Interesting Micro Adjust Observation

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Nick
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I have been experiencing a lot of back focus with my Sigma 35mm f1.4 lens on a 5DIII.

Up close, at any aperture, focus was always perfect. Sharp too.

Give it 10ft between you and the subject, at any aperture (even f5.6+) and it horrendously backfocused. Often 20ft + of back focus.

Went out with a mate this lunch time, with both our 5DIII's and both our S35's and had a play.

Conclusion... Mine IS backfocusing horrendously as I thought, and its not anything I am doing wrong (technique etc).

Stupidly!!!!! I had never checked the Micro Adjust... and it was set to +10 (backwards direction) which may explain a lot!
Brought this back to 0, and it now front focused!

Ended up on +6 which (according to the camera LCD) seems the sweet spot.

Now, my question.

The difference between +10 and +6 isnt much... but in my photos this is making an ENORMOUS difference... we are talking about 20-30ft+ of focus adjustment this has made?!
This seems excessive to say the least... but I cant deny the results.

Photos before MA adjustment - 100% were OOF on the subject (me, holding a black work PIT pass over a light coloured shirt - high contrast) and sharp on a building 40ft behind me.
Photos after MA adjustment - 100% were in-focus on me (using same black/white contrast as above) and OOF on the building behind me.

So... could a MA of this small an adjustment really make such an enormous difference?!

Interested to hear other's thoughts
 
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The USB Dock is only compatible with Sigma’s latest Global Vision, A (Art), S (Sport) and C (Contemporary) lenses. A full list of compatible lenses can be found on Sigma’s website.
 
Did they not have a 35/1.4 before the Art series? If not then I'm surprised (but it's not a focal length that I pay much attention to as I have no need).
 
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