What do C1, C2, and the OS 1/2/Off switches do on the Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 Sports lens?
Asked 5/5/2018
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I’m using a Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 Sports lens and want to understand the switches on the lens barrel. What do the C1 and C2 positions do, and how do they affect shooting? Also, what is the difference between the Optical Stabilizer switch positions Off, 1, and 2?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
8y ago
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Many cameras have 'C1', 'C2', etc. settings that allow the user to save a "preset" combination of specific settings that can be available at the flick of the mode dial.
Sigma's "Global Vision" series of lenses is similar. Many of them allow customization of things such as Optical Image Stabilization, Autofocus Speed, and Focus Limiter range. When the switch is set to 'Off' the factory defaults are applied to these parameters. The customized settings can be accessed by sliding the switch to the desired position. You can have one customization profile for 'C1' and a different customized profile for 'C2'.
To set up a 'Custom Setting', you need to connect the lens to a computer running Sigma Optimization Pro via the Sigma USB Dock. The USB dock only works with Sigma's 'Global Vision' lenses: the Art, Sports, and Contemporary series. Other Sigma lenses are not compatible with the USB dock.
You can download the basic instructions for the Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 Sports DG APO OS HSM.
You can also download the Instruction Manual for Sigma Optimization Pro.
There's a multi-video tutorial on how to use SOP.
There's a good bit about the customization options and how to use them at this review of the Sigma USB Dock from The-Digital-Picture. He also discusses the AF speed customization at the review of the Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 Sports lens.
The switch on the lens marked 'OS' controls the lens' optical image stabilization feature.
- 'Off' turns OS off
- '1' turns OS on in both the up/down and left/right directions
- '2' turns OS on in 'panning' mode. The lens will detect which direction the lens is being panned at a steady rate and only provide stabilization on the axis perpendicular to that motion. If you are holding the camera in landscape orientation and panning from left to right, the OS will only attempt to correct for up and down movements of the lens in order to allow you panning motion during the exposure to be smooth instead of choppy due to the OS fighting your panning movements.
Originally by user15871. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user15871
8y ago
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Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
C1 and C2 are custom lens-setting presets. They do not directly change image quality by themselves; instead, they recall lens behaviors you have programmed for the lens, such as autofocus speed, focus limiter range, and optical stabilization behavior. If the custom switch is set to Off, the lens uses its default factory behavior.
To program C1 and C2, Sigma’s Sports/Global Vision lenses use Sigma Optimization Pro with the Sigma USB Dock connected to a computer.
For the OS switch:
- Off: optical stabilization is disabled.
- 1 / 2: these are stabilization modes. On Sigma telephoto lenses, one mode is the general-purpose stabilization mode, while the other is typically intended for a different shooting situation such as panning.
So in practice:
- Use Off if you don’t want stabilization.
- Use OS mode 1 for normal handheld shooting.
- Use OS mode 2 when using the lens in situations that call for the alternate stabilization behavior, commonly panning.
If your C1/C2 settings were never programmed, they may not behave differently from the defaults.
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