Sigma 150-600 Garbage

[jcdeboever]

Getting my lens back tomorrow. They upgraded the OS, fixed the focus motor, calibrated, and updated firmware. So, I wasn't crazy after all.

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Strange, I've got this jury sitting over here and the foreman is saying they are still deliberating on that one.. lol

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Lmao.

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[robbins.photo]

OK Folks. I will get with ASTRO.

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No worries, the frustration is normal. My suggestion is to start with a non moving target that is relatively in the open, and change the cameras AF system so you control the focus point and it's only using one. Best thing I've found to use believe it or not is a sign of some sort. The lettering makes it easy to tell if your focus is off.

Take test shots using raw and jpg, back up, repeat. By using one focus point and shooting at an uncluttered target you will remove all the variables of the cameras af system locking on the wrong target. Good lighting, fast shutter speed, turn the os system off. If the images come out clear, then it's a technique issue that can most likely be addressed.

Once you've done this with the os off, repeat with the os on at both fast and slower shutter speeds. See if the os system is engaging at shutter speeds where it shouldn't. I had that issue with my 70-200, once diagnosed it was easy to shoot around it. I just turned off the OS manually at higher shutter speeds

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[bribrius]

Youu know I agree that you maybe got a bad lens. I am not totally convinced, but it seems a possibility. What I am going to jump on is implying that the Sigma 150-600 S lens is a POS! It is NOT. Here is a sample shot using that lens on a Canon 6D at 600mm. 1/2000 F7.1 ISO 1000 HANDHELD! ...and I am only one of many many people getting thee same results. So either you got a one-off lemon, or you or your camera aren't up to that lens. That may be harsh, but not any more so than calling this lens a POS.

Here's another with that lens on my old 7D @600mm(900mm equiv) ISO 250 1/1000 F6.3 again HANDHELD (by an old man) Find fault with this.

too much contrast and looks oof

 

[bribrius]

Youu know I agree that you maybe got a bad lens. I am not totally convinced, but it seems a possibility. What I am going to jump on is implying that the Sigma 150-600 S lens is a POS! It is NOT. Here is a sample shot using that lens on a Canon 6D at 600mm. 1/2000 F7.1 ISO 1000 HANDHELD! ...and I am only one of many many people getting thee same results. So either you got a one-off lemon, or you or your camera aren't up to that lens. That may be harsh, but not any more so than calling this lens a POS.

Here's another with that lens on my old 7D @600mm(900mm equiv) ISO 250 1/1000 F6.3 again HANDHELD (by an old man) Find fault with this.

too much contrast and looks oof. \

LOL

 

[Didereaux]

Youu know I agree that you maybe got a bad lens. I am not totally convinced, but it seems a possibility. What I am going to jump on is implying that the Sigma 150-600 S lens is a POS! It is NOT. Here is a sample shot using that lens on a Canon 6D at 600mm. 1/2000 F7.1 ISO 1000 HANDHELD! ...and I am only one of many many people getting thee same results. So either you got a one-off lemon, or you or your camera aren't up to that lens. That may be harsh, but not any more so than calling this lens a POS.

Here's another with that lens on my old 7D @600mm(900mm equiv) ISO 250 1/1000 F6.3 again HANDHELD (by an old man) Find fault with this.

too much contrast and looks oof

Sue your optometrist, you've been defrauded!

 

[Braineack]

Find fault with this.

you mean other than the fact that it's out of focus, lacks detail, and simply looks bad?

Sue your optometrist, you've been defrauded!

 

[jcdeboever]

Not sure what's going on here, how you're shooting, how the camera is set up. You have shot a subject that is mis-focused by a few inches, at 600mm on a 1.5x camera, so you've missed focus by a SMALL AMOUNT...HAVE NOT SEEN anything to show what the lens ca do, only what you cannot do--and, at ISO 1600...from what? A NEF? an SOOC JPEG? Why is the noise reduction so danged hugh?

Long lens technique is not something you learn in one day. You just missed a 1,000-meter shot at a big buck deer: is the problem with the rifle's scope, the shooter's breath control, or the absurdity of taking a shot under such a crazy scenario?

What can the lens do over a DAY? How many frames did you shoot? Why do you expect to be able to shoot such an exotic lens like a pro on day one back from repairs. You CAMERA could easily be out of whack. Not every lens is calibrated for every camera, not ever camera is calibrated for every lens. The test shots...all two of them...you think the lens is the issue, but I can;t tell much from two frames shot and processed as seen here.

