thank you for watching, and for the suggestion! to perform focus adjustments via the USB Dock and Optimization Pro you'll want to utilize the camera's optical focus system to photograph a calibration target from whichever focus distance and/or focal length needs adjustment, review the image from your computer to determine if focus is falling in front of or behind the focus target, make adjustments as needed in Optimization Pro and reshoot to confirm you've moved it sufficiently. if you run into any difficulties we're happy to help carry out calibrations too, simply contact us by visiting sigmaphoto.com/service-support

glad to hear it's helped Nathan! if you have any remaining questions or issues with your 150-600mm please let us know, you can find us at 631-227-2036 or at info@sigmaphoto.com

Hi, are there any focus issues with the 150-600, or does it depend on which camera the lens is mounted ont? I'm asking because I'm going to buy a 150-600 C lens

@@paidechico I don't think there is a focus issue particular to this lens. A lot of newer/better DSLRs have the ability to do microadjustments of the autofocus, but one adjustment over the whole range of the lens. Sigma makes it possible to calibrate the lens itself at multiple focal lengths and distances. To get that done with Canon, for example, you have to send your lens and camera body in to a service center and they will calibrate them for you. For what it's worth, I got my 150-600 C dialed in nicely without too much trouble and am now getting sharper shots on the long end.

I bought the 150-600 contemporary and USB dock. The dock worked fine. But the lens itself was rubbish. Other new 150-600-C O tried in the shop had the same problem with stabilisation. Couldn't fix that with the dock. The 60-600 Sports I also tried worked fine as well as the Nikkor 200-500. I finally bought the last one and its far superior to Sigma in terms of image quality and stabilisation.

Wouldn't we all like to know. As far as I can tell you can't.

hey Zubi! each of the four focus zones available in the Focus Setting menu covers a range of distances, if you find your camera and lens combination is experiencing issues in one of these ranges you'll want to place your focus target as close to that range as is feasible. for instance, with the 70-200mm Sports referenced in the video the furthest distance range covers from about 15 feet to infinity; I'd want to place my target at least 15 feet from the camera's sensor plane and photograph it using the camera's optical focusing system and then review the image from a computer to try and ascertain if focus is falling forward or rearward in the scene from where it should. with the relatively small size of most commercially available calibration targets, the distance required to test the lens' full focus range and the effect of depth of field, this can end up being a difficult task to carry out accurately at home. if you're unsure about your own adjustments we're happy to help, just reach out to our service and support team at 631-227-2036 or at info@sigmaphoto.com

Hi there! Firmware is only user-updateable on Art, Sports and Contemporary line lenses with the USB Dock. The 50-500mm predates these lens lines, and would require service to update the firmware. For more information, it is best to contact the service department of your regional SIGMA subsidiary or distributor.

So sorry to hear this! Please contact our service department so we can try and fix this issue for you www.sigmaphoto.com/support/services

Hi! Sorry about that! Please contact our tech support at 1-800-896-6858

hey Rolf! with the 150-600mm Contemporary the focus distance zone for infinity begins at around 100 feet, or 30 meters, so you'd want to have your calibration target placed at least that far from the sensor plane in the camera. this can definitely be a challenging project to tackle yourself at home, so don't hesitate to reach out if you run into any trouble. you can find our service team at 631-227-2036 or at info@sigmaphoto.com

I have had the 18-35mm since it first came out and there has been no firmware updates at all for the pentax mount lens .

Lens calibration is camera specific. What Sigma is referring to is calibrating their lenses specifically to the camera you’re using. Auto-focus deviation is common with most cameras. Auto-focus tuning assures peak optimum performance. I do it with every lens I own, both Nikon and Sigma to all my camera bodies and the difference is quite noticeable especially on the Nikon D850.

@@nikonguy6260 Very interesting. Thanks for the reply.

hey Lawrence! you're absolutely right in thinking that the lenses go through some extensive quality control measures before they're shipped. we optically test every single lens individually to confirm each unit is performing as designed before they depart our factory in Japan. as noted by others here, focus calibrations are more about correcting for the small variations that can occur in the production of both cameras and lenses that may lead to focus shifts. while this potential for focus shifts is inherent to how all DSLR cameras achieve focus, most users will likely never experience it. we simply wanted to provide users a way to address it themselves to give image makers more control over their equipment

The adjustment on Usb dock only works on Sigma's Global Vision lenses that came out since 2012.

hey Fernando, thanks for watching! unfortunately the 18-200mm II does predate the technology that allows for firmware updates and customization at home. either the 18-200mm DC Macro OS Contemporary or the 18-300mm DC Macro OS Contemporary are current offerings that would be a suitable replacement for your 18-200mm II, fully compatible with both the Nikon D3300 and the USB Dock accessory

my lenses are awful after updating the firmware and calibrating does next to nothing . Such a bummer

hey Dennis! your new R5 takes it's focus measurements directly off the imaging sensor rather than from a remote assembly like your older 7D II, so it shouldn't be negatively affected by the calibration adjustments made for the 7D II

Yes you are able to view the firmware of the lens through the settings in your camera when the lens is attached

The C100 Mark II utilizes image sensor-based phase detect autofocus, so the lens should not require any calibration.

hey Angela, sorry to hear you're running into issues with your USB Dock! there are a few conditions that need to be met for the LED on the Dock to illuminate, so let's run through those real quick. first, make sure you have Sigma Optimization Pro installed and open on your computer. if you haven't downloaded it already you can find it here: www.sigma-global.com/en/software/sigma-optimization-pro/ next, make sure the supplied USB cable is firmly connected to both the Dock itself and to a USB port on your computer. lastly, make sure the lens you're connecting is compatible with the USB Dock. all Sigma Global Vision lenses within the Canon EF, Canon EOS-M, Leica L, Nikon F and Sigma SA mounts are compatible, just make sure the lens you're trying to connect belongs to either the Contemporary, Art or Sports series in one of these compatible mounts. if you've checked each of these points and are still experiencing issues, please contact our support team at 631-227-2036 or at info@sigmaphoto.com

hey Eugene! because mirrorless cameras take their focus measurements directly off the imaging sensor and not via a remote assembly as in a DSLR camera they shouldn't be impacted by focus calibration adjustments made via the USB Dock. if you want to reset the lens back to factory default settings or to check if other customizations have been made you will need to use a USB Dock to check or modify those settings. the focus calibrations for zoom lenses are broken up into four different sections that cover the whole range of the lens, in this instance any adjustment made for the first range of focal lengths would affect 150mm - 249mm

hey Chris! you're right that you wouldn't need to perform any focus setting adjustments when using the 150-600mm Contemporary on an R5 with one of Canon's EF to RF adapters, but you could still perform firmware updates on the lens via the USB Dock as well as utilize any of the customization options available for the C1 and C2 positions via the Custom Mode Setting in Optimization Pro

There are firmware updates for this lens, however it's unlikely that exposure would be affected the way you describe it on the D750. If you are located in the US, please go to www.sigmaphoto.com/service-support to contact our service department. Worldwide SIGMA support can be found here: www.sigma-global.com/en/world-network/

Our lenses do not require any adjustment/calibration on mirrorless camera bodies, so you're good to go!

