Equipment

Sigma Optimization Pro and USB Dock

Published June 9, 2013

“Commerce makes progress. Fortune passes everywhere.” – Frank Herbert

A few years ago I was accused of being a Sigma hater. (For the record, I did hate their quality control and so-called repair service at that time, and I didn’t hesitate to say so in this blog.) For the third or fourth time in the last year, I’m about to be accused of being a Sigma fanboy.

I’m pretty certain I haven’t gone soft over the last 4 years. I am certain, though, that Sigma Photo, Inc. has changed a lot in that time. Truth is, they’re making serious waves in the photo industry these last few years. They’ve improved their repair service and quality assurance. They’ve released some world-class lenses at way less than world-class prices lately. And now they’ve released their USB dock and Optimization Pro software.

I’ve spent the weekend playing with it. Partly because I really think this is a revolutionary product and I wanted to see how it worked. Partly because I desperately need a ‘Honey, I’ve really got to do this for work’ excuse or I’d have been restaining the deck.

My conclusion, as usual, first: if anything is going to get the attention of those who like to disable features in firmware, overprice lenses, and limit our ability to customize, this might be it. I did some adjustments this weekend, in about 10 minutes, which would have required a trip to factory service on a Canon or Nikon lens. And let me stop the Fanboy stuff before it starts: you may never have needed to make this adjustment on your 10 or 20 Canon or Nikon lenses, but I’ve sent dozens of them to factory service adjustments for exactly the issue I’m going to demonstrate today.

Quick Overview of the USB Dock and Optimization Pro software

The directions are pretty simple:

  • Make sure you buy the dock in the proper mount (Canon, Nikon, or Sigma).
  • Download the Optimization Pro Software HERE. It’s about 3.4 Mb in a zip file, available for Windows or Mac.
  • Open the software, put the lens in the USB dock, and plug the USB port in your computer.

Once you hook things up the program the program opens to a nice, straightforward main page.

 

The firmware update button reads the lens’ firmware and lets you know if you need a firmware update. Push yes and it updates in about 20 seconds.

Adjusting a Lens

First of all, there’s a nice 10-minute video that Sigma made that shows you the use of the device very clearly HERE. If you’re like me, though, you might prefer a 30 second blog read. It really is that simple. Actually, 10 minutes is more time than it took me to do my first adjustment on the 35mm f/1.4 (of course, without reading any manuals).

I should be clear, I don’t do a full-ballistic, OCD, 600-shot microfocus adjustment. I’m too aware that phase detection AF is a shotgun, not a sniper’s rifle. I’ll take nearly perfect in 10 minutes rather than perfect in 4 hours every time. Plus, like I said, I’ve got a deck to stain. Unless I can put it off so long that my wife gets frustrated and does it herself.

I chose a lens that is perfect for this software. This copy of the 35mm f/1.4 is perfect on my Canon 6D at close and intermediate distances, but at long distances it backfocuses badly. I can do a microfocus adjustment to correct long-distance focus, but then the lens is frontfocusing at near distances. Without the Sigma dock and software, the only option was a trip to the factory service center to change the lens parameters.

Since I was at home instead of the office, I didn’t have Focal, LensAlign charts, or any of the other things that seem to be considered necessary tools for autofocus adjustment these days. So I made do with a placemat and my back yard.

Since I plan on using this lens outdoors in daylight I wanted to adjust it in daylight (autofocus can change slightly in different lighting conditions, if you aren’t aware). I started with a placemat set in front of a picture window.

Spot focusing on the tip of the green leaf, I took several shots each at minimum focusing distance, 3 feet, and 6 feet. They all showed focus was accurate, as in the samples below.

 

Focusing at longer distances, however, showed the lens backfocused quite dramatically. In this image the focus point was on the small yellow leaf in the foreground (I’ve cropped the image to show the area behind the focus point).

Opening up the Sigma adjustment window shows I can make adjustments at 4 distances. With the 35mm, 3 of those are close: roughly 0.3, 0.4 and 0.7 meters. The other is infinity.

I left the close adjustments at zero and gave infinity adjustment a -12. You just click on the area you want to adjust, move the slider the amount you want adjusted, and then click the “Rewriting” button. (The “Rewriting” button is the only part of the software that isn’t totally intuitive; it isn’t highlighted until after you click on it.)

A repeat shot outside showed -12 was way too much adjustment so I went back and reset the infinity adjustment to -8. That was spot on as shown in the image below. I rechecked AF at closer distances and it had not changed a bit.

Total elapsed time for firmware update, focus checks, focus adjustments, and final check was just about 10 minutes. Obviously a zoom lens, which can be adjusted both at different focal lengths for different focusing distances at each focal length, will take longer.

Conclusion

For the even slightly gear-head amongst us, this is an awesome tool, giving us the ability to fine-tune autofocus adjustment much more completely than simple camera microfocus adjustment. At $59, I consider it an amazing bargain for anyone who owns one of the Sigma Art, Contemporary, or Sportsย lenses (it does not work on older lenses).

