Sigma Lens hobbyist-Photographers - Gifted or Cursed?

My 30 & 50 f1.4 siggies are still working like new pieces. They are 1 year old.

My 30 1.4 originally had a focus issue with my 50D. Only needed -3 on MF, then I got a 60D and has been perfect on that.

People just have to remember that there are threshold differences with both lenses AND camera bodies.

My first Sigma 50mm 1.4 had a very bad BF problem, took 3 weeks to get it exchanged at the dealer. The replacement was not much better, so I sent it in for calibration. Came back in great shape. My 24-70 hsm takes a correction of +11 but the focus is great and fast with no hunting. The 50-150 hsm II at + 10 is very sharp from 50-100 and is a bit soft at 150, its going in soon for calibration.

Dave

I have three Sigma's and all 4 are spot on and have never had a problem. My wife has two and they are her favorite lenses. I think in most instances these forums perpetuate and intensify isolated problems with lenses. I have read too many people putting down Sigma and other third party lenses as a whole because of something they have heard, not something they have experienced. Maybe I have been lucky or maybe the problems have been exagravated by others? I do know that their can be issues with any brand. I have had to send two of my Canon lenses in. Would I not buy another Canon because of this; of course not.

I have the 30mm and 10-20mm. Both purchased used, and both perform beautifully.

you buy them used in canada or us?

djchrono wrote in post #13435936
I have the 30mm and 10-20mm. Both purchased used, and both perform beautifully.

Both of my Sigma primes required a fair amount of MFA (+13 and +7), and the 50mm hunts a bit in low light. On the whole, though, I'm quite happy with them. Aside from perhaps that 100mm macro I just picked up they are my favorite lenses.

The only Sigma lens I have purchased so far is the 10-20 f4-5.6 and it's also the worst lens I have ever had. The right side of the images I shot with it are soft or at least 80-90% of them are and I very rarely shoot below f/8 with that lens. I have used it on two different bodies with same results so it couldn't be the camera. So I sent it to Sigma and they returned it to me claiming it to have been calibrated but the test shots showed it hasn't fixed at all. About a week after they returned the lens I dropped it and scratched the mount so now there is no way for me to have it re-calibrated and have the mount replaced without having to pay for the repair. I guess I should blame my bad luck and clumsiness but then again I have purchased 4 Canon L lenses so far and all of them were sharp without any defects straight out of the boxes...

Got the 50-500 "Big Ma" with stabilization. Great lens!

I have the 10-20 f4.5-5.6 and its fairly sharp but also tried 4 copies of the 50mm 1.4 and all 4 had focus issues. I sent my 50mm in and even the Sigma service guy I spoke to on the phone confirmed that they have been getting a lot of problems with their 1.4 lenses.

No issues with my newly purchased 50 1.4.

I love Sigma! I have owned the 30mm, 50mm, and 10-22mm; yes, I did have some that were slightly off focused...but overall, all of them were fantastic lenses. Unfortunately, I had to sell all my Sigma lenses because I moved on to full frame and/or funding for new lenses.

After lurking on these forums incessantly for a while now my observation about what the community thinks of Sigma is generally positive. Certain lenses have their issues, sure, but I'm not seeing a general distaste for them--on the contrary some lenses like the S50mm 1.4 and the S30mm are quite lauded.

If money isn't an issue I think for the most part people here would choose Canon over Sigma, but only a few people have revulsion toward the brand.

P.S.

Almostphotographer, what is the camera in your sig--it is beautiful!

I recently purchased the Sigma 150-500 OS. After some initial focus issues and sending it to Sigma to be calibrated for my 60D I am very pleased with the quality of this lens. There is a learning curve to it (I'm still figuring it out), but have gotten some great shots I couldn't have with anything I have tried before or could afford! Sure.... I would love to have a 500L, but at a fraction of the cost this lens has been impressive.

I've owned 3 Sigmas and all have worked perfectly. You can't beat the value with the lower price and included hood and case.