hey there Al! any customizations made to the C1 and/or C2 positions should function as intended when used in conjunction with one of Canon's EF to RF adapters

the issues you're experiencing may be stemming from the camera's autofocus sensors not receiving enough light when the teleconverter is added to the mix. when you add the glass elements contained within the 2x teleconverter to the imaging imaging path between your scene and your camera's sensor, your effective aperture range on the 150-600mm slows down to roughly f10 - f13; the sensors in most DSLR cameras simply require more light to be able to perform autofocus operations reliably. if you're finding that the camera is consistently placing focus in front of or behind your intended subject with the teleconverter attached, you can calibrate focus for the lens and teleconverter combination just as you would for the lens on it's own via Optimization Pro, but if you're finding that the camera is simply struggling to focus with the teleconverter attached you're likely hitting the limits of your camera's autofocus sensor sensitivity. if you have the option you could try utilizing live view for these instances, live view will be slower but will also generally be able to focus more accurately in low light conditions

if you don't think you want to customize your lens and you're happy with how it's performing then you certainly can live without the USB Dock in your kit. firmware updates are the main feature for most folks who look at this accessory and those tend to be issued in response to developing changes with new camera models. with that in mind you may want to check the firmware version at some point if you move to a newer camera down the road

with the Hyper Sonic Motor utilized by the 18-35mm Art for autofocus operations the focus ring of the lens shares a physical connection to the elements inside the lens that move to achieve focus. because these two are physically tethered there's no way to modify the sensitivity of the focus ring, the Full-Time MF Setting in Optimization Pro simply affects how much movement you can apply to the focus ring before the camera recognizes that you're overriding the autofocus system. if you'd like to affect how a lens like the 18-35mm Art responds to manual focus input you may need to look into a follow focus accessory unit

sorry to hear you're running into trouble getting the software loaded! please reference our system requirements and step by step instructions to ensure you have the correct version for your operating system installed before attempting to connect a lens via the USB Dock, you can find detailed instructions here: www.sigma-global.com/en/software/sigma-optimization-pro/ if you continue to run into issues please contact our support team at (800) 896-6858 or at info@sigmaphoto.com

hey Vitor, sorry to hear you're experiencing issues with your Sigma primes! there should be a clear difference in what is in and out of focus regardless of where you place your focus point within the imaging frame, so there may well be something that needs addressing going on with your equipment. if you're noticing a difference in focus performance based on which focus point is being used, you may want to familiarize yourself with your camera's autofocus system to determine what type of sensors are being used. most DSLR's will use a mix of linear and cross type autofocus points, the cross type points are much more accurate but they don't tend to extend as far out from the center point. some cameras will allow you to select to use only the more accurate cross type points within the menu system, which could help to address this issue. if your camera has a live view mode you can also use this to perform a quick check for calibration issues. with your camera on a tripod, try staging a static scene that would replicate the issue you're experiencing. take one photo utilizing the camera's optical autofocus system and then take another utilizing live view, being sure to keep your exposure settings the same and placing your autofocus point in the same area for both shots. if there's a difference in where focus lands in the scene between these two exposures, that usually points to a need to calibrate lenses to the camera body. if you run into any further issues or need assistance in calibrating your lenses to your camera please reach out to our service team at 631-227-2036 or at info@sigmaphoto.com

hey there! while we can convert the mounts of our Global Vision lenses (Contemporary, Art and Sports series) after they leave the factory, we can only convert a lens if it is natively available in the desired mount. because the 135mm Art was never made available for the Pentax K mount we are unable to convert it to that mount after the fact. you can find a comprehensive lens compatibility tool on our site here: www.sigma-global.com/en/lenses/

Paul, if you're in the US, please give us a call at 631-227-2036 so we can help you troubleshoot.

hey there! when taking test shots for focus calibrations we recommend utilizing your widest aperture value available, the more narrow your depth of field is the easier it will be to determine where exactly any focus calibrations may be needed

Ok, so eventually the software stopped responding and I had no choice but to kill it and unplug the lens. At that point the lens was indeed bricked and didn't work on my camera. I plugged it into the dock and attempted the firmware update again. It told me that the previous update had failed, ran it again and this time it worked fine. Phew! A bit more hair-raising than I'd have liked!

