Sigma USB Dock Tutorial and Review

Dock Usage Tutorial

For the Dock Usage page, it'll be a combination of how it works and a tutorial for you to follow along should you need to reference it while using your new dock for the first time. This page will seem like one large photo essay, but that's because we found it the best way to explain all the different screens and how the dock is put into action.

Click on any image that appears below to open an enlargement for better viewing.

You probably noticed that the previous page didn't indicate a CD or thumbdrive (or floppy disk) was included with the packaging, which led to the question of "How do I install the software on my computer?" In what is surely a cost-saving measure (and one we have no issue with as it's one less CD for us to lose), Sigma simply points you to their website in order to download the installation file. Click here to visit the download page for the English language version, which includes both Windows and Macintosh versions. If you'd like more information on what updates were provided for individual lenses and the USB dock itself, you can click here and view the firmware update history for every product in the Global Vision line-up.

Once you install the program, you will have an icon appear on your desktop. In the screenshot of our computer's desktop below (whose icons are greatly magnified on a 1920x1080 screen resolution), you can see Sigma's Optimization Pro software highlighted:

Clicking on the icon and opening the software acts as the catalyst for the initial splash screen:

The following screen to appear is a status screen indicating that the dock is not connected to the computer:

What's interesting is the fact that once you mount a lens to the dock, your computer saves its profile in its memory, regardless of whether you have it connected again:

You'll notice that on the left-hand column, the 18-35mm F1.8 "Art" lens name appears, and it will stay there until you uninstall the program. The same will go for the rest of the "Contemporary," "Sport," and "Art" lenses that you connect to the dock, creating quite the long list of lenses should you make it a point to collect the entire set for yourself.

Before we continue with describing the usage of the dock, we wanted to point out a very specific note that Sigma made it clear to follow - ensure that you are using the included USB 1.1 cable. We don't have the faintest idea why, however it was highlighted and in bold on the user manual, so we wanted to make sure the point stuck. It's a small concession to have to follow, so we aren't disturbed by it, especially since the cable was included.

Before you connect a lens to the dock, it's strongly recommended that you run a firmware check on dock itself to make sure it's up to date (if it doesn't happen automatically). While that is happening, all functionality of the program will be lost until this pop-up disappears:

Also notice how on the top right the small icon next to "Dock" has been illuminated, indicating a good connection to the dock. Although slightly faint in the picture, you can still tell the difference here with the light atop the USB dock being illuminated once it is connected:

Once you connect the lens to Sigma's dock, and ensuring that the lens is face down (another point of deliberateness in Sigma's manual), the lens will automatically appear on your screen with its mount, serial number, and current firmware version. Additionally, several buttons will also appear to let you either check for the latest firmware available or customize the lens' different functions:

Just as with the dock, it's recommended that the first thing you do is check to ensure the lens has the most up-to-date firmware installed:

Clicking Yes will yield a loading screen to let you know of the status of the firmware update:

Only upon the following screen can you safely disconnect the lens:

If you attempt to update the firmware of the lens again, you are greeted by the following message:

After the firmware check is done (and it only takes a minute at most), clicking on the "Customization" button causes the program to read the current settings of the lens before bringing you to the next set of menus:

The next screen is filled with the different customization options available for the lens. You'll notice three options (not including the Reset All option), with only the Focus Setting not being grayed-out:

This is because the Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 "Art" -- the lens that we tested with this dock -- does not have the ability to customize Full-time MF Setting nor the Customization Mode Setting. The only lens that we know of that has both of those features is the Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 "Sport," and while unconfirmed the new 150-600mm "Sport" should as well. Neither are available in K-mount for Pentax.

Opening the Focus Setting option with the attached F1.8 zoom yields the following screen:

What is most intriguing is the level of customization that we are now afforded, as not only can we adjust the focusing mishaps (back-focusing and/or front-focusing) at different focal lengths, but at different focus distances within each focal length.

Hitting Rewrite will prompt a cautionary pop-up asking for you to Agree to heed the warnings about making sure the lens is not disconnected or the computer is not powered down during the rewriting process:

The same thing applies as with the firmware - you will be given a prompt stating that you are now able to disconnect the lens. Also of note is that if you decide to reset the lens' autofocus settings back to factory default, you still have to click Rewrite otherwise the new settings (back to factory default) won't take effect.

Here are a few more examples of different lenses being used with the Sigma USB Dock and their screenshots as found after a cursory Google search:

If video is a bit more to your liking than the above step-by-step photo essay, Sigma's HQ in North America have produced a very good video on the subject: