I got the Sigma 16mm F1.4, but not sure if lens is OK

sgkoala · Apr 26, 2018

First, I agree definitely return the lens since you paid for a new copy and it needs to come with the box.

F1.7 at close focus distances will give shallow depth of field, so you do need to get the focus spot on, especially with moving kids.

Where possible, I find Eye AF with AF-C gives the best results. Do make sure your shutter is fast enough to avoid motion blur also.

If some of your f1.7 shots are in sharp focus, it indicates your issues probably are focus or shutter speed related rather than lens optical flaws. By the way, I don’t hesitate to use the lens at f1.4.

For still subjects, I almost never use Wide AF, prefering to use Eye AF if applicable, or otherwise select the precise focus point through flexible spot or sometimes AF in focus magnifier (AF-S).

Also, so far I this lens focusses just as fast and accurately in AF-C as any native lens.

AHM · Apr 26, 2018

sgkoala said:
First, I agree definitely return the lens since you paid for a new copy and it needs to come with the box.

F1.7 at close focus distances will give shallow depth of field, so you do need to get the focus spot on, especially with moving kids.

Where possible, I find Eye AF with AF-C gives the best results. Do make sure your shutter is fast enough to avoid motion blur also.

If some of your f1.7 shots are in sharp focus, it indicates your issues probably are focus or shutter speed related rather than lens optical flaws. By the way, I don’t hesitate to use the lens at f1.4.

For still subjects, I almost never use Wide AF, prefering to use Eye AF if applicable, or otherwise select the precise focus point through flexible spot or sometimes AF in focus magnifier (AF-S).

Also, so far I this lens focusses just as fast and accurately in AF-C as any native lens.

Yes, thanks. In fact, I have never tried eye-AF, and I think I should try it out. Here is a question though: is eye-AF available with AF-C on A6000? I thought it might only be available on A6300 and A6500? And since AF-S has issues with the Sigma lens, perhaps I cannot use eye AF?

AHM · Apr 27, 2018

sgkoala said:
First, I agree definitely return the lens since you paid for a new copy and it needs to come with the box.

F1.7 at close focus distances will give shallow depth of field, so you do need to get the focus spot on, especially with moving kids.

Where possible, I find Eye AF with AF-C gives the best results. Do make sure your shutter is fast enough to avoid motion blur also.

If some of your f1.7 shots are in sharp focus, it indicates your issues probably are focus or shutter speed related rather than lens optical flaws. By the way, I don’t hesitate to use the lens at f1.4.

For still subjects, I almost never use Wide AF, prefering to use Eye AF if applicable, or otherwise select the precise focus point through flexible spot or sometimes AF in focus magnifier (AF-S).

Also, so far I this lens focusses just as fast and accurately in AF-C as any native lens.

I think the issue is not that the lens is not sharp, but that I don't get focus very often at large apertures, on faces. I use face detect, but not eye AF, and I use AF-C. I don't have the same issue with my 35mm F1.8 (where I usually use AF-S). Generally faces come out sharp, also at f/1.8 and f/2.0. Could there be an issue with the Sigma lens? I have read here about focus issues with AF-S, but I have not heard of problems with AF-C.

sgkoala · Apr 27, 2018

AHM said:
sgkoala said:

First, I agree definitely return the lens since you paid for a new copy and it needs to come with the box.

F1.7 at close focus distances will give shallow depth of field, so you do need to get the focus spot on, especially with moving kids.

Where possible, I find Eye AF with AF-C gives the best results. Do make sure your shutter is fast enough to avoid motion blur also.

If some of your f1.7 shots are in sharp focus, it indicates your issues probably are focus or shutter speed related rather than lens optical flaws. By the way, I don’t hesitate to use the lens at f1.4.

For still subjects, I almost never use Wide AF, prefering to use Eye AF if applicable, or otherwise select the precise focus point through flexible spot or sometimes AF in focus magnifier (AF-S).

Also, so far I this lens focusses just as fast and accurately in AF-C as any native lens.

Click to expand...

Yes, thanks. In fact, I have never tried eye-AF, and I think I should try it out. Here is a question though: is eye-AF available with AF-C on A6000? I thought it might only be available on A6300 and A6500? And since AF-S has issues with the Sigma lens, perhaps I cannot use eye AF?

On A6000, Eye AF is only in AF-S. From my testing, Eye AF gives accurate results even in AF-S at apertures where regular Wide AF or Flexible Spot gives AF inaccuracy,

Just that, you need subject to remain still.

By the way, I also believe f1.4 gives accurate AF in all focus modes, you may wish to try that.

AHM · Apr 27, 2018

sgkoala said:
AHM said:

sgkoala said:

First, I agree definitely return the lens since you paid for a new copy and it needs to come with the box.

F1.7 at close focus distances will give shallow depth of field, so you do need to get the focus spot on, especially with moving kids.

Where possible, I find Eye AF with AF-C gives the best results. Do make sure your shutter is fast enough to avoid motion blur also.

If some of your f1.7 shots are in sharp focus, it indicates your issues probably are focus or shutter speed related rather than lens optical flaws. By the way, I don’t hesitate to use the lens at f1.4.

