Photography Frustration

Sometimes figuring out the problem can make you mad....

Published on February 7, 2004 By KarmaGirl In Photography

I have been shooting with the Fuji S2 Pro digital camera for a few months now. Though it has been an impressive camera, I have been a little disappointed with its focusing.

It seemed to either soft focus or miss the object that it should have focused on.

At first, I thought that maybe it had some odd aperture issue. I played with it, and nothing changed. I then checked the metering options, nothing made a change. I then played with the auto focus option- still no change.

I searched the net, and still didn't find any answers. But, after reading the setups that everyone had, I noticed that everyone was using Nikon lenses.

Now, the camera takes Nikon mounts. Which, theoretically, means that Sigma and other lenses with Nikon mounts should work just fine. When I bought the camera, I picked out a Nikon lens for it. The camera guy, who was helping the guy who was selling it to me, said that he uses the S2 and used a particular Sigma lens, which he eventually talked me into getting.

It appears that the Sigma lens was the root of all my problems. Though I am sure that it would work fantastically on a 35mm, it has issues with my digital camera.

So, how do I know the lens is the issue? I bought a $70 Nikon lens off eBay. It blows away that $250 Sigma lens that I've been using. Crisp focus. Predictable focus.

Though I now know what the issue is, it makes me want to cry. The $250 lens isn't very useful to me since all my 35mm camera bodies are manual focus..... I guess I have no choice but to buy a Nikon N90 body now

Comments

Dave Wetherell

on Mar 07, 2004

Wow, I've been using Sigma's (albeit the more expensive EX line) for almost 2 years with my S2 now. I've never had a problem. I did have some focusing problems with a Tokina and I've heard of someone having problems with a Tamron, but never the Sigmas. I use a 28-70, a 70-200, and a 170-500mm. Also, I read your blog on the SB800. Totally agree, it's the best flash I've ever used.

werewolf

on May 15, 2004

drool.....
I've got a Canon Powershot A80 and have a terrible time with manual focusing.

What I really wanted to get was the Canon EOS Digital Rebel. I have lenses from my EOS Elan will fit. All I needed was the body. Bookkeeper said no.

Oh well the A80 is not a horrible camera

KarmaGirl

on May 19, 2004

hmmm....a Dave and a David ....

Dave, I totally agree on the flash. I use that crazy thing all sorts of ways. It's optical slave feature is just too much fun! The Sigma lens works just fine on my N80 body, which the camera store sold me at a discount because I whined about the Sigma lens. Tried it again on the S2 after it performed correctly on the N80, and still had the same problem. I am really thinking that it is a metering problem at this point. I read some more on it, and tests have shown that the S2's metering can be up to 2 steps off from camera to camera. I think that is enough to throw that lens off.

David, too bad the "bookkeeper" won't let you get that body. I have seen them all over the place for under $600 (body only) especially since you already have all the accessories. That silly S2 that I got cost almost $2,000 for the body. I have noticed that you can now get them for around $1500 most places (not like that makes me feel good). Then I had to get new lenses and a flash since I didn't have any accessories for it. I will be paying all that off for quite awhile Then I ended up getting a film body since I already had the accessories. But, it's worth it! Of course, a few wedding gigs will pay it off, so it's OK. (At least that is what I keep telling myself......)

Fuzzy Logic

on May 25, 2004

I use a Nikon 801s (N8008 US?). The only Sigma lens I use is a 18mm, simply because the Sigma was £250 and the Nikon £1200, without being any better. My best lenses are my Nikon manual focus lenses - wickedly sharp. I never use AF or auto exposure so other features don't matter. The Sigma 18mm is sharp (see my B&W architecture interior pics at www.uniqueexposures.com ). I've owned other Sigma lenses too and they've all been good. I reckon you've just been unlucky and got a bad lens, it happens.

KarmaGirl

on May 27, 2004

Hi Fuzzy!

Actually, after playing with the lens, it's a light metering thing. the camera doesn't meter correctly with the sigma, so it misses its focus all the time. Considering that I do weddings, a manual focus would kill me. The current Nikon lens that I have is working quite well. I'll update my website with some new pictures and let you know when they are up.

The lens works fine on my Nikon N80 body, though.

Fuzzy Logic

on May 30, 2004

Hmmm. Is the Sigma AF or AF-D? I know the Nikon digital cameras only meter properly with type D and G lenses, something to do with the lens chip. Maybe the Fuji is the same...dunno. Bit weird though

KarmaGirl

on May 30, 2004

The Fuji is built on a Nikon N80 body. It's a D lens, so on both bodies it has to be locked down to 22 and then the camera sets the aperture. It's really frustrating that it works on the 35mm and not the digital since they are built on the same body. The only thing I can figure is that the digital meters differently than the film (which would make sense since the CCD technology would see things differently) and that is partially what messes it up. I put a Nikon G 28 - 100 on it, and it works fine (and the lens also works on the 35mm). Focal range also plays a part in all this, I think. The Sigma lens is a 28-105. On the 35mm it remains the same, but on the digital, it becomes a 56 - 210.

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