Not sure if its the new lens or operator error.

[Quicklabs]

Just took delivery of my Sigma 150 mm macro.
On autofocus, it hunts and hunts and I can't seem to get a sharp picture. Even if I breathe, the focus is thrown off and that's at 11 or smaller. It's horrendous the more open I go.
I've never owned a macro, so I'm thinking more likely operator error, but at this point, I'm way happier with my 18-200.
Any thoughts on what I might do differently. (I don't want to have to shoot everything on a tripod--should be able to do some handheld with a fast enough shutter speed --currently I'm at 1/400 or faster)
Thoughts?....

 

[fhirleighinn]

are you using a tripod? That may be the only way for you to make sure that the depth of Focus and everything is to your liking. If it is hunting for focus you may be too close to the subject.

 

[DueyDooDah]

As above, I would suspect you may be too close. The minumum distance to the subject is 15 inches. Manual focus is a common option in macro photography, though.

 

[Gdad]

I think all macro lenses do have a tendency to hunt around a bit- I have had the Sigma 150 and both the VR and non-VR 105 Nikkor Macro's and they all seem to behave the same way. Be sure to use the focus limit switch on the lens- this will keep it in the range you are shooting at and keep it from hunting from 15" in front of itself all the way to infiniti. For true macro work anywhere near 1:1 you probably want to use manual focus anyway. If shooting hand-held you can adjust the focus just by shifting the lens a little closer/farther from your subject.

 

[jann1033]

Just took delivery of my Sigma 150 mm macro.
On autofocus, it hunts and hunts and I can't seem to get a sharp picture. Even if I breathe, the focus is thrown off and that's at 11 or smaller. It's horrendous the more open I go.
I've never owned a macro, so I'm thinking more likely operator error, but at this point, I'm way happier with my 18-200.
Any thoughts on what I might do differently. (I don't want to have to shoot everything on a tripod--should be able to do some handheld with a fast enough shutter speed --currently I'm at 1/400 or faster)
Thoughts?....

even with a fast shutter speed i need to use a tripod with macro...they just aren't sharp enough otherwise( that is with a sharp lens, with my macro lens forget it, it's just soft period). i have only had one sigma and it drove me crazy with focus hunting( which is why i have only had one ) but i do find it's easier to just use manual focus for macro. you also have to be careful what you are focusing on since the dof is lower. you can get a macro adapter for a ball head that lets you move the camera a little without having to move the whole tripod, it slides back and forth an inch or so which is enough to make a difference.

 

[Code]

Just took delivery of my Sigma 150 mm macro.
On autofocus, it hunts and hunts and I can't seem to get a sharp picture. Even if I breathe, the focus is thrown off and that's at 11 or smaller. It's horrendous the more open I go.
I've never owned a macro, so I'm thinking more likely operator error, but at this point, I'm way happier with my 18-200.
Any thoughts on what I might do differently. (I don't want to have to shoot everything on a tripod--should be able to do some handheld with a fast enough shutter speed --currently I'm at 1/400 or faster)
Thoughts?....

I just took delivery of a Sigma 105mm Macro a few days ago, and I'm learning the same lesson: that 1:1 macro is a whole new ballgame. As Gdad said, I think hunting is just the name of the game if you are using AF, the limit switch is invaluable so it doesn't go through the whole range when it starts hunting, but MF is the way to go.

I've had pretty decent luck with handheld, but I think the IS helps a bit with that. Also I have been taking multiple shots of every subject so I could trash the ones where I moved too much.

 

[Quicklabs]

What is driving me crazy is that I am getting a very shallow DOF no matter what the aperture. It's impossible to handhold even at a ridiculously fast shutter speed with a 4.5 aperture because even a breath will change the distance from lens to object. I need to post a few with EXIF data and see if you macro-experienced folks think that it squares up. Bottom line: I'm getting amazing detail, but in a very small range.

 

[handicap18]

How far away is your subject from your camera. The closer you get the more dramatic the little breezes will be and the less DOF you'll be able to get.

 

[Gdad]

This lens and macro in general just takes some practice. I enjoy casual macro photography (usually handheld & with available light.) Forget f4.5 for macro work- use f8 for something bigger like a flower or butterfly- f14 or more for very small objects. Your shutter speed need not be any higher than it normally would for that focal length (1/160th or so?) Also try focusing a little farther out than at 1:1 and cropping on the computer later- at 1:1 your DOF will be the narrowist. I also removed the bulky tripod collar- it makes this lens much more comfortable to handhold and it fits in my camera bag easier.

Here are a few from last weekend- EXIF is in tact.

Cropped from Horizontal shot to Vertical

No crop- spider with legs was about the size of a quarter

Big crop- probably near 100%

 

[Quicklabs]

Jeff-great shots, as always. I can't seem to read any exif data on these.
How far away from your subjects were you standing?
Also, any suggestions on how I might test the lens to see if its truly me or an issue with the lens?
Thanks for being so patient and responsive to my posts on this. I sure don't want to send this lens back if its a winner, but I'm having trouble evaluating the source of the problem.

 

[Quicklabs]

Kyle, I'm working within about 2 feet or so...Is that too close?

 

[Code]

Kyle, I'm working within about 2 feet or so...Is that too close?