For still subjects, I almost never use Wide AF, prefering to use Eye AF if applicable, or otherwise select the precise focus point through flexible spot or sometimes AF in focus magnifier (AF-S).

Also, so far I this lens focusses just as fast and accurately in AF-C as any native lens.

Click to expand...

Yes, thanks. In fact, I have never tried eye-AF, and I think I should try it out. Here is a question though: is eye-AF available with AF-C on A6000? I thought it might only be available on A6300 and A6500? And since AF-S has issues with the Sigma lens, perhaps I cannot use eye AF?

Click to expand...

On A6000, Eye AF is only in AF-S. From my testing, Eye AF gives accurate results even in AF-S at apertures where regular Wide AF or Flexible Spot gives AF inaccuracy,

Just that, you need subject to remain still.

By the way, I also believe f1.4 gives accurate AF in all focus modes, you may wish to try that.

I decide to after all insert some images illustrating the issue. Unfortunately, they are imperfect tests. Ideally, I would have liked my daughter to sit completely still for half an hour while I try different settings and lenses. Well, that not how things work... She is not a brick wall. So, the light is slightly different for the different apertures.

f/2.8 ISO 5000. Quite noisy

f/1.4, ISO 1600. Noise is reduced, but the face is not quite sharp, so the total result is no better.

However, sometimes it comes out as expected

f/2.8 ISO 1000. Some noise

f/1.7 ISO 400. Noise has been reduced. This time it's also sharp, to he overall result is an increase in sharpness.

The problem is that most of my test pictures turn out as the first example: when I use a large aperture, I get a slightly unsharp image -- of faces. Since some do come out sharp, it's not the sharpness of the lens. It must be a focus problem. I don't have this problem with my 35mm f/1.8 lens, so I wonder if it's a focus problem with the Sigma lens.

sgkoala · Apr 27, 2018

What were your focus settings? Have you tried Eye AF?

AHM · Apr 27, 2018

sgkoala said:
What were your focus settings? Have you tried Eye AF?

They were AF-C, wide, face detect. For my other lenses, the only difference is that I often use AF-S. I will try eye AF sometime when I get the chance.

rjjr · Apr 27, 2018

AHM said:
I think the issue is not that the lens is not sharp, but that I don't get focus very often at large apertures, on faces. I use face detect, but not eye AF, and I use AF-C. I don't have the same issue with my 35mm F1.8 (where I usually use AF-S). Generally faces come out sharp, also at f/1.8 and f/2.0. Could there be an issue with the Sigma lens? I have read here about focus issues with AF-S, but I have not heard of problems with AF-C.

And stop worrying about this one. The possibility that it's been compromised is too high so why bother with it any further?

AHM · Apr 28, 2018

rjjr said:
AHM said:

I think the issue is not that the lens is not sharp, but that I don't get focus very often at large apertures, on faces. I use face detect, but not eye AF, and I use AF-C. I don't have the same issue with my 35mm F1.8 (where I usually use AF-S). Generally faces come out sharp, also at f/1.8 and f/2.0. Could there be an issue with the Sigma lens? I have read here about focus issues with AF-S, but I have not heard of problems with AF-C.

Click to expand...

And stop worrying about this one. The possibility that it's been compromised is too high so why bother with it any further?

You're right. I will return it, and get another one, and see if my results are better.

AHM · May 9, 2018

AHM said:
I bought the Sigma 16mm F1.4 from Amazon (or, to be precise, my wife bought as a birthday present for me). Here is the thing: it was shipped without any box, instructions, warranty information. It was not even bobble-wrapped. It was just put in plastic bag and then into a box with some books. No protection. I would imagine it's fragile and could have been damaged by that treatment?

Because of that I'm not sure if it's as sharp as it's supposed to be. I attach one picture at F1.4. I cannot really judge if it's as sharp as it's supposed to be, or if it has been damaged by the shipping.

I got the replacement lens from Amazon, this time with a box! Not only did the previous one come without a box, but my wife payed $499 rather than $449! So, I guess the box is $-50.

So, far the results are more promising . The few test pictures (with people) I have taken have been sharp, in focus. But I have too few example to make a final judgement.

RGBCMYK · May 10, 2018

AHM said:
I got the replacement lens from Amazon, this time with a box! Not only did the previous one come without a box, but my wife payed $499 rather than $449! So, I guess the box is $-50.

So, far the results are more promising . The few test pictures (with people) I have taken have been sharp, in focus. But I have too few example to make a final judgement.

So was the lens truly from Amazon or one of their providers? What was their excuse of shipping a lens without a box? I find this so strange and wouldn't even of tested the lens because without a box it couldn't have been new. Glad they got you a replacement but you had to deal with the hassle too unfortunately.

AHM · May 10, 2018

RGBCMYK said:
AHM said:

I got the replacement lens from Amazon, this time with a box! Not only did the previous one come without a box, but my wife payed $499 rather than $449! So, I guess the box is $-50.

So, far the results are more promising . The few test pictures (with people) I have taken have been sharp, in focus. But I have too few example to make a final judgement.

Click to expand...

