Sigma 30mm f1.4 EX DC HSM

I'm in a dilemma. I don't know if I should buy the old one used for 295 or the new one on eBay for 376 from Hong Kong. Would there be any import duties? Is the new Sigma 30mm worth it? I'm leaning towards the newer version just because of the dock, but it wouldn't leave me money for another lens I wanted.

memo90061 wrote in post #16265100
I'm in a dilemma. I don't know if I should buy the old one used for 295 or the new one on eBay for 376 from Hong Kong. Would there be any import duties? Is the new Sigma 30mm worth it? I'm leaning towards the newer version just because of the dock, but it wouldn't leave me money for another lens I wanted.

At the end of its run this Spring the older version was selling new for $289. That's when I got mine. For $87 more I would get the current version, which is much better in every respect. Keep in mind that buying it as grey goods from Hong Kong means no warranty. For $123 more ($499) you can buy it here with a 4 year warranty and with the ability to return/replace it if the copy you get has any issues. As the saying goes, "You pays your money and you takes your choice".

That's what I was worried about about. I remember seeing the lens at 289, but had an OM-D at that time. Hmmm. I'm not sure what to do. I can't buy it new for 499 right now. I'll just have to wait.

memo90061 wrote in post #16265267
That's what I was worried about about. I remember seeing the lens at 289, but had an OM-D at that time. Hmmm. I'm not sure what to do. I can't buy it new for 499 right now. I'll just have to wait.

I appreciate your situation, but I find neither of your two alternatives very appealing. There is risk involved either way. A number of copies of the older version had various focus and decentering issues. My first copy went back to B&H, my second to Sigma for adjustment under warranty. You won't have either of those options.

Could the warranty be transferred to a new user if it were bought used?

memo90061 wrote in post #16266199
Could the warranty be transferred to a new user if it were bought used?

You'd have to check with Sigma but I doubt that very much. Very few warranties for anything are transferable. And the warranty for the Hong Kong lens would not be honored here. You would have to send the lens to Hong Kong for servicing, assuming it comes with a legitimate warranty.

I was taking pix of my truck when I happened to capture a meteor flying by!

IMAGE LINK: http://s1298.photobuck​et.com …sswm_zps7ac6000​0.jpg.html

bmwcolin wrote in post #16267437
I was taking pix of my truck when I happened to capture a meteor flying by!

IMAGE LINK: http://s1298.photobuck​et.com …sswm_zps7ac6000​0.jpg.html

Don't know where you are, but you sure don't see stars like that in my neck of the woods. Too much ambient light and too much pollution. Even on a very clear night you can count most of the stars you can see here.

mwsilver wrote in post #16265344
I appreciate your situation, but I find neither of your two alternatives very appealing. There is risk involved either way. A number of copies of the older version had various focus and decentering issues. My first copy went back to B&H, my second to Sigma for adjustment under warranty. You won't have either of those options.

I agree, though of the two, I think I would choose used. I had to send mine in for calibration too (it was slightly front-focusing), but has worked like a charm since. Also, I paid the fire-sale price, so adding shipping to get it calibrated wasn't a big deal, if you have a camera with the microadjustment feature, it may not be a big deal. With the new Sigma series coming and the dock option, that also sounds very appealing, but at close to $500, I would consider other options. If budget is your concern, used may be the only way to go, or consider the ef 35 f/2, though it doesn't have USM and is a full stop slower.

bmwcolin wrote in post #16267437
I was taking pix of my truck when I happened to capture a meteor flying by!

Awesome catch!

Yeah 500 is a bit much for me right now. Thanks for the help.

Awesome picture!

bmwcolin wrote in post #16267437
I was taking pix of my truck when I happened to capture a meteor flying by!

IMAGE LINK: http://s1298.photobuck​et.com …sswm_zps7ac6000​0.jpg.html

Where in the heck do you see a sky like that?

mwsilver wrote in post #16267453
Don't know where you are, but you sure don't see stars like that in my neck of the woods. Too much ambient light and too much pollution. Even on a very clear night you can count most of the stars you can see here.

ian_socool wrote in post #16267846
Where in the heck do you see a sky like that?

This was taken up in the mtns up in Cloudcroft NM at around 8k feet or so. Yeah we are pretty lucky for great star shots here.


Thanks guys!