yikes, sounds like a stressful moment indeed! this is part of why we always recommend ensuring a stable power supply and internet connection before beginning a firmware update, glad to hear you were able to sort it out! if you run into any further trouble you can always find us at sigmaphoto.com/service-support

doing well Marcus, hope you are too! Sony's E-mount cameras utilize the imaging sensor itself to achieve autofocus and therefore are not susceptible to the focus shifts that can affect DSLR cameras. our current firmware version for this lens and mount is Ver0.2, released on 7/18/19. if you've had the lens longer than this you may want to check the lens' version number from within the camera's setup menu to make sure you're current. if you find you need to update the lens' firmware, you can find the driver to do so here: www.sigma-global.com/en/lenses/a015_24_14/?tab=support&local=firmware if you have any further questions or run into any issues you can find us at sigmaphoto.com/service-support

Thank you!

hey Jose! the focus settings implemented in your camera can also impact where the lens focuses to in your scene, when shooting a static subject like a calibration target utilizing a single focus point or a smaller group of focus points can help to ensure that your camera is placing focus where you intend it to. some cameras will also allow you to choose between focus or speed priority for the shutter release, opting for focus priority will ensure that the shutter doesn't fire until the camera has acquired focus. if you're still experiencing issues with your new 18-35mm Art we're happy to inspect and calibrate it for you under the 4 year warranty, just head over to sigmaphoto.com/support/services to get the process started or to get in touch with our tech support team

@@sigmaphoto I sent the lens for calibration, I just got it back with the results that I was expecting for the lens. Very happy whit the results. Thanks

hey there! if you're experiencing issues with your Tamron lens you may want to check in with Tamron's customer service team. you can track them down at tamron-usa.com/support. good luck!

Hi, the SIGMA USB dock can only be used for SIGMA Global Vision lenses. Any SIGMA EX lens is pre-global vision and cannot be used with this product. Please contact your local SIGMA branch to inquire about updating the lens through their service department!

@@sigmaphoto I really wish we have a local sigma or anyone that can do that here in Alaska.

@@pinoybenicio Please reach out to our Service team in NY to inquire about updating this lens. Email is serviceny@sigmaphoto.com

The USB Dock is only compatible with our SIGMA Global Vision lenses. If you are in the US, please contact our service department. We may be able to service this lens and make focus adjustments. www.sigmaphoto.com/service-support

@@sigmaphoto Unfortunately in the UK and been told that there is nothing you can do due to it's age.

hey there! many of our lens firmware updates often do come in response to small changes in how cameras and lenses communicate, changes that you typically see from camera manufacturers when new models are released. these firmware updates are usually more likely to address how one feature of the lens works with a newer camera model and not necessarily a broader function like focus operations, but it does vary depending on the lens and camera models in question. if you have any more specific questions about your equipment you can reach our support team at 631-227-2036 or at info@sigmaphoto.com

The SIGMA USB dock can only be used for SIGMA Global Vision lenses

@sigmaphoto thanks for the reply. So how should I calibrate Nikon lenses? I couldn't find any Nikon USB dock.

@@saeedamirimanesh Our USB dock listing on the site has a dropdown menu for each mount, including Nikon F. That can be found here www.sigmaphoto.com/usb-dock-ud-01-ud-11

that sounds about right, it gets even more difficult to discern small differences in focus performance with readily available focus calibration targets as your focal length decreases! if you feel your focus performance in this range needs to be calibrated we're happy to help under our four year warranty for customers in the US. if you'd like us to take a look at your lens you can find us at www.sigmaphoto.com/service-support/

Sigma Optimization Pro is not compatible with the Micro Four Thirds mount lenses, but you can apply any firmware updates to these lenses as needed via your camera body

Is the lens the 50mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art? The dock is only compatible with SIGMA Global Vision (Art / Sports / Contemporary) lenses.

@@sigmaphoto Thank you so much for taking the time to reply.

​@@sigmaphoto I can't tell, just says SIGMA 50MM F/1.4 EX DG HSM

@@sla1xyz Unfortunately our EX lenses are not compatible with the dock

@@sigmaphoto is there another way to fix forward focusing issues?

