Should I play the Sigma lottery?

Are there issues with Sigma lenses? Yes. Are these issues overblown? Probably. The problem with any type of product forum is that you're going to see way more posts complaining about something as opposed to praise.

crn has hit the nail on the head. I'm thrilled to bits with each and every lens I own (not just the Sigmas). But I've owned the Sigma 105mm Macro, 15-30mm, 24-60mm & 400mm. Very happy with each lens' performance. But because I'm happy I don't come on to forums and flood them with tales of their excellence.

I've had four excellent Sigma lenses out of four, I say go for it.

Also, with that particular lens user error is a significant factor I believe. The DOF is very narrow and may be mistaken for poor focus. This is something I've picked up from reading the forums - not first hand experience so take it with a pinch of salt.

dalto wrote in post #12605341
I actually think it is just the opposite of this. It appears to me that Sigma's quality control is quite horrid. I think the reason that the issues are not stated even more broadly is that lots of the users that own these lenses do not how to test them and don't realize that they focusing or image problems.

I don't think you have a good concept of how a business works...

If the problems were really as bad as people make out, I highly doubt sigma would be still be here today.

absolutely yes, get it. it's perfect.

Sirrith wrote in post #12605413
I don't think you have a good concept of how a business works...

If the problems were really as bad as people make out, I highly doubt sigma would be still be here today.

First of all, are you really proposing that there is no market for lower quality goods at a lower cost?

Second, did you even read what I wrote? My point was that I doubt that most of the people who buy these lenses even realize that there is a problem with the lens. Most of the people I know who own DSLR's are not hardcore photographers and would know that the lens was back focusing, font focusing or softer than it should be. They just know that some of their pictures look better than others.

I'd say get it. I see way more people loving their 30mm 1.4 and only a loud few that have problems.

It's really an issue for cameras that can't MA but for people with bodies that can, not really an issue. Even if Sigma calibrates it for say a T2i, it's not going to be perfect if you then put it on a XSI.

I LOST THE LOTTERY

When I was shooting with a Canon 10D, I used a rather nice Sigma 28mm f/1.8 lens. However, when I upgraded to the 30D and leter cameras, I could no longer use the 28mm f/1.8 lens because of Sigma's reverse engineering practice.

The would not or could not rechip the lens to work on the cameras later than the 10D because Sigma had upgraded this lens model and would no longer service the 28mm f/1.8 lens. I now have an obsolete lens which I cannot use (except on my old D60) and which I could probably not sell.

Fool me once Sigma, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Unless Sigma has drastically improved their practices, owners of the nice 30mm f/1.4 lens might dread the introduction of a 30mm f/1.4 ii. I hope that Sigma has improved their longevity for lenses...

But, when you come right down to it... If auto manufacturers had the terrible QC evident in the products from the major photographic manufacturers (including Canon), the buying public would be up in arms. Oh well, I guess it's not all that serious. No one has died due to a stuck shutter release button like they have from stuck gas pedals...

Wile_E wrote in post #12605013
I was a little worried because of all the internet rumors when I recently ordered mine but it arrived with no issues at all. Focus is dead on.

Add me to the list of lottery winners.
Mine was dead on also.

dalto wrote in post #12606077
First of all, are you really proposing that there is no market for lower quality goods at a lower cost?

I'm proposing that there's no market for obviously faulty goods.

Yes I did, and I didn't bother replying because other people have already said what I agree with, that is that most people who are happy with their lens won't come and post about it whereas people who aren't happy with their lens will.

Mine came with bad front focus issues. I sent it back, getting a new one soon. If I get another bad one, ilk send it in to Sigma to get it calibrated. It is the better lens vs Canon's offering so I am willing to wait.

I dunno why people use the word "lottery"...
usually, to participate in a lottery, you spend a small amount of money, for a chance to win a large amout of money (i.e. $2 ticket to win $1,000,000)
In the "Sigma Lottery" examples, people spend $400 (or more) and hope to get a lens that is working properly (which I believe most do)... since I don't think anyone that wins $2 from a $2 ticket would say they won the lottery, I'm not sure what 'breaking even' is considered winning...

Shouldn't this be renamed to the Sigma Roulette???
You have a chance to lose, but mostly you'll be just fine...

I recently bought one worried as well. But it's soooo sharp straight out the box!

I couldn't be any happier

Bought two earlier this week, the 30/1.4 and 85/1.4 was worried as well after all the comments you read so the 1st thing I did was get my focusing chart out. Both lenses are 100% spot on, on either of my 40D bodies and pin sharp.

The only slight issue I've had while testing is that the 85 sometimes (not very often) mis-focuses in bright conditions but I've now tried it with an ND4 on it under the same conditions and not had the same since. I've not had any issues at all with the 30.

Wish I'd bought them sooner.

So lets say you buy a Sigma and are lucky enough to have it work perfectly. A few years pass and you upgrade to a new Canon body and it then doesn't work right. Can you send it back to Sigma to calibrate it to a future body? If so is it covered under warranty? If its out of warranty what would it cost? Or is this a matter of having it "rechipped"?

If I were to buy a Sigma 85mm I would want to be certain that I could use it for several bodies in the future.