SIGMA 50-150mm f2.8 - disaster lens

leteeci

leteeci

Well-known member
I have BMPCC and speedbooster and I am building my lens set on Nikon mount..

I tried SIGMA 70 -200 f2.8 and like it for close focus and sharp image..but it was a little bit too tele for my taste and too heavy.. so..my next logical step was looking for 50 - 150mm SIGMA lens..

So, I checked some of the forums ( reduser ) and couldn't found any decent info about it.. some are saying that red zoom is made out of this lens ( rehousing )..so I went on eBay and bought..

SIGMA 50-150mm F2.8 APO EX DC..

Today I got this lens..tried it on BMPCC and could not be more dissapointed..

Whle, it is still enought of sharp even wide open, two things bother me much:

1. It have such a short focus turn.. ( I can not rememeber the same on 70 -200 ) .. I think it is useless for video..
2. It have such big focus breathing, that is again, useless for video.. I newer used les with breathing like that..even anamorphic lens..
:(
anybody have experience with this lens?? Is such a reathing normal or I have a defective lens?

somebody on reduser mentioned that he was completely satisfied with non OS 50-150mm.. is it possible that I have defective lens?

..
 
It's an autofocus STILLS lens, breathing and manual focus will have played no part as objectives in it's design. If you're going to use stills glass for cine purposes the best thing you can do is find manual-focus lenses - they'll at least suit one of your criteria.
 
leteeci said:
I have BMPCC and speedbooster and I am building my lens set on Nikon mount..

I tried SIGMA 70 -200 f2.8 and like it for close focus and sharp image..but it was a little bit too tele for my taste and too heavy.. so..my next logical step was looking for 50 - 150mm SIGMA lens..

So, I checked some of the forums ( reduser ) and couldn't found any decent info about it.. some are saying that red zoom is made out of this lens ( rehousing )..so I went on eBay and bought..

SIGMA 50-150mm F2.8 APO EX DC..

Today I got this lens..tried it on BMPCC and could not be more dissapointed..

Whle, it is still enought of sharp even wide open, two things bother me much:

1. It have such a short focus turn.. ( I can not rememeber the same on 70 -200 ) .. I think it is useless for video..
2. It have such big focus breathing, that is again, useless for video.. I newer used les with breathing like that..even anamorphic lens..
:(
anybody have experience with this lens?? Is such a reathing normal or I have a defective lens?

somebody on reduser mentioned that he was completely satisfied with non OS 50-150mm.. is it possible that I have defective lens?

..
Click to expand...

I have the older (now discontinued) non OS Sigma 50-150. It is one of my two
favorite lenses along with the Sigma 18-35 1.8. I did not find a short focus throw
mine is about 120 degrees maybe. Almost parfocal and almost no focus breathing.
Maybe I just got lucky or maybe you got a lemon, but my experience has been the direct
opposite of what you describe.
 
I swapped the Canon 70-200 2.8 L IS for the old 50-150 and it performs much better on the 1" BMCC sensor. Focus throw is fine, breathing not too bad. It's still a still lens and I wouldn't want to rack too much with it. The dimensions are a huge turn-on I think.
Sure in the end it was not the revelation some guys over on reduser made it to be, but for €300 something it's definitely a keeper. Get a nice 85mm prime (Samyang) for those racking shots!
 
Hmmhh.. that why I am so dissapointed.. I didn't found any reviews that that could be a problem..

Maybe, because I have a first series.. What is your model alaskacameradude?
Sigma EX DC 50-150mm F2.8 HSM II APO ?

Mine have 90 degree focus turn

I also have Sigma 18-35 f1.8, Sigma 28 -70 f2.8 and Nikkor 50mm f1.4 and had never problems with breathing that much..this is simply unecceptable..and now I am thor if I should buy II revisioned of nonOS 50-150 or not..

:(
 
Every issue you have with the lens is correct. The only difference from person to person is how much these issues matter.

I can deal with breathing and a 90 degree focus throw in a ~$500 acceptably sharp, internal zooming, repeatably focusing parfocal constant aperture f2.8 not-oversized telephoto lens. Like ACD, I use it with the Sigma 18-35 and Tokina 11-16 and love the end caps off it... it could be better, but it ticks the right priority boxes for some.


AlaskaCamDude... regarding parfocality, both this lens and the 18-35 are completely parfocal with a properly adjusted mount adapter. Stock adapters off the shelf are usually just a hair shorter than they should be to ensure infinity focusing.
I use the Metabones NikG (Speedboosted and unspeedboosted). The SB is easy to adjust... just loosen a stopscrew in the adapter and turn until the adapter is properly collimated (put focal points along an extended tape measure at distances equal to 2+ lens witness marks to test). The standard adapter takes a little more work - I removed the rear flange and gradually added shims made from blackwrap until both lenses also matched their witness marks.

Most any adapter need a little attention like this... anything from Kipon to Metabones to Novaflex. I have yet to find any that are dead on from the factory.
 
I think it's fantastically sharp for a zoom. The focus ring on mine is nigh unusable, though - very stiff.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top