Robert Bailey Loc: Canada

I just received my Sigma USB Dock in the mail today.
I haven't had time to set it up and use it yet, but I'm looking forward to trying it tomorrow.
I have 4 Sigma lenses, but only 2 of them are new enough to work with the USB Dock.
Has anyone else used this device? Were you happy with the results?

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

It can be effective but its a lot of work, especially with a zoom which has 16 separate settings(primes have 4). If you have a camera with micro focus adjust capabilities try using that first. It isn't like they provide you with a straightforward, easy to use process. They don't. They basically provide you with the tool, but little on how to get the best from it.

Ernie Misner Loc: Lakewood, WA

The above advise is good. Your lens might already be focusing well and might not need any AF fine tuning though, and that needs to be determined first. First shoot a perfectly focused shot using Live View (if you have a DSLR), and then secondly shoot one using viewfinder focus. Compare the two and if the viewfinder focusing is consistently soft then AF fine tuning will help, at least with the distance and zoom setting that you used for this test.

Robert Bailey Loc: Canada

Thanks for the advice.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

I only used my Sigma dock for updates that Sigma suggests. Have not and did not use it to tweak my lens. That was a suggestion from Sigma when I called them and took their advise.

Jim Bob

Used only to update firmware only.

Robert Bailey Loc: Canada

Thanks- I hope to try it out later today, or else on the weekend.

Robert Bailey Loc: Canada

The lenses I have that are supposed to be compatible are the:
50 mm f 1.4 (full-frame)
18-35 mm f 1.8 (APS-C)

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Used it on my 18-35 with great results. Will use it on my 150-600 C, but, due to the greater length, I need to find a place where I can set up targets over 100' away. I have the targets printed and mounted, but it is time consuming.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Yes, it can be extremely time-consuming. I set the same lens up for use with my Canon 7D Mark II. It took hours to get it set up to a point where I was happy with all 4 distances at all four focal lengths.

In the end, what I discovered, in my case, was the amount of adjustment for all 16 settings was almost identical. That let me to think that on my camera, at least, the amount it was off was linear. As a result, after noting the settings so I could easily reapply them, I restored the factory settings and tried the exercise again using my cameras micro focus adjustment.

Most of the time the need for focus adjustment is a result of manufacturing tolerances of both the lenses and the camera bodies. It's why two "identical" lens models mounted on two "identical" camera bodies may yield different results. If one is lucky the resulting tolerance of their specific lens and camera copies will be close enough that there is little or no need for adjustment. More often that is not the case, but even then the amount a lens is off may still be fairly subtle and therefore acceptable to most people. Sometimes though we find that both the lens and camera are on opposite ends of the tolerance range and the amount of adjustment needed is very significant.

My camera can adjust for both the long end and wide end of a zoom lens and extrapolates the values in between. With a lot less effort than needed to configure 16 separate settings I got virtually the same results with my camera's two settings, and it also allows me to use that lens on other bodies without having to first restore the factory settings. The experience others may have mating their copy of a specific lens model with their copy of a specific camera model may differ from mine.

Robert Bailey Loc: Canada

Thanks for sharing your experience.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Good to know. My adjustments on the 18-35 were all over the place when I used it on my old t3i. I reset for my 80D and they seem more uniform. Which seemed odd. Maybe I will try the in camera adjustment on the 150-600 before I try the dock. However, the dock also allows other adjustments that I have found useful. Especially for the custom switches on the 150-600.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Yes, the dock can also make additional useful modifications to the 150-600. With regard to the performance of your 18-35 mm lens on the t3i vs the 80D, there is no surprise there. It's an example of how manufacturing tolerances can affect lens performance on different bodies. If you tried that same lens on a different t3i or 80D, or a different copy of the 18-35 on your existing bodies, you might get very different results.

3dees

maybe a dumb question, but what does an update on filmware do to a lens?

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

I find this to be an absolutely WONDERFUL device. I use mine to set the custom settings and for firmware updates. I can't wait for Nikon to release something similar. For me, the most important purpose is to make firmware updates without having to send the lens back to the factory. Saves time and money. Best of luck.