Sigma 70-300mm f4-5.6 APO DG Macro

GrimWolf · 04-08-2015, 11:39 AM

On monday just gone I was out with my new Sigma 70-300mm f4-5.6 APO DG Macro lens at a nearby nature reserve, However just about every photo I took came out slightly blurred (see attached). I was shooting at 1/250 shutter speed. Was this too slow, or is ir possible there a lens fault? Also, is it possible to rescue the photos in photoshop or lightroom?

Attached Images

jimr-pdx · 04-08-2015, 11:46 AM

At first glance it looks like out of focus more than movement blur. Can you shoot manual focus on something solid then shoot it again with AF? Many camera bodies can adjust focus when a lens and body aren't matching uip

normhead · 04-08-2015, 11:53 AM

This is what your images should look like....

close (on a tripod)

far , 1/500s hand held (well braced)

further, exposure time 1/45

GrimWolf · 04-08-2015, 12:35 PM

Originally posted by jimr-pdx

At first glance it looks like out of focus more than movement blur. Can you shoot manual focus on something solid then shoot it again with AF? Many camera bodies can adjust focus when a lens and body aren't matching uip

I had auto focus on with the camera, through the viewfinder it did seem to be focused.

Johndav · 04-08-2015, 01:06 PM

Like Jim I think this looks out of focus rather than shake - have you tried shooting in liveview (also what camera were you using?)

GrimWolf · 04-08-2015, 01:09 PM

Im using a k20d. Not tried live view. Do i need to caliberate the lens?

normhead · 04-08-2015, 01:36 PM

I happen to have a K20D, and a Sigma 70-300 (and lucky for you, an acceptable woodpecker at my feeder, like how strange is that?) so I went out and tried it with the shutter set to 1/250s, hand held in really bad light. Here's the result. I don't see how the lens would be that bad even if it needed calibrating. I'd shoot a couple more test shots, and if you can't get it to work return it. I took 23 images and checked them all to see if any were like what you have, and there were no issues in any of them, from my perspective it has to be the lens.

You're absolutely sure the camera wasn't set to MF, and the lens wasn't set to macro? (even though on mine the macro setting doesn't seem to do anything.)

Last edited by normhead; 04-08-2015 at 03:00 PM.

Johndav · 04-08-2015, 01:52 PM

I certainly found with my K-r that it had focus issues with reflex viewing a critical focus object that LV coped with much better. But I have to say your picture looks very out of focus and I'm not sure that any amount of focus fine adjustment will sort this

GrimWolf · 04-08-2015, 02:53 PM

I think i'll give the lens one more go on friday as there are ducks, swans and other birds locally. I'll try out different speeds and tripod etc. If it comes out the same, I'll return the lens and look at another model.

MarkJerling · 04-08-2015, 04:24 PM

I have the same lens, and I find I get best results with shutter speeds faster than 1/400. Having said that, you may want to do a few tests by setting up the camera on a tripod and shooting at inanimate objects and see what results you get.

VoiceOfReason · 04-08-2015, 04:28 PM

I have the lens and my only complaint is some CA in certain circumstances.

SpecialK · 04-08-2015, 04:45 PM

I always had much better results as well. It did die an aperture-blade death on the shelf, however.

GrimWolf · 04-08-2015, 04:48 PM

Originally posted by MarkJerling

I have the same lens, and I find I get best results with shutter speeds faster than 1/400. Having said that, you may want to do a few tests by setting up the camera on a tripod and shooting at inanimate objects and see what results you get.

I've set up with tripod with much the same results.

MarkJerling · 04-08-2015, 05:18 PM

Originally posted by GrimWolf

I've set up with tripod with much the same results.

In that case, I'd suggest there may be a problem with the lens.

sterretje · 04-08-2015, 08:52 PM

Originally posted by GrimWolf

I've set up with tripod with much the same results.

I think the K20D has live view; try that. If that works, you can try to calibrate the AF (in camera); somewhere in the menus. But it seems to be off by a lot so you might not be able to correct it completely.

Were your tests controlled tests? Steady (relatively large) subject at similar distance as the shot you posted? Center point AF selected and aimed at the subject? Be aware that the focus point is relatively large (just a little smaller than the round brackets in the viewfinder), so if the subject is small, it might well have missed that and aimed at something behind or in front of the subject.

04-08-2015, 11:39 AM	#1
GrimWolf Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Hertfordshire Photos: Albums Posts: 87	Sigma 70-300mm f4-5.6 APO DG Macro On monday just gone I was out with my new Sigma 70-300mm f4-5.6 APO DG Macro lens at a nearby nature reserve, However just about every photo I took came out slightly blurred (see attached). I was shooting at 1/250 shutter speed. Was this too slow, or is ir possible there a lens fault? Also, is it possible to rescue the photos in photoshop or lightroom? Attached Images

04-08-2015, 11:53 AM	#3
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	This is what your images should look like.... close (on a tripod) far , 1/500s hand held (well braced) further, exposure time 1/45 <Slideshow of images taken with this lens. Click> Last edited by normhead; 04-08-2015 at 12:08 PM.

