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Just traded my Sigma 16-28 for a Sigma 35/2

Mine works fine but I don't have a Sigma camera to try it on.
 
Pete_W said:
I've considered doing the same, although the 16-35 is heavier and larger.

How are you finding the difference between the two lenses?
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Only just got it
Doesn’t feel any bigger or heavier on the SL2S tbh and I love the manual focus clutch
Need to get out and take some pics
 
AlanC said:
Before sending the 35/2 back I decided to test it on my S5... and got a set of just about perfect images with none of the problems I'd seen on the fp L. :oops:

So I've been testing with the fp L again and am getting inconsistent results.

I'm pretty sure the bad example I posted above is down to motion blur despite the fact I had the shutter speed at 1/125: increasing the speed to 1/250 or 1/500 gives more consistent results. It made me remember this article on Jim Kasson's blog: https://blog.kasson.com/the-last-word/rules-of-thumb-for-handheld-shutter-speed/

Another factor seems to be that the fp L's autofocus isn't as consistent or accurate as the S5 in pinpoint mode: I was using autofocus to get the distance right and then switching to manual focus while taking the photos so they were all consistent. If I manually focus to the correct distance, measured using Google Maps, then the results improve further.

Center:
View attachment 1578

Edge (no lens corrections applied):
View attachment 1579

There's some loss of contrast and slightly less sharpness at the edge but given the 35/2, if uncorrected, does have moderate barrel distortion and a considerable vignette, I don't think that's bad: it takes some pixel-peeping to see the difference.

I do wonder if the lens has some field curvature in the midrange and the inconsistencies in the fp L's autofocus may put it right on the borderline so panning to put the subject at the edge results in it being out of focus?

I'd be interested to know if other owners of this lens have seen any focus consistency issues?
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Just tried mine on FpL and S52, because your test had me motivated to look, never having noticed any issues with the lens. I think your test is a bit of a torture given distance and angles. Me, I was happier just testing lens wide open at my print wall in the office with identical settings (other than pixel level - 24mps versus 61 mps). No issues with the lens on either body, nice and sharp middle of the frame with a little vignetting, and infinity focus (bottom of the field - trees), again no issues, edge of frame improves with stopping down, both bodies relying on autofocus - centre point. I'm not a tester really, just have to be happy with real life performance, rather than shooting charts or brick walls though I do appreciate the need to check as there can be real copy inconsistency.
 
Thanks Jayne, Jonanthan.

Usually I don't worry too much about checking lenses: I do a quick test by focusing manually on a subject about 60-70 feet away and then aim the camera so the subject appears in each corner to check there aren't any obvious decentering problems. What caused all the pixel-peeping this time round was that I did get some very obvious problems.

It looks like there are two issues. The lens is noticeably soft on the right hand side, and the autofocus is very inconsistent on perhaps 25% of the images: from the EXIF data it's been out by about 10 feet on a subject 70 feet away.

It looks like I've got a bad example of the lens, so it's going back and I'll be asking for a refund.
 
After seeing that the i-series wasn't included in this year's spring discounts I decided to try getting another copy from a different dealer. London Camera Exchange had the lens at a slightly reduced price, so I bought from them.

The new lens arrived today; it was despatched directly from Sigma UK and was exceptionally well packaged. I've given it a quick repeat of my "torture" test and the difference between this copy and the previous one is stark: this one is noticeably sharper overall with very little fall off in sharpness towards the corners and none of the softness on the right hand side that was evident in the first lens. It's every bit as good as my other i-series lenses.
 
Glad to read you got a good copy.

I was also expecting some I-series reductions this spring (not that I have the funds to buy any, or a need for any of the lenses currently available). Maybe after these ones expire at the end of May.
 
Sigma UK certainly know how to lead me into temptation. When I registered the new lens for the 3 year warranty I got a special offer: 10% off your next lens, valid for a month. Must... resist... :D
 
AlanC said:
Sigma UK certainly know how to lead me into temptation. When I registered the new lens for the 3 year warranty I got a special offer: 10% off your next lens, valid for a month. Must... resist... :D
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You may have just prompted me to register some lenses:).
 
AlanC said:
Sigma UK certainly know how to lead me into temptation. When I registered the new lens for the 3 year warranty I got a special offer: 10% off your next lens, valid for a month. Must... resist... :D
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Wow, I never got that when I registered my lenses. Got an extended guarantee I think so still worth it.
 
AlanC said:
Sigma UK certainly know how to lead me into temptation. When I registered the new lens for the 3 year warranty I got a special offer: 10% off your next lens, valid for a month. Must... resist... :D
Click to expand...

I have the feeling that Sigma and Panasonic UK offer always the best deals.

"Resistance is futile" as you know...
 
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