythingis1 said:

holin said:

Everythingis1 said:

To bad I already sold the lens and adapter 6 months ago because they wouldn't fix the issue...

Click to expand...

Seems pretty standard to me that a product hugely dependent on software is getting actually usable approx. a year from release. What might make the situation better now is that Sigma's own camera bodies are mirrorless, too, and they will likely struggle with the same issues that the adapter has.

Click to expand...

Seems to me a product hugely dependent on software would have the software in good shape BEFORE they released the product. I had focusing issues with Sigma on DSLR's too, now I'm never buying of their products again.

Click to expand...

Rarely happens these days. Unfortunately, the industry norm seems to be that the early adopters are the beta testing team. The biggest problem is when the product never leaves its beta phase..

Click to expand...

I guess with how complicated technology is now-a-days, it's just a fact of life.