04-08-2015, 04:45 PM	#12
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,480	I always had much better results as well. It did die an aperture-blade death on the shelf, however. Last edited by SpecialK; 04-08-2015 at 07:39 PM.

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04-08-2015, 11:46 AM	#2
jimr-pdx Pentaxian Join Date: May 2010 Location: now 1 hour north of PDX Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,897	At first glance it looks like out of focus more than movement blur. Can you shoot manual focus on something solid then shoot it again with AF? Many camera bodies can adjust focus when a lens and body aren't matching uip

04-08-2015, 12:35 PM	#4
GrimWolf Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Hertfordshire Photos: Albums Posts: 87 Original Poster	Originally posted by jimr-pdx At first glance it looks like out of focus more than movement blur. Can you shoot manual focus on something solid then shoot it again with AF? Many camera bodies can adjust focus when a lens and body aren't matching uip I had auto focus on with the camera, through the viewfinder it did seem to be focused.

04-08-2015, 01:06 PM	#5
Johndav Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Sunny Dun(ny)fermline, Fife Posts: 405	Like Jim I think this looks out of focus rather than shake - have you tried shooting in liveview (also what camera were you using?)

04-08-2015, 01:09 PM	#6
GrimWolf Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Hertfordshire Photos: Albums Posts: 87 Original Poster	Im using a k20d. Not tried live view. Do i need to caliberate the lens?

04-08-2015, 01:36 PM	#7
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	I happen to have a K20D, and a Sigma 70-300 (and lucky for you, an acceptable woodpecker at my feeder, like how strange is that?) so I went out and tried it with the shutter set to 1/250s, hand held in really bad light. Here's the result. I don't see how the lens would be that bad even if it needed calibrating. I'd shoot a couple more test shots, and if you can't get it to work return it. I took 23 images and checked them all to see if any were like what you have, and there were no issues in any of them, from my perspective it has to be the lens. You're absolutely sure the camera wasn't set to MF, and the lens wasn't set to macro? (even though on mine the macro setting doesn't seem to do anything.) Last edited by normhead; 04-08-2015 at 03:00 PM.

04-08-2015, 01:52 PM	#8
Johndav Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Sunny Dun(ny)fermline, Fife Posts: 405	I certainly found with my K-r that it had focus issues with reflex viewing a critical focus object that LV coped with much better. But I have to say your picture looks very out of focus and I'm not sure that any amount of focus fine adjustment will sort this

04-08-2015, 02:53 PM	#9
GrimWolf Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Hertfordshire Photos: Albums Posts: 87 Original Poster	I think i'll give the lens one more go on friday as there are ducks, swans and other birds locally. I'll try out different speeds and tripod etc. If it comes out the same, I'll return the lens and look at another model.

04-08-2015, 04:24 PM	#10
MarkJerling Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Wairarapa, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 20,406	I have the same lens, and I find I get best results with shutter speeds faster than 1/400. Having said that, you may want to do a few tests by setting up the camera on a tripod and shooting at inanimate objects and see what results you get.

04-08-2015, 04:28 PM	#11
VoiceOfReason Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Mishawaka IN area Photos: Albums Posts: 6,124	I have the lens and my only complaint is some CA in certain circumstances.

04-08-2015, 04:48 PM	#13
GrimWolf Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Hertfordshire Photos: Albums Posts: 87 Original Poster	Originally posted by MarkJerling I have the same lens, and I find I get best results with shutter speeds faster than 1/400. Having said that, you may want to do a few tests by setting up the camera on a tripod and shooting at inanimate objects and see what results you get. I've set up with tripod with much the same results.

04-08-2015, 05:18 PM	#14
MarkJerling Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Wairarapa, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 20,406	Originally posted by GrimWolf I've set up with tripod with much the same results. In that case, I'd suggest there may be a problem with the lens.

04-08-2015, 08:52 PM	#15
sterretje Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Roodepoort, South Africa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,561	Originally posted by GrimWolf I've set up with tripod with much the same results. I think the K20D has live view; try that. If that works, you can try to calibrate the AF (in camera); somewhere in the menus. But it seems to be off by a lot so you might not be able to correct it completely. Were your tests controlled tests? Steady (relatively large) subject at similar distance as the shot you posted? Center point AF selected and aimed at the subject? Be aware that the focus point is relatively large (just a little smaller than the round brackets in the viewfinder), so if the subject is small, it might well have missed that and aimed at something behind or in front of the subject.