Sigma 50mm f1 4 dg hsm art
After reading all great reviews I’m a bit of hesitant but still curious decided to get one.
With a great experience with Sigma 35mm F1.4 Art from past wedding season, I really mean great experience – zero adjustments needed 90% hitting rate.
I was with the idea in my head that finally I’ll get myself not so “nifty” but still “fifty” lens 😉
 
Started with two copies from authorized Canadian dealer “Vistek” and three copies from “Henrys” and every single one of them was front focusing pretty badly and needed in camera (Auto Focus Micro Adjustment ) AFMA +13 or +17 depends on body.
Please note we are using few Canon 1dx’s and few 5d mark III camera bodies.
Even when you micro adjust the lens, the lens was hit and miss in the middle AF points, but the main problem of the Fifty was complete missing on Side AF points.
I didn’t want to give up and decided to get fifth copy of this lens, as this is really incredible lens … once it nail the focus right.
Yes it’s heavy, yes it’s huge if you comparing to other fifties around …. but when it hits the focus you just want to cry how sharp the focus areas are and how blurry the out of focus areas, almost like a 85L  😉
So I’ve got this one from “Henry’s” exposure show few days ago, went to a “Sigma” booth there tried with a “Sigma” representative  on my two camera bodies and it’s still was front focusing.
They ask me to bring it to the service, so on Monday morning May 26, 2014 I already been at “Sigma” service Toronto.
Long story short.
After 5 days in service, they called me and told that there is nothing to do with this right now and they are waiting for firmware update for this lens.
They suggested to do in camera AFMA but this for centre AF points only.
And it looks like Sigma can’t utilize the cross type of far right and far left and simply uses cross type in the center instead of double cross type sensors of 1dx and 5d mark 3 auto focus system.
Very-very disappointed “Sigma”, I really tried … and it’s really have a great potential to kill the competitors, but right for now it’s going back to the store.
It is still working when you focusing manual though and it’s still cheaper than Zeiss Otus but it’s very uncomfortable and unreliable when you are working with fast moving objects or happy bride.
My customers deserve the best !!!
 
And I love how someone said about his new Sigma 50mm Art :
“It’s simply sad, it’s like owning brand new Bugatti Veyron, but only with two wheels, so if you want to move it, you simply have to tow it …”
Please see some samples of new Sigma 50mm F1.4 below