Distance to the subject determines magnification. At the minimum focus distance (where you can't focus any closer) you have 1:1 magnification, which means an object that is the size of the sensor (around 24x16mm) will fill the frame completely. But as Jeff said, when you are at 1:1, your DoF is the smallest it can be.

 

[Gdad]

Jeff-great shots, as always. I can't seem to read any exif data on these.
How far away from your subjects were you standing?
Also, any suggestions on how I might test the lens to see if its truly me or an issue with the lens?
Thanks for being so patient and responsive to my posts on this. I sure don't want to send this lens back if its a winner, but I'm having trouble evaluating the source of the problem.

I suppose the best way to test it is set it up on a tripod in a very controlled environment, inside, use a flash, and take some test shots of something with fine detail from varrying distances.

Not sure how close exactly I was but I doubt any were at the absolute minimum focus distance. Exif on the shots is as follows:

Picture 1

[Image]
Make = NIKON CORPORATION
Model = NIKON D700
Orientation = top/left
Software = Adobe Photoshop CS3 Windows
Date Time = 2008-08-10 20:21:22
Copyright = JEFF FILLMORE

[Camera]
Exposure Time = 1/125"
F Number = F8
Exposure Program = Aperture priority
ISO Speed Ratings = 720
Exif Version = Version 2.21
Date Time Original = 2008-08-10 17:21:06
Date Time Digitized = 2008-08-10 17:21:06
Shutter Speed Value = 6.97 TV
Aperture Value = 6 AV
Exposure Bias Value = ±0EV
Max Aperture Value = F3.36
Metering Mode = Pattern
Light Source = unknown
Flash = Off
Focal Length = 150mm
Subsec Time = 0.25"
Color Space = sRGB
Exif Image Width = 633
Exif Image Height = 950
Sensing Method = One-chip color area sensor
File Source = DSC
Scene Type = A directly photographed image
Custom Rendered = Normal process
Exposure Mode = Auto exposure
White Balance = Auto white balance
Digital Zoom Ratio = 1x
Focal Length In 35mm Film = 150mm
Scene Capture Type = Normal
Gain Control = Low gain up
Contrast = Normal
Saturation = Normal
Sharpness = Normal
Subject Distance Range = unknown

Picture #2

[Image]
Make = NIKON CORPORATION
Model = NIKON D700
Orientation = top/left
Software = Adobe Photoshop CS3 Windows
Date Time = 2008-08-10 20:23:22
Copyright = JEFF FILLMORE

[Camera]
Exposure Time = 1/125"
F Number = F22
Exposure Program = Aperture priority
ISO Speed Ratings = 4500
Exif Version = Version 2.21
Date Time Original = 2008-08-10 17:06:57
Date Time Digitized = 2008-08-10 17:06:57
Shutter Speed Value = 6.97 TV
Aperture Value = 8.92 AV
Exposure Bias Value = ±0EV
Max Aperture Value = F4.59
Metering Mode = Pattern
Light Source = unknown
Flash = Off
Focal Length = 150mm
Subsec Time = 0.50"
Color Space = sRGB
Exif Image Width = 950
Exif Image Height = 632
Sensing Method = One-chip color area sensor
File Source = DSC
Scene Type = A directly photographed image
Custom Rendered = Normal process
Exposure Mode = Auto exposure
White Balance = Auto white balance
Digital Zoom Ratio = 1x
Focal Length In 35mm Film = 150mm
Scene Capture Type = Normal
Gain Control = High gain up
Contrast = Normal
Saturation = Normal
Sharpness = Normal
Subject Distance Range = unknown

Picture #3

[Image]
Make = NIKON CORPORATION
Model = NIKON D700
Orientation = top/left
Software = Adobe Photoshop CS3 Windows
Date Time = 2008-08-10 19:52:39
Copyright = JEFF FILLMORE

[Camera]
Exposure Time = 1/125"
F Number = F20
Exposure Program = Aperture priority
ISO Speed Ratings = 4000
Exif Version = Version 2.21
Date Time Original = 2008-08-10 17:14:30
Date Time Digitized = 2008-08-10 17:14:30
Shutter Speed Value = 6.97 TV
Aperture Value = 8.64 AV
Exposure Bias Value = ±0EV
Max Aperture Value = F5.66
Metering Mode = Pattern
Light Source = unknown
Flash = Off
Focal Length = 150mm
Subsec Time = 0.74"
Color Space = sRGB
Exif Image Width = 950
Exif Image Height = 633
Sensing Method = One-chip color area sensor
File Source = DSC
Scene Type = A directly photographed image
Custom Rendered = Normal process
Exposure Mode = Auto exposure
White Balance = Auto white balance
Digital Zoom Ratio = 1x
Focal Length In 35mm Film = 150mm
Scene Capture Type = Normal
Gain Control = High gain up
Contrast = Normal
Saturation = Normal
Sharpness = Normal
Subject Distance Range = unknown

 

[Groucho]

Two feet with a 150mm lens seems awfully close - to get focus exactly where you want, you may need manually focus and take several shots in a row and hope one nails the focus properly. Off the top of my head, 2' even with my 105mm lens is difficult to handhold and keep focus in the very narrow DoF, it'd be noticably harder with a 150mm.

Ideal, of course, is to use a tripod. A monopod may help a lot, though.