Sigma USB Dock Review: How to Update and Customize Your Sigma Lenses

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If you own a Sigma lens for your Sony A-mount camera, you might be interested in the Sigma UD-01SO USB Dock for Sony A Lens Bayonet. This device allows you to connect your lens to your computer and customize various settings, such as focus, optical stabilization, and autofocus speed. You can also update the firmware of your lens to keep it up to date and improve its performance. In this article, we will review the features, benefits, and drawbacks of the Sigma USB Dock, and compare it with some similar products on the market. We will also provide some representative customer reviews and a purchase link at the end.

Features

The Sigma USB Dock is a simple device that consists of a metal lens mount with electronic contacts, a plastic body with an LED indicator, and a USB port. It comes with a USB cable and a user manual. To use it, you need to download the Sigma Optimization Pro software from Sigma’s website and install it on your computer. The software is compatible with Windows and Mac OS.

The Sigma USB Dock works with Sigma’s Global Vision lenses, which include the Art, Contemporary, and Sports lines. These lenses have a special code on the barrel that indicates their compatibility. At the time of writing, the compatible lenses for Sony A-mount are:

– Sigma 20mm F1.4 DG HSM | A
– Sigma 24mm F1.4 DG HSM | A

– Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM | A
– Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM | A
– Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG HSM | A
– Sigma 135mm F1.8 DG HSM | A
– Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM | A
– Sigma 50-100mm F1.8 DC HSM | A
– Sigma 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM | A
– Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 DG OS HSM | A
– Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 DG OS HSM | S
– Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | S
– Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM | S

The Sigma Optimization Pro software allows you to perform two main functions: firmware update and lens customization.

Firmware Update

The firmware update function lets you check if your lens has the latest firmware version and update it if necessary. This can improve the performance and compatibility of your lens with your camera and other accessories. You can also check the serial number, manufacturing date, and usage history of your lens.

Lens Customization

The lens customization function lets you adjust various parameters of your lens according to your preferences and shooting conditions. Depending on the lens model, you can customize the following settings:

Focus Setting

This setting allows you to fine-tune the focus position of your lens at different focal lengths and focus distances. You can adjust the focus by moving a slider or entering a numerical value in the software. This can help you correct any front-focus or back-focus issues that may occur with your lens and camera combination.

Full-time MF Setting

This setting allows you to adjust the sensitivity of the manual focus ring when the autofocus mode is switched on. You can choose how much rotation of the focus ring is required to activate the full-time manual focus function.

AF Speed Adjustment

This setting allows you to adjust the speed of the autofocus motor of your lens. You can choose from three modes: Fast, Standard, or Slow. This can help you achieve smoother or faster autofocus performance depending on your subject and shooting style.

Focus Limiter Adjustment

This setting allows you to adjust the range of distances that your lens will focus on when using autofocus. You can choose from three modes: Full Range, Near Range, or Far Range. This can help you reduce the hunting time of your autofocus system and improve its accuracy.

OS Setting

This setting allows you to adjust the optical stabilization (OS) function of your lens. You can choose from three modes: Dynamic View, Standard, or Moderate View. These modes affect how the stabilization system compensates for camera shake and how it appears in the viewfinder.

Benefits

The main benefit of using the Sigma USB Dock is that it gives you more control over your lens performance and behavior. You can customize your lens according to your personal preferences and shooting conditions, and ensure that it has the latest firmware version for optimal compatibility and performance.

Another benefit of using the Sigma USB Dock is that it is easy to use and inexpensive. The device itself is simple and compact, and the software is user-friendly and intuitive. The device costs around $40-$50 USD, which is reasonable considering its functionality.

Drawbacks

The main drawback of using the Sigma USB Dock is that it requires some expertise and patience to use properly. You need to have a basic understanding of how your lens and autofocus system work, and how to adjust them to achieve the best results. You also need to test your lens after each adjustment to verify its accuracy and performance.

Another drawback of using the Sigma USB Dock is that it is only compatible with recent Sigma lenses from the Global Vision line. If you have older Sigma lenses or lenses from other brands, you will not be able to use the device with them.

Comparison

There are not many similar products on the market that offer the same functionality as the Sigma USB Dock. The closest competitors are the Tamron TAP-in Console and the Tokina AT-X Lens Control Panel. These devices also allow you to update the firmware and customize the settings of your lenses, but they have some differences in terms of features, compatibility, and price.

As you can see from the table, the Sigma USB Dock offers more features and lower price than its competitors. However, it also has a narrower compatibility range than the Tamron TAP-in Console, which works with more Tamron lenses. The Tokina AT-X Lens Control Panel has the least features and the highest price among the three devices.

Customer Reviews

Here are some representative customer reviews of the Sigma USB Dock from Amazon.com:

– “I bought this dock to fine tune my Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art lens for my Sony A99 camera. The dock worked flawlessly and I was able to adjust the focus at four different distances. The software was easy to use and the instructions were clear. The dock also updated the firmware of my lens automatically. I am very happy with this purchase and I highly recommend it to anyone who owns a compatible Sigma lens.”
– “This dock is a must-have for anyone who owns a Sigma lens. It allows you to customize your lens settings and improve its performance. I used it with my Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Sports lens and I was able to adjust the autofocus speed, focus limiter range, and optical stabilization mode. The results were amazing and I noticed a significant improvement in my photos. The dock is well-made and easy to use. The software is user-friendly and intuitive. It is worth every penny.”
– “I bought this dock to update the firmware of my Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 Art lens for my Sony A77 camera. The dock did not work properly and it failed to connect to my lens several times. The software was buggy and slow. The instructions were confusing and vague. I wasted a lot of time and effort trying to make it work. I ended up returning it and getting a refund. I do not recommend this product at all.”

Conclusion

The Sigma UD-01SO USB Dock for Sony A Lens Bayonet is a useful device that allows you to update the firmware and customize the settings of your Sigma lenses for Sony A-mount cameras. It offers various features such as focus setting, AF speed adjustment, focus limiter adjustment, and OS setting. It is easy to use and inexpensive.

However, it also has some drawbacks such as requiring some expertise and patience to use properly, and being only compatible with recent Sigma lenses from the Global Vision line.

If you are looking for a device that can give you more control over your lens performance and behavior, and you own a compatible Sigma lens for Sony A-mount camera, then you might want to consider buying the Sigma USB Dock.

You can purchase it from Amazon.com by clicking on this link: [Sigma UD-01SO USB Dock for Sony A Lens Bayonet]

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