Too many Sigma lens returns?

TMR Design wrote in post #2163944
It's this kind of isolated anecdotal post that puts a spin, or a negative spin, on products on manufacturers.

BINGO. The original poster and I almost certainly talked to the same salesman at the same store who told the same story. That we both posted in this thread says more about the popularity of POTN than about problems with Sigma.

Sigma makes a vast array of lenses and probably high quantities of each model. it's entirely possible that their QC isn't up to the standards of other lens lines and that there is more sample-to-sample variation in Sigmas than in other lenses. But 15% does sound like a very high number to me.

I went to Houston Camera Exchange to buy a 17-70 and they guy was adament that i buy either Canon to Tamron. I ended up getting the Tamron 17-50 and am quite pleased with it.

HCE is trying not to sell Sigma. I do like my 70-200 2.8 however

So 85% of people were happy with their purchases?

Michael.

I don't know, but I'm new to the SLR world and when I first started researching lenses I heard a lot about 3rd party lenses, both good and bad. I haven't heard as much bad with Canon's lenses. In the end I picked up the Sigma 17-70 and I've been extremely happy with my purchase ever since! So as they say, YMMV...

mij wrote in post #2164393
So 85% of people were happy with their purchases?

Remember, this is all according to one salesman, in one shop, in one mall, in one city. Not the best of sample sizes, and not supported with any evidence other than the fact that he happened to say it to two POTN members who both posted in this thread.

ibdb wrote in post #2164460
Remember, this is all according to one salesman, in one shop, in one mall, in one city. Not the best of sample sizes, and not supported with any evidence other than the fact that he happened to say it to two POTN members who both posted in this thread.

That's what I was hoping for when I first started this thread. If no one else has heard of stores NOT stocking Sigma because of a high rate of returns, it might just be a policy of Talls Cameras. Thanks for everyone's input!

I would bet sigma sells more lenses than canon. Especially in the EX vs L department. Consumers outweigh pro's 100/1, 1000/1 more probably. The average consumer or advanced hobbest doesnt have the change to drop $1600 on a 70-200 IS L, but $700-800 for an EX, not suck a kick in the wallet. A company sells more lenses, they will undoubtedly have more bad ones. Theres no way around it.

On a side note. There was an artical by Chuck westfall a few years back where he stated Canon has never sold its techknoledgy to 3rd party manufactures. This means ALL 3rd party lenses and excessories are reverse enginered.

I think it's just Washington personally. For one, we have a lack of real camera stores. Secondly, the ones we do have pretty much stink except for a couple. Glaziers is popular and so is Talls but honestly I've never been inside either. I've called surrounding camera stores to test out Sigma lenses off the shelf and no one carried them. It was primarily Canon, Nikkor, Tokina, or Quantary.

Mr. Clean wrote in post #2164952
I think it's just Washington personally. For one, we have a lack of real camera stores. Secondly, the ones we do have pretty much stink except for a couple. Glaziers is popular and so is Talls but honestly I've never been inside either. I've called surrounding camera stores to test out Sigma lenses off the shelf and no one carried them. It was primarily Canon, Nikkor, Tokina, or Quantary.

I was at Glaziers on Monday. They have two building across from each other. Fairly impressive. Probably the best in Washington. They carry most brands. R&K here in Auburn just went under. Too bad. They were overpriced to stay profitable, but couldn't compete with online sites. It's just the way it is now.

It makes me wish I could win the lottery so I could start a proper Camera store with knowledgeable staff.

B and H seems to have it together, in person and online.

I have one problem with my sigma lens. I now want another camera, so i'll have one for each lens.

Tee Why wrote in post #2163895
Samy's official word is that since Sigma reverse engineers the mount/electronics, so they don't sell them. They also say that Tamron pays for the license to use them so they sell Tamrons, which doesn't seem to answer for the lensbaby or Tokinas they sell.

That's not the stupidest thing I've ever heard, but it's in the running. Samy's has it exactly backwards: they should carry Sigmas because they reverse-engineer lenses instead of paying Canon's license fee. Reverse engineering is (a) legal, (b) time-honored, (c) ethical, and (d) honorable.

(Know who buys the first off the assembly line of every model of Ford? Hint: Ford buys the first car off their assembly line.)

i love the 3 EX lenses i have - fisheye, bigma, and 120-300 2.8

i had one issue with the bigma, which was an internal setscrew on the mount coming off after 3 seasons of shooting rugby union, rugby league, cricket, and soccer. they fixed it quickly. and it basically came off because i'm using a monopod and resting my hand to stabilise and focus. i've since found out from some regulars at the games that a few of them have experienced the same problem with big Canon L's - the fulcrum effect of the monopod, body, and hands.