No, the USB Dock is only compatible with Art, Sports and Contemporary lenses.

hey Alexandra! as long as your Sigma lens in Canon EF mount belongs to one of the Global Vision families of lenses, either Contemporary, Art or Sports, it will be compatible with the USB Dock and Optimization Pro

hey there Hayate! because lenses in the MFT ecosystem can be updated via the attached camera body we don't produce a USB Dock accessory for this mount. if you'd like to check to see if there's a newer firmware version available for your lens, you can find our firmware update drivers broken out by lens here: www.sigma-global.com/en/support/purpose/firmware/?mode=search&product_category=lens

The lens should be adjusted once to one body. For the other body you need to use in body focus adjustment.

@@sushi8204 Ah, so you need to decide which camera body/lens combination is to be the favourite, so you can make the more accurate adjustments on that. The second combination (with in-camera adjustment) will just be not quite as accurate. It's not an ideal situation, but I suppose there is no other solution :-(

I take it you read the comment below from Sushi?.. Then you can see my reply to that ;-)

@@bobniel8314 The in body calibration on already calibrated lens is just fine. Then you calibrate the lens on the USB dock you re not actually calibrating the lens to the body but the lens to itself. You are using body as a tool. Think about it. The body could be off and probably is. So if the body is off and your lens is calibrated to it then the lens is off. Right? No, not exactly. By calibrating the lens you are calibrating the distances (all the distances affect each other so you need to start calibration at MFD) to each other. So even if the lens is technically off it would like buying OEM lens and using in body calibration (one single setting this time) to make it perfect to that body. If you can understand this concept you will understand the whole calibration procedure.

hey Thomas! customizations applied to a lens via Optimization Pro will behave similarly across multiple camera bodies, but as noted by others below the focus calibrations should be made with one camera/lens combination in mind. focus calibrations allow us to adjust for the potential of minute variations in production tolerances of both the camera body and the lens. when these variations do exist they typically aren't going to be consistent from one unit to the next, so if you were to adjust the focus settings of your lens to one body you may find that lens focus performance negatively impacted on another camera body. if you have a lens that is in need of calibration and will be used on multiple bodies, try calibrating the lens to the camera you'd be using most frequently and utilize in-camera corrections if needed for the other cameras. if your other cameras have a live view mode that can also be used in a pinch to circumvent focus calibration issues, since you'd then be taking focus measurements directly off the imaging sensor

very well, thank you for asking Jose! they're all too happy to have the humans at home more often for the time being. hope your furry friends are well too!

Good thing the 150-600 C is $800 and not thousands

@@sonofnothing Actually more like $899.99 👍 I did buy the lens, and absolutely 💯 love it!

@@hitmhard I just got mine brand spanking new in the box, ebay dealers selling for $799 👌🏻

@@sonofnothing I won't buy on ebay. Congratulations!!

@@hitmhard yeah, I know it's either someone will or won't. I've purchased dozens of used lenses and sold them on there, as well. There's some dealers in Japan that sell used lenses at amazing prices, but this one was in the USA and brand new. I've never been burned, so my guard is down 😂

hey there, thanks for the feedback! this video was meant to cover the full scope of what the USB Dock and Sigma Optimization Pro can offer to users of Sigma's Global Vision lenses. with all the potential variations one may encounter while performing focus calibrations covering this process step-by-step would have made for a much longer video. we will of course consider it as a topic for another video down the road

hey Steven! you certainly don't need to dabble with the USB Dock and Optimization Pro to enjoy the high performance lenses in Sigma's lineup. we've produced the USB Dock as an optional accessory for those who want to have a little more control over how their lenses function without needing to resort to sending equipment out to a repair facility, but many folks are happily using the Global Vision lenses without a USB Dock at home

@@sigmaphoto oh ok thank you