So was the lens truly from Amazon or one of their providers? What was their excuse of shipping a lens without a box? I find this so strange and wouldn't even of tested the lens because without a box it couldn't have been new. Glad they got you a replacement but you had to deal with the hassle too unfortunately.

obses · Sep 27, 2019

Hi everyone.

I don't create another thread of the same doubt

I have purchase sigma 16 and I'm a bit dissapointed too but my lense arrived with box, manual ... all seems ok not as like the lense of the other member that arrived without box. My "problem" is that my expectations from this lens was to high. I read that this lense is one of the best for this camera and that the sharpness is awesome and comparing overall picture quality with the 16-50 the improvement it's not so noticiable. It's true that sigma colors, contrast and sharpnes are better but only a bit. I don't se a big diference. I expected more because the kit lens is suposed that its performance is so-so ...

What do you think? The lense is correct or defective?

Kit lens

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1_v6CVXpVp-n6VYDZ-B-Vn5L1DSE_G0NJ

Sigma

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1RdgC5cZpI8egzOoMsoRdrgjSEr1YHOyQ

Download the pictures because on google drive the pictures looks washed out.

Advent1sam · Sep 27, 2019

obses said:
Hi everyone.

I don't create another thread of the same doubt

I have purchase sigma 16 and I'm a bit dissapointed too but my lense arrived with box, manual ... all seems ok not as like the lense of the other member that arrived without box. My "problem" is that my expectations from this lens was to high. I read that this lense is one of the best for this camera and that the sharpness is awesome and comparing overall picture quality with the 16-50 the improvement it's not so noticiable. It's true that sigma colors, contrast and sharpnes are better but only a bit. I don't se a big diference. I expected more because the kit lens is suposed that its performance is so-so ...

What do you think? The lense is correct or defective?

Kit lens

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1_v6CVXpVp-n6VYDZ-B-Vn5L1DSE_G0NJ

Sigma

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1RdgC5cZpI8egzOoMsoRdrgjSEr1YHOyQ

Download the pictures because on google drive the pictures looks washed out.

I think your 16-50 is defective

You shot the 16-50 @7.1 and the 16 @5.6 too

Sympa · Sep 27, 2019

Hi Obses I think both your kit lens and the Sigma look very good.

The Sigma will of course be very different if used with a more 'open' aperture, for example in poor light.

SpacemanUA · Sep 27, 2019

For me, it's not good with the Sigma. It should work better. Maybe missfocused or just a bad sample.

taprock · Sep 27, 2019

obses said:
Hi everyone.

I don't create another thread of the same doubt

I have purchase sigma 16 and I'm a bit dissapointed too but my lense arrived with box, manual ... all seems ok not as like the lense of the other member that arrived without box. My "problem" is that my expectations from this lens was to high. I read that this lense is one of the best for this camera and that the sharpness is awesome and comparing overall picture quality with the 16-50 the improvement it's not so noticiable. It's true that sigma colors, contrast and sharpnes are better but only a bit. I don't se a big diference. I expected more because the kit lens is suposed that its performance is so-so ...

What do you think? The lense is correct or defective?

Kit lens

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1_v6CVXpVp-n6VYDZ-B-Vn5L1DSE_G0NJ

Sigma

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1RdgC5cZpI8egzOoMsoRdrgjSEr1YHOyQ

Download the pictures because on google drive the pictures looks washed out.

The kit lens is supposed to be mediocre at 16mm, so its weird to see the Sigma 16mm only slightly sharper. In my testing, the Sigma is significantly sharper than my kit lens at the corners, especially stopped down. If all of your shots have the similar results I would test out another Sigma 16mm if you can.

obses · Sep 28, 2019

Advent1sam said:
obses said:

Hi everyone.

I don't create another thread of the same doubt

I have purchase sigma 16 and I'm a bit dissapointed too but my lense arrived with box, manual ... all seems ok not as like the lense of the other member that arrived without box. My "problem" is that my expectations from this lens was to high. I read that this lense is one of the best for this camera and that the sharpness is awesome and comparing overall picture quality with the 16-50 the improvement it's not so noticiable. It's true that sigma colors, contrast and sharpnes are better but only a bit. I don't se a big diference. I expected more because the kit lens is suposed that its performance is so-so ...

What do you think? The lense is correct or defective?

Kit lens

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1_v6CVXpVp-n6VYDZ-B-Vn5L1DSE_G0NJ

Sigma

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1RdgC5cZpI8egzOoMsoRdrgjSEr1YHOyQ

Download the pictures because on google drive the pictures looks washed out.

Click to expand...

I think your 16-50 is defective

You shot the 16-50 @7.1 and the 16 @5.6 too

I've shooted in their sharpest aperture.

paul wassermann · Sep 28, 2019

My Sigma 16mm is a superb lens and I would also recommend you exchange for another copy UNLESS (I haven't read the entire thread here) your issue is related to the quirky autofocus issue at large apertures on this lens. Solved by using CONTINUOUS AF.

Here is a link to a useful video on this issue:

Max Polonski · Sep 28, 2019

All lenses are soft wide opened. Try 1.8

I got the Sigma 16mm F1.4, but not sure if lens is OK

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