Canadians: Have you sent a lens back to Sigma for recalibration?

[KevC]

I'm considering getting a Sigma 24-70/2.8 but I keep hearing about terrible front/back focussing stories and sending back to Sigma. I don't know if it'll be worth it since I buy from BH, sending back to US will be a pain and expensive :eek:

Anyone have any thoughts/

[ajbalazic]

I just bought this lens from Henry's (Kitchener) for $700 cdn. I told the salesman that I would like to give him my business but he had to make it worth my while because I can get the same lens for approx. $100 to $200 less through B&H (shipping & duty, etc). He would not lower the price, but he threw in a Sigma UV filter worth $100 (82mm mount!)

So- I end up paying approximately $100 more than I would online, but I have a 7 year Canadian warranty and a place I can drive to to get it looked at or exchanged if there are any problems. (btw, they send all Sigma repairs to Gentec in Markham).
For me, the $100 is hard to part with, but it worth my piece of mind.

That said, if you buy from B&H and fill out the waranty card, you can send it to Gentec (markham) yourself and it should be covered. (I did that with my Sigma flash- broken hotshoe- but had to pay out of pocket because I couldn't find the reciepts or waranty card!!!).

[KevC]

$700 is not a bad price, however for ~$650 I can get that lens *PLUS* a hot shoe cord and flash bracket from BH :( I know the UV filter's worth quite a bit, but does that $700 include taxes?

[ajbalazic]

$700 + tax. It's just no fair.

In spring I hope to buy a quality 70-200mm lense (not sure if the Canon f/4 or f/2.8, IS or not). For that kind of money though, I think you HAVE to go with B&H for the substantial savings. It all hinges on whether Gentec will honour the manufacturers waranty.