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USB Lens Dock
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Mar 21, 2016 14:22:52   #
rkamantas Loc: Beverly Shores, Indiana
 
On occasion I come across an advertisement for a higher end lens that comes with a Camera Lens USB Dock. Can someone please explain what that is?

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Mar 21, 2016 14:53:01   #
DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA
 
Sounds like something you attach to your lens to update the firmware.

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Mar 21, 2016 14:54:55   #
John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN
 
Do you have a way to read what the seller web site says. I can't imagine why a lens would need an USB connectivity, unless it has some sort of chip inside but then why a chip. Do some lenses have internal electronics for some purpose. Modern day lenses have electrical connectors so a camera can run the focusing 'motor.'

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Mar 21, 2016 15:00:56   #
John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN
 
John_F wrote:
Do you have a way to read what the seller web site says. I can't imagine why a lens would need an USB connectivity, unless it has some sort of chip inside but then why a chip. Do some lenses have internal electronics for some purpose. Modern day lenses have electrical connectors so a camera can run the focusing 'motor.'


I spoke too soon. Googled the name and got a dpreview article link. Some lenses have internal firmware that can be adjusted and updated. Best to read the article as I am not qualified to babble from it. Sorta seems like an important item for your high, high end lenses and brand dependent.

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Mar 21, 2016 15:34:01   #
Mr PC Loc: Austin, TX
 
I have average, newer Sigma equipment and their USB dock. It can update firmware, they just improved the autofocus on the 150-600. You can also micro-adjust the lens. Both useful features.

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Mar 22, 2016 00:50:26   #
rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
 
The new Sigma lenses with custom settings require USB dock to program the lenses, also to do firmware uploads and adjust manual focus settings.

For those unfamiliar with many of today's electronic auto focus lenses, there's a micro processor in the lens.

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Mar 22, 2016 02:39:42   #
mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey
 
rkamantas wrote:
On occasion I come across an advertisement for a higher end lens that comes with a Camera Lens USB Dock. Can someone please explain what that is?


Cameras with microfocus adjustment allow you to adjust the lens/body relationship to control back and front focusing. Sigma has taken the process a step further with its new lens lines which are supported by their USB Dock ($60). Built in camera adjustments for a zoom lens allows plus or minus values to be applied at the long and short end for zooms and at a single focal length for primes. The Sigma USB Dock and its free software allow you to adjust zoom lenses for four different focal points and four different distances for a total of 16 different settings. You can adjust Sigma prime lenses for four different distances. This gives you significantly more control over the lens parameters then you can get with a cameras fine tuning. The Dock also allows you to apply firmware updates.

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Mar 22, 2016 03:01:51   #
Macronaut Loc: Redondo Beach,Ca.
 
Cut and pasted from manual.....

-Lens firmware can be updated to the latest version via the internet.

Lens customization
-Focus Setting
Focus can be set at each of 4 shooting distance ranges for fixed focal lenses, and each of 16 ranges (4 focusing distance ranges in x 4 shooting distance ranges) in total for zoom lenses.
-Full-time MF Setting
It is possible to select Full-time MF function ON / OFF, and adjust the timing to operate Full-time MF function.
-AF Speed Setting
AF speed can be selected from 3 modes (only available in lenses with a custom mode switch).
-Focus Limiter Setting
Range of the AF drive can be set (only available in lenses with a custom mode switch).
-OS Setting
For the Optical Stabilizer, 3 unique view modes are available. This offers the most suited OS (Optical Stabilizer) function for any shooting style (only available in lenses with a custom mode switch).

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Mar 22, 2016 06:27:36   #
billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
 
rkamantas wrote:
On occasion I come across an advertisement for a higher end lens that comes with a Camera Lens USB Dock. Can someone please explain what that is?


You are talking about third party lenses here. I would not consider them HIGHER END. Yes, they may be the manufactures higher end lenses but they are not to the standards of Canon, Nikon, Sony, and any other major camera manufacture. STAY AWAY. FAR FAR AWAY.

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Mar 22, 2016 06:33:51   #
OnDSnap Loc: NE New Jersey
 
billnikon wrote:
You are talking about third party lenses here. I would not consider them HIGHER END. Yes, they may be the manufactures higher end lenses but they are not to the standards of Canon, Nikon, Sony, and any other major camera manufacture. STAY AWAY. FAR FAR AWAY.


And you get your info from?????? That I would stay FAR FAR AWAY FROM

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Mar 22, 2016 06:56:12   #
billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
 
OnDSnap wrote:
And you get your info from?????? That I would stay FAR FAR AWAY FROM


I get my info from 40 years in the profession. It has been my experience that third party glass does not compare to branded lenses. I have used several and the comparisons just don't justify their purchase. Of course these lenses are less expensive and THAT ALONE is their sales advantage. But lens bargains does not translate to IQ quality. It is my opinion alone and I stand by it from years and years of comparing these lenses to branded lenses.

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Mar 22, 2016 06:58:20   #
gmw12 Loc: Indianapolis & Windsor/UK & Montreux/Switzerl
 
billnikon wrote:
You are talking about third party lenses here. I would not consider them HIGHER END. Yes, they may be the manufactures higher end lenses but they are not to the standards of Canon, Nikon, Sony, and any other major camera manufacture. STAY AWAY. FAR FAR AWAY.


This is about the biggest non-sense I have seen on this blog recently. ALL tests have shown that e.g. the Sigma 1.4/50mm is second to the Zeiss Otus equivalent but ahead of the brands you mentioned...

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Mar 22, 2016 07:04:44   #
billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
 
gmw12 wrote:
This is about the biggest non-sense I have seen on this blog recently. ALL tests have shown that e.g. the Sigma 1.4/50mm is second to the Zeiss Otus equivalent but ahead of the brands you mentioned...


Reports say a lot of things. My Sony Zeiss 50mm f1.4 also beats your Sigma, SORRY.

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Mar 22, 2016 07:21:15   #
OnDSnap Loc: NE New Jersey
 
billnikon wrote:
I get my info from 40 years in the profession. It has been my experience that third party glass does not compare to branded lenses. I have used several and the comparisons just don't justify their purchase. Of course these lenses are less expensive and THAT ALONE is their sales advantage. But lens bargains does not translate to IQ quality. It is my opinion alone and I stand by it from years and years of comparing these lenses to branded lenses.


Ditto, and I for one only buy brand lenses, all Nikon Gold Band f/2.8's or faster...but to say there isn't a 3rd party lens out there that can't give a Gold/Red band lens a run for it's money is absurd.

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Mar 22, 2016 09:47:56   #
mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey
 
billnikon wrote:
You are talking about third party lenses here. I would not consider them HIGHER END. Yes, they may be the manufactures higher end lenses but they are not to the standards of Canon, Nikon, Sony, and any other major camera manufacture. STAY AWAY. FAR FAR AWAY.

The Sigma Art lenses are not high end? You need to do a little research. The Art series build and optics is as good or better than many of the high end lenses from Canon and Nikon. You information is years old. Have you actually spent time with a lens like the 50mm f/1.4 Art? The only lens in that category that beats it is the $4000 55mm Zeiss Otus which although incredibly superb lacks AF.

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