Sigma 18-35/1.8 first thoughts

I’m still working on my opinion of the Sigma 18-35/1.8.  And still tackling AF accuracy and reliability problems.  I think (in part thanks to my AF tuning) I’ve got the accuracy issues mostly worked out… it’s not hard to demonstrate really bad AF consistency in synthetic settings, but whenever I actually go out and shoot for… Read more

Initial Sigma 18-35/1.8 AF adjustments

Just thought I’d share what my AF calibration settings are, at least initially, for the Sigma 18-35/1.8 on a Nikon D5200.  And some comments on the process. As you can see, on my particular D5200 it has an overall tendency to back-focus (negative adjustment values mean “the subject was closer than AF thought”). It took a… Read more

USB Overdrive is incompatible with the Sigma USB dock

Grrr.  You get a shiny new lens and find out that it’s back-focusing horribly.  Luckily it’s an awesome new Sigma lens which lets you adjust the autofocus system, via the handy Sigma USB Dock.  Unfortunately, you use USB Overdrive.  So when you connect the dock up, attach the lens, and launch Sigma’s “Sigma Optimisation Pro”… Read more

Image quality vs circular polarising filters

I like circular polarising filters.  I hate glare, and I like strong – but natural – contrast.  So until recently I used them a lot.  The only downside, I figured, was the loss of light.  Sometimes my photos using the filter seemed a bit soft, but I assumed that was because of the slower shutter… Read more

iCloud Photo Streams have limits

Officially, Apple claims that you can store your last 30 days of photos in iCloud via Photo Streams.  This is true only if you don’t have very many.  If you actually take a lot of photos, iCloud boots your arse out and doesn’t let you use Photo Streams anymore.  At all. 24/09/13 6:54:08.457 PM PhotoStreamAgent[305]:… Read more

Nikon AF-S 18-105 notes for landscapes

Standard internet disclaimer applies:  I have one copy of each of these.  The Nikon 50/1.8G performs exactly as everyone says – very, very well.  The Nikon 18-105, on the other hand, is possibly a bad copy; lots of people think theirs’ great, I think mine’s crap (not just versus a prime like the 50/1.8 –… Read more