Calibrating Sigma 150-600 C with Nikon D5300
Sep 6, 2019 09:52:09 #
I don't have an answer for you ..
BUT, I do have a question.
I to have a D 5300 & shooting with a Sigma lens.
Was going to down load a program upgrade for the camera then read about a guy who did it and then his lens didn't work on his camera.
I contacted Nikon and they said they would not be responsible for any " 3rd party lens" other then their own.
What say you on this ??
Roy
BUT, I do have a question.
I to have a D 5300 & shooting with a Sigma lens.
Was going to down load a program upgrade for the camera then read about a guy who did it and then his lens didn't work on his camera.
I contacted Nikon and they said they would not be responsible for any " 3rd party lens" other then their own.
What say you on this ??
Roy
Sep 6, 2019 09:54:32 #
Strodav
Loc: Houston, Tx
The very first thing to do is see if it needs to be tuned. As jpwa suggested, hang a focus target in a brightly lit area, a magazine page with text and lines will do. Mount your camera on a tripod, say 50ft from the target, use a remote release or the timer, turn off VR, wide open aperture, lower ISO and faster shutter speed. Find a good focus point then take about 5 shots in Live View mode at AF-S, and the same in AF mode, AF-S single point focus. Move the focus ring before each shot so the camera refocuses before each shot. The LV shots will be the sharpest pics the camera and lens are capable of as it uses contrast detection and AF uses phase detection.
Take the images into PP and compare them. If the LV shots are sharper than the AF shots, you might want to look into tuning.
Take the images into PP and compare them. If the LV shots are sharper than the AF shots, you might want to look into tuning.
Sep 6, 2019 11:44:16 #
I just called my local camera shop, Wolf"s Camera Topeka Ks, and talked to their tech rep. He said he had done lots of calibrations with cameras that had autofocus fine-tuning but had not done one with the Sigma Dock. Then he made me an offer. He would do mine for FREE just for the experience because they are a Sigma dealer and with more and more Sigma lenses supported by the dock, he could see the need to be able to do these type of calibrations. What a deal! Obviously, in the process he will learn what it takes time-wise and be able to determine what he would charge for that service. It's sure nice to have a full-service camera store locally. They are a dying breed. I will report back when he finishes.
Sep 6, 2019 14:30:56 #
Just got back from Wolfe's Camera. Here are some test shots comparing the Sigma 150-600 to the Nikon 200-500. The first shot is the Nikon at 500mm. The second shot is the Sigma at 500mm. The third shot is the Sigma at 600mm. All shot at f10 1/200 sec 1600 ISO. All three shots cropped for ease of comparison. You can really see the difference when you compare the Nikon and Sigma at 500mm. We will compare them once the calibration is done. Then we can see if the calibration helped, or if the Nikon is that much better of a lens. Honestly, I was impressed with the Nikon. I could not tell any difference in weight of the two lenses.
Sep 6, 2019 17:01:06 #
Re: machinedoc (hummingbird) I think it is a great shot. I believe that a photograph can be excellent without being tack sharp, depending on the subject and other factors. Davidb.
Sep 6, 2019 21:02:41 #
davidb1879 wrote:
Re: machinedoc (hummingbird) I think it is a great shot. I believe that a photograph can be excellent without being tack sharp, depending on the subject and other factors. Davidb.
Thanks, Davidb. Well said. We must never forget the artistic part of photography.
Sep 14, 2019 19:33:50 #
Sep 14, 2019 21:17:00 #
stansoper wrote:
I am not happy with the autofocus on my Nikon D530... (show quote)
Yes, it is absolutely possible to fine tune the lens and not the camera.
But make sure your issue is not technique. It's always easier to blame the hardware when technique is a contributing factor.
Sigma Sport, D800, 1/250 sec, F6.3, 600mm, ISO 1100, single point focus, lens used "out of the box" with no fine tuning either on the camera or the lens.
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