You are using a very specialized tool, and on a bargain-level camera with an awful viewfinder, and you have almost zero experience with it. There's a lot wrong with this scenario. The chances are 50-50 that there's nothing wrong with "the lens". I don't want to blame you, but there are unanswered questions, and you have how many hours' worth of experience shooting this thing? WHat do you expect the songbird focus keeper rate to be with a new lens? HOW MANY frames did the two mis-focused ones we saw come from? 100? 10? 40?

No noise reduction done in software. The actual raw files were bad, I was so frustrated looking at it. Meter dead on, tried several shots different focus modes, ISO, shutter speeds, etc. Focus point was spot on head of bird, actually framed the little guys head in most of my test shots. I shot 68 frames and they all looked like crap.

I expect at least one good reference point to start with, I can't even get a good enough shot to work from. I am 99.9% certain this thing is flawed. It may well be my camera, it is the only thing I have not ruled out.

 

[astroNikon]

OK Folks. I will get with ASTRO.

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Yeah, we'll do target practice with the lens .. lol .. if here ... test photos of small aircraft coming in (they fly right over my house on landing/takeoffs) and other fixed tests.

I always test lenses against my house wall which has this really detailed brick stuff. Great for IQ testing. Then the airplanes.

otherwise AnnArbor and Huron River has plenty of waterfowl and cars.

 

[jcdeboever]

OK Folks. I will get with ASTRO.

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Yeah, we'll do target practice with the lens .. lol .. if here ... test photos of small aircraft coming in (they fly right over my house on landing/takeoffs) and other fixed tests.

I always test lenses against my house wall which has this really detailed brick stuff. Great for IQ testing. Then the airplanes.

otherwise AnnArbor and Huron River has plenty of waterfowl and cars.

Thanks Brother, getting it setup for Saturday via PM. I hope I am the idiot, it will make for a great thread, we can really pour it on if it's me and not the lens. Should be good for a crap load of good laughs, providing it's me and not the lens.

 

[robbins.photo]

Thanks Brother, getting it setup for Saturday via PM. I hope I am the idiot, it will make for a great thread, we can really pour it on if it's me and not the lens. Should be good for a crap load of good laughs, providing it's me and not the lens.

I'll keep my fingers crossed, lets hope that it is you and not the lens. Although if such is the case and Astro offers to "update your firmware" make a run for it. You can thank me later. Lol

 

[petrochemist]

Strange it won't work on a tripod. I also think it could be a little sharper. I also noticed there was some kind of visual shifting in the view finder a couple of times while focusing, kind of freaked me out a little the first time... I was like, what the heck was that! Not sure what that was about...

The last few handheld ones look much better.

What tripod/head are you using? At longer focal lengths there is a need for a better quality tripod than for everyday shots. Even minor vibrations can be a major issue.

It could be the stabilization is loose when turned off, but I'm not sure a tripod confirms that.
Having the camera on something rock solid, supported by something like a jacket/bean bag, & operated by self timer should rule out any possible movement (including shutter shock).

 

[astroNikon]

Thanks Brother, getting it setup for Saturday via PM. I hope I am the idiot, it will make for a great thread, we can really pour it on if it's me and not the lens. Should be good for a crap load of good laughs, providing it's me and not the lens.

I'll keep my fingers crossed, lets hope that it is you and not the lens. Although if such is the case and Astro offers to "update your firmware" make a run for it. You can thank me later. Lol

I ain't gonna update anyone's Firmware
lol
I use a Tamron 150-600


Tripod-wise I'll use my heavy duty Slik Professional tripod with remote release for initial tests, then handheld tests. I use my lens mostly handheld or if sometimes on a monopod for sports.

 

[jcdeboever]

Thanks Brother, getting it setup for Saturday via PM. I hope I am the idiot, it will make for a great thread, we can really pour it on if it's me and not the lens. Should be good for a crap load of good laughs, providing it's me and not the lens.

I'll keep my fingers crossed, lets hope that it is you and not the lens. Although if such is the case and Astro offers to "update your firmware" make a run for it. You can thank me later. Lol

I ain't gonna update anyone's Firmware
lol
I use a Tamron 150-600


Tripod-wise I'll use my heavy duty Slik Professional tripod with remote release for initial tests, then handheld tests. I use my lens mostly handheld or if sometimes on a monopod for sports.

Firmware is the latest.

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[DarkShadow]

The latest Firmware is 1.1 and only improves on AF speed and has nothing to do with sharpness or the OS.

 

[robbins.photo]

The latest Firmware is 1.1 and only improves on AF speed and has nothing to do with sharpness.

Well, I wasn't actually taking about the "firmware" of the lens, but once a joke fails that bad not much point in going back and trying to explain it. Lol