Sigma Art lenses on film cameras?

Odot · Dec 18, 2016

Has anyone tried this out yet? I saw some results on Instagram and because of the image size displayed by the app, i couldnt tell how good it really looked but i did see a significant difference which impressed me.

While we at it, is it even possible to do focus adjustments with the Sigma USB Dock when using it on a film camera? I have a F100 and wanted to get me a 35 or 50mm and the Sigma Art just looked great.

Huss · Dec 18, 2016

Odot said:
Has anyone tried this out yet? I saw some results on Instagram and because of the image size displayed by the app, i couldnt tell how good it really looked but i did see a significant difference which impressed me.

While we at it, is it even possible to do focus adjustments with the Sigma USB Dock when using it on a film camera? I have a F100 and wanted to get me a 35 or 50mm and the Sigma Art just looked great.

I found that lenses designed for digital do not work as well on film cameras, as those lenses tend to need to be corrected with software. Which is fine when you shoot RAW files etc.
My 24-140 VR 4 on my D750 is fantastic, on my F6 it has a lot of distortion. Same thing with my 50 1.8G lens.

Can you either rent the Sigma, or take your F100 to a local shop that has the lens, put it on your camera to shoot some frames to see? Before committing to buying?

Oscar Carlsson · Dec 18, 2016

I'm curious what these lenses can resolve on film (like Adox CMS 20) but for resolution I'll go with larger formats.

I've used my 50 1.8G on film extensively with very nice results, the only downside is that 1.8 isn't enough when it gets dark. And since we only have 6 hours between sunrise and sunset my 35 mm cameras are resting at the moment.

Odot · Dec 18, 2016

Huss said:
Can you either rent the Sigma, or take your F100 to a local shop that has the lens, put it on your camera to shoot some frames to see? Before committing to buying?

I have done that already and was happy with the AF speed and reliability. My current 28mm Sigma 1.8 II (aspherical) is nowhere near as good. Heres the thing: when focusing with the 28mm it doesnt change the focus anywhere near as often (lens doesnt rotate) as it did when i put on that 35mm Art at the store. Is it possible that the 28 would just maybe need adjustment or should i not expect more focus accuracy?

mrred · Dec 18, 2016

I have the 105mm os macro and it produces stunning images in either format. I was also impressed with a carry-around lens 70-300 OS lens I bought just to walk around with. I would expect they would be high contrast and sharp lens. I don't see why they wouldn't do well with film. Even with low res film you can usually tell when you use a good lens.

film_man · Dec 21, 2016

mrred said:
I have the 105mm os macro and it produces stunning images in either format. I was also impressed with a carry-around lens 70-300 OS lens I bought just to walk around with. I would expect they would be high contrast and sharp lens. I don't see why they wouldn't do well with film. Even with low res film you can usually tell when you use a good lens.

I'm really curious what body do you use the 105 OS with? According to Sigma it only works on a Canon 1V or Nikon F6, which I find bizarre (more likely they only tested against those two cameras). I've got a EOS 30/Elan 7 and am interested in getting the 105 OS so any first hand experience would be greatly appreciated on whether the AF and OS work ok.

mrred · Dec 21, 2016

film_man said:
I'm really curious what body do you use the 105 OS with? According to Sigma it only works on a Canon 1V or Nikon F6, which I find bizarre (more likely they only tested against those two cameras). I've got a EOS 30/Elan 7 and am interested in getting the 105 OS so any first hand experience would be greatly appreciated on whether the AF and OS work ok.

I use it with my f6 and f100. Works identical on both.

NortheastPhotographic · Dec 21, 2016

If you are going to I would highly recommend the USB dongle. My 35/1,4 ART was front focusing like CRAZY. On my D750 I used AF fine tune, not possible with my F100. So I got the dongle and adjusted it to the point where I could use it with my AF fine tune zero'd out on my Nikons. Now it works perfectly on my F100! They're actually fantastic on film. You get the same basic benefits as you do on digital. I would of course recommend a body with the best possible AF tech.

Now if only Sigma would let me calibrate my &*%$^&* Nikon 58mm 1.4G so I could shoot it on film. That thing NEEDS calibration.

LJH · Dec 21, 2016

Love to see the Nikkor 105mm f1.4 on Adox 25...

GarageBoy · Dec 21, 2016

Too bad the 105 1.4's aperture wont play nice with any film Nikon

mrred · Dec 21, 2016

GarageBoy said:
Too bad the 105 1.4's aperture wont play nice with any film Nikon

Maybe you just have a bad lens.

LJH · Dec 21, 2016

mrred said:
Maybe you just have a bad lens.

It will work, but only @ f1.4.

The electronic diaphragm aperture will not work on any film camera.

mrred · Dec 21, 2016

I find that one hard to believe. My F100 and F6 have the same lens logic as their digital brothers. I have yet to see any lens I have not work on them.

If it is really true, it would be a first.