I’ve already heard a couple of people complain that it should be included with the lenses but I disagree. First, the price is very reasonable and the software is free. Why would they include it with each lens (which probably means each lens costs $59 more) when you only need one for all of your lenses? Not to mention half the people who got it would never use it.

I’ve heard others state that only Sigma lenses need such a device. I’ll meet them part way: I think there is probably a more frequent need for such adjustment on third-party lenses, but I can absolutely guarantee you that the big-boy’s lenses do indeed have this same kind of problem, at least occasionally.

Whether they need it more frequently or not, now Sigma DOES have such a device. Which means, for example (just pulling a random lens out of my hat), the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 is now not only sharper and less expensive, but also more accurately adjustable than the manufacturer’s 35mm f/1.4. I wonder if anyone is hearing footsteps*?

 

Roger Cicala

Lensrentals.com

June, 2013

* For my non U. S. readers, hearing footsteps is a term used to describe an American football player, who, thinking he is wide open and about to catch a pass, unexpectedly hears the footsteps of an unseen opposing player about to crush him.

Author: Roger Cicala

I’m Roger and I am the founder of Lensrentals.com. Hailed as one of the optic nerds here, I enjoy shooting collimated light through 30X microscope objectives in my spare time. When I do take real pictures I like using something different: a Medium format, or Pentax K1, or a Sony RX1R.

Posted in Equipment
  • Ajit

    Finally the review I have been waiting for ever since the USB dock was to be made available in late May, and by June 10 from all the major US retailers.
    It’s great to know the USB dock does work well.
    I had returned my 35 1.4 copy a few months back before I knew of this device… my copy back then had to be adjusted to +18 which was quite bad. The color and sharpness though was amazing.

  • This is awesome. Specially if you put it against Canon and Nikon including AF microadjustment only in DSLRs costing $1K or more. Way to go, Sigma!

    (also: yet another reason to go for a cheap camera and expensive glass; a D3200 with sigma 35mm sounds like a pretty little beast)

  • Thanks for the fascinating review Roger.
    I have always been enthusiastic about SIGMA lenses, they have such innovative options. I am very glad to hear that your view of their QC and service is improving, and I too have been very amazed with some of the more recent achievements.
    I suspect this tool and the options it provides will appeal to a select few, but it (especially at it’s unreal fair price!) and the new wave of offerings, are going to go a LONG way toward prodding the other guys in the right direction as well. Competition is good.
    Now when do SIGMA put OS on the 500 and 800 prime and the 300-800mm!? ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Ben

    Chris, I’m a US reader and watch American football and wasn’t familiar with it either.

  • David

    Hey Roger,

    thanks for the great article!

    It certainly gives me some hope, because I just love the 35 F1.4 but I ran into the exact same problem on my 5DIII as you did on your 6D.
    I face quite a strong back-focus as soon as I optimize the lens for close-up shots.

    However, for me the numbers are much worse: I have to set the 5DIII in FMA to +15 for the lens to be spot on. Yet, then the lens performs truly excellent up to about four meters of distance.

    I must admit that I haven’t really used this lens for larger distances, since my major field of application is low-light indoor shooting. Hence, I made my peace with that flaw (at least in a certain way).

    Thus, great to know that there is light at the end of the tunnel!!

  • Hi Roger,
    great article as always. And a big thanks from one of your non U.S. readers, hadn’t heard the ‘hearing footsteps’ one before.
    Although I have to admit hearing so many positive things about the new 35A really is difficult. I have too many lenses as it is and spent way too much money the last two months already ๐Ÿ™ But the more I read about it and the USB dock the more I get that special itch that means I’ll have to check my bank account again ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Keep up the great work!

  • Roger Cicala

    Renato,
    I am – at least as happy as I ever am, because I’m always fighting the green grass on the other side. But I’m still loving the WiFi-App setup and taking pictures every weekend, and had no buyer’s remorse, so I do think I made the ‘best compromise’ choice for me.
    Roger

  • Renato

    By the way, are you happy with your 6d choice?

  • Roger Cicala

    Troy, I plan to as soon as I can keep my hands on a copy long enough to do it. We just haven’t been able to get enough to fill renter’s requests yet.

  • Troy Past

    Roger, if you did a review of the 120-300 Sport you would be one of the first, and I imagine you would get alot of web hits. The lens has been out for awhile but zero reviews on Amazon, BH, Adorama etc..

  • Dave L

    When you first connect the S35 to the dock and the program tells you there is an update you can see what the update does in the info window but only if you do it before you update the lens. The update for the S35 was for compatibility with the dock program.

    At least that’s the way it worked for me ๐Ÿ™‚

  • I wish this worked on the Sigma 85mm f/1.4, which works really well with my 5Dc, but it misses focus at all distances with my 5DmkIII ๐Ÿ™

  • Roger Cicala

    Ben, I played with the 120-300 and the dock today. Very impressive set of customizing numbers, but it’s going to take me some time to see what things like OS adjustment and AF speed adjustment really do. Trouble is I can’t keep my hands on one long enough to do much, they come back in the morning and go back out that afternoon until we get more copies.

