Sigma 24-60mm F2.8 EX DG

Have any of you recently sent your 24-60's in for calibration? I called Sigma today to find out if they still do calibration and they told me two things:

1. That the 24-60 can't be calibrated because it's a ROM lens (not FlashROM or EEPROM)
2. They can no longer get parts for this lens.

I ask because a friend has a 24-60 he wants to sell me but it seems to front-focus. I'm worried that MicrofocusAdjust won't be consistent across the range and the results will vary on what I focus on. Having been through the "lens is off" routine before I'm concerned.

Thank you!

c00lpix wrote in post #10546299
Have any of you recently sent your 24-60's in for calibration? I called Sigma today to find out if they still do calibration and they told me two things:

1. That the 24-60 can't be calibrated because it's a ROM lens (not FlashROM or EEPROM)
2. They can no longer get parts for this lens.

I ask because a friend has a 24-60 he wants to sell me but it seems to front-focus. I'm worried that MicrofocusAdjust won't be consistent across the range and the results will vary on what I focus on. Having been through the "lens is off" routine before I'm concerned.

Thank you!

As great as a good copy of this lens can be, it's not one I would recommend due to the fact that it is discontinued and there are no parts for it.

This lens was supposed to come with a 4 year warranty(1 Regular +3 Extended). Has Sigma stopped honoring it?

DStanic wrote in post #10562788
As great as a good copy of this lens can be, it's not one I would recommend due to the fact that it is discontinued and there are no parts for it.

Cripes - If we stopped using or recommending lenses that were not current models from their respective manufacturers forum activity would drop a bit.

I would test for front focusing on the camera that the lens was going to be used on and go from there rather than basing the purchasing decision on conjecture and/or what "might" be a problem.

Everything in my bag is 'discontinued'....

bauerman wrote in post #10563726
Cripes - If we stopped using or recommending lenses that were not current models from their respective manufacturers forum activity would drop a bit.

I would test for front focusing on the camera that the lens was going to be used on and go from there rather than basing the purchasing decision on conjecture and/or what "might" be a problem.

Everything in my bag is 'discontinued'....

I understand what you are saying but there are 2 newer replacements to the 24-60: The 24-70 f/2.8 macro, and the 24-70 f/2.8 HSM (which costs quite a bit more). Another popular alternative is the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 which has quite a bit more reach (at the expense of some lost width).

"If we stopped using or recommending lenses that were not current models from their respective manufacturers forum activity would drop a bit." I disagree, I think most people have current models, or at least lenses that have been around for a long time and are still in production. I would consider every lens I own (aside from the 24-60) to be current models, and I'm not even sure how old most of them actually are.

I would consider all my lenses 'discontinued' and I know a ton of people locally and on this forum that are in the same boat - in a hobby like photography you cannot be expected to have in-production models all the time - that is crazy. The two bodies in your signature are discontinued or soon to be - 30D and 40D. I used a 1D Classic for a number of years that was about has far discontinued as can be.

I use the EF 70-210mm f/3.5-4.5 USM - killer zoom but older than the hills
I use the EF 20-35mm F3.5-4.5 USM - killer wide angle but older than the hills
I use the Sigma 24-60mm f/2.8 EX - killer all around mid-range zoom that apparently is discontinued
I use the EF 50mm f/1.8 Mk I - the metal mount version - also a great lens that is older than dirt

I use these lenses as they are one and all bang for your buck winners and perform GREAT against newer lenses with less specs for the same money. I use them all on a discontinued EOS 30D digital body which is a GREAT all around camera. I get sharp results and amazing photos.

Should I just stop using this bag full of equipment because it is all discontinued and there are no parts available for any of them? I think not...and I would continue recommending used versions of all this equipment based on my experiences with each piece.

bauerman I have no doubt that your lenses work great, and buying for myself I have no problems with "legacy" gear (my camera bodies are perfect examples!) But for the average person getting into photography buying used equipment can be risky enough as it is, to buy something and end up having to repair it, and then finding out parts may be very difficult to get could be very discouraging. That is why lenses such as the 50-250 are an attractive choice. While there are some old lenses that are great for the money, new lenses are only getting better and general consumer lenses are becoming quite good.

Of course, some of the older equipment can be had for very cheap, so if you use it for a while and it breaks then it's not a big deal- simply replace it.

12mm hdr

Beautifully done HDR!

c00lpix wrote in post #10546299
Have any of you recently sent your 24-60's in for calibration? I called Sigma today to find out if they still do calibration and they told me two things:

1. That the 24-60 can't be calibrated because it's a ROM lens (not FlashROM or EEPROM)
2. They can no longer get parts for this lens.

I ask because a friend has a 