LJH · Dec 22, 2016

Guess Nikon's wrong then.

mrred · Dec 22, 2016

Their product page (http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/lens/singlefocal/Telephoto/af-s_105mmf_14e_ed/index.htm) doesn't indicate anything unusual that would limit it to digital-only cameras.

locutus · Dec 22, 2016

the new 'E' lenses do not work with F6/F5/F100's, they have a electronically actuated diaphragm.

mweintraub · Dec 22, 2016

http://photo.net/nikon-camera-forum/00dSpx

tom43 · Dec 22, 2016

I mostly use "digital lenses" with my Nikon SLRs and have never observed any flaws. The results from lenses like Sigma Art 50 or Zeiss Apo Sonnar are outstanding especially using Provia and Velvia Slide film. I have used Sigma Art 50 with Nikon F65, F75, F80, F100 und F6. Potentially also works with the F55 mini body.

NortheastPhotographic · Dec 22, 2016

I too was worried when I saw Nikon coming out with the new E lenses. I had hoped that the F6 could shoot them but I guess this is not so... It means Nikon is truly walking away from film. A little unnecessary if you ask me. Not everything they make needs to be so mass market. I still hold out hope for an F7 with the D5's AF system ability fine tune the focus points. I'd even settle for the D750's AF system!

mweintraub · Dec 22, 2016

Sperdynamite said:
I too was worried when I saw Nikon coming out with the new E lenses. I had hoped that the F6 could shoot them but I guess this is not so... It means Nikon is truly walking away from film. A little unnecessary if you ask me. Not everything they make needs to be so mass market. I still hold out hope for an F7 with the D5's AF system ability fine tune the focus points. I'd even settle for the D750's AF system!

And here, I was having to only worry about not buying G lenses so I can still use the FM2n. =/

benveniste · Dec 22, 2016

mrred said:
Their product page (http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/lens/singlefocal/Telephoto/af-s_105mmf_14e_ed/index.htm) doesn't indicate anything unusual that would limit it to digital-only cameras.

From the 105mm f/1.4's user manual: Note: This lens does not support D2- or D1-series, D200, D100, D90, D80, D70-series, D60, D50, D40-series, or D3000 digital SLR cameras or film SLR cameras.

To address the original poster's question directly (and verbatim from the same question asked in another forum):
The Sigma 85mm f/1.4 Art has an electronic aperture and will only function wide open on an F100. As of this writing, other Sigma Art lenses function nominally, but I assume all future Art lenses will also use an electronic aperture. I'm pretty sure you can use the Sigma USB dock to specify fine tuning numbers for an F100, but you can burn through a lot of film trying to get it right.

David Heintz · Dec 23, 2016

Sorry, I disagree with the above re the Sigma 85 1.4 Art.

The Sigma Art lenses work quite well with Nikon film cameras that have auto focus: I have the F4, F5, F100, and F6. Nikon "G" autofocus lenses also work quite well. I have tried the Sigma 35mm, 50mm and 24-35mm Art lenses on these cameras with no issues whatsoever. Also, because they have CPUs, they will work with Nikon's matrix metering on these cameras. The F6 and the 24-35 is a very nice combination. I also have a FM3A and can only use MF lenses with it.

It is pretty simple: Nikon manual focus film cameras only work with manual focus lenses, which also have aperture rings - there is no way to control aperture built into the camera. Nikon auto focus film cameras can work with MF and auto focus lenses, plus they can control aperture, or "read" aperture and change shutter speeds for aperture priority shooting. There is the added benefit, for us older patrons, of the focus confirmation light...

mweintraub · Dec 23, 2016

David Heintz said:
Sorry, I disagree with the above re the Sigma 85 1.4 Art.

The Sigma Art lenses work quite well with Nikon film cameras that have auto focus: I have the F4, F5, F100, and F6. Nikon "G" autofocus lenses also work quite well. I have tried the Sigma 35mm, 50mm and 24-35mm Art lenses on these cameras with no issues whatsoever. Also, because they have CPUs, they will work with Nikon's matrix metering on these cameras. The F6 and the 24-35 is a very nice combination. I also have a FM3A and can only use MF lenses with it.

It is pretty simple: Nikon manual focus film cameras only work with manual focus lenses, which also have aperture rings - there is no way to control aperture built into the camera. Nikon auto focus film cameras can work with MF and auto focus lenses, plus they can control aperture, or "read" aperture and change shutter speeds for aperture priority shooting. There is the added benefit, for us older patrons, of the focus confirmation light...

The Sigma website even states the new 85mm 1.4 Art has the electromagnietic aperture control.

"The Nikon mounts feature a brand new electromagnetic diaphragm." - https://www.sigmaphoto.com/article/photokina-new-products-12-24mm-85mm-500mm/
"The Nikon mounts feature a brand new electromagnetic diaphragm." -https://www.slrlounge.com/sigma-85mm-f1-4-art-finally-arrives/

Huss · Dec 26, 2016

David Heintz said:
It is pretty simple: Nikon manual focus film cameras only work with manual focus lenses, which also have aperture rings - there is no way to control aperture built into the camera.

Any manual focus Nikon film camera can work with any Nikon AF D series lens. The D series lenses have aperture rings.

darkosaric · Dec 27, 2016

Nikon is doing that on purpose - so you need to buy new bodies to fit new lenses. I would not be surprised if they change the lens mount in couple of years.

Sigma Art lenses on film cameras?

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