  • Fred

    How is that similar to Reikan Focal? I just calibrated a brand new 70-200 2.8L II and I’m getting +2(W) +4(T), did it a few times even with the distance calculations that was default.

  • Ben

    Roger, do you have any plans to take a look at the new 120-300? Initial feedback on forums from owners of the new model is extremely positive especially concerning tuning with the dock. I’m sure a lot of people would like to read your take.

    sabawa, I’ve been thinking how nice it would be if Sigma offered an upgrade service for the 50 and 85 which updated the lens’s electronics with dock compatible. I know it wouldn’t be cheap, but it would be cheaper than buying new lenses when they get the Art treatment.

  • dear sigma… please allow the dock to update the firmware on the siggy 50 1.4 so i can be totally happy. thanks ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Tony

    Roger: So when a Sigma lens is mounted on a Canon body, the body will recognize the lens (make, model, and serial number) just as if it were a Canon lens — and thus permit the camera to store lens-specific microfocus adjustments?

  • Roger Cicala

    Tony, we’re still trying to figure that out. Hopefully, we’ll adjust the lens to even out any distance-specific issues, then use camera calibration if required to adjust it to a different camera. But I don’t have enough experience yet to say that’s going to work.

  • Tony

    How does this system handle the situation where one lens is used on multiple bodies?

  • Leon Matsui

    I’ve been playing with the Sigma 35mm 1.4 Art for about a month now. Jus an awesome lens. You’re right, most of us are not interested in adjusting. Being able to do it at home means I might though. My copy has given my 7d new life with consistent results and crisp sharp images that I couldn’t get with some of my efs lens. I recently upgraded to a 5d mk 3 and was about to sell both of my 7d’s because of the images I got with the 5d. The sigma gives me awesome low light capabilities for both camera bodies. Not a techie, old film guy revisiting my passion. still wish they had a diagonal split screen to focus.
    Leon

  • By the way, Roger, my Sigma f/1.4 had the same backfocus issue at infinity focus, but not as bad as yours. Mine required a -2 adjustment with a 5D Mark II.

  • One note about updating the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 (for Canon) with the Optimization Pro Software – the software allowed me to update my Sigma 35mm f/1.4’s firmware, but it didn’t tell me what got fixed in the new firmware version. If you click the button that says “Detailed Information,” it only tells you the version number of the firmware update.

    I called Sigma USA to find out what had changed in the new firmware version. They told me they didn’t have that information asked me to send an official request for information (through their website’s support) which they would forward to Sigma Japan. When Sigma Japan responds, they promised to forward me the information.

    Why in the world wouldn’t Sigma make firmware change notes widely available? That doesn’t make sense to me. :-/

    Sean
    Content Editor, The-Digital-Picture.com

  • CarVac

    Awesome stuff, Sigma.

  • HomoSapiensWannaBe

    Roger,
    I am very happy with the Sigma 35/1.4 on a D600, but suspect some minor focus issues depending on distance. I will try this nifty tool which seems a great value. Anyway, I’ll probably buy more Sigma lenses going forward so it will be a good investment. (A 24/1.4 or 1.8 would be awesome, along with a 24-70/2.8 with VR and a super wide zoom, among others…)

    What about using the same lens on multiple bodies? It seems you can only fine tune it for a particular body. Aren’t there variations in focus performance due to the body?

  • Roger Cicala

    Richard,
    I can’t say anything about AF speed yet, but on zooms there are adjustments for 4 focus distances at each of 4 zoom ranges, so 16 total.

  • Bob

    I wonder how long before this thing is hacked so it can adjust Canon lenses too………?

  • Guido

    That’s a very nice solution – maybe for the next 5 years. The Camera-Future is mirrorless – even for the majority of SLR-like Bodies. I guess that in the next years most cameras will get a combination of Phase-AF and Contrast-AF. And with Contrast-AF Front- and Back-Focus are no longer issues. I know that the combined Phase- and Contrast-AF is a mess on some current camera models like the Canon EOS M. But it will improve in the next years.

  • eddy

    Thanks for the hearing footsteps explanation, really help me understand how the USB Dock works.

  • Richard Matheson

    Great piece, Mr. Cicala–even-handed and concise. And timely, too, I might add. I wonder how this dock performs on zoom lenses, i.e. whether the # of adjustments is just four and what impact, if any, making these focus adjustments will have on autofocus speed? Thanks for your impressions.

  • Great review, Roger. I haven’t had any focussing problems with my Sigma 35/1.4, but it’s nice to know I can adjust it if required.

    I also had the chance to shoot for a day with both my Sigma and a friend’s Canon 35L. I’m not much of a pixel peeper, but I couldn’t tell the difference, either when shooting or in post processing. The Sigma is every bit as good as the Canon, and probably a bit better according to the numbers. This article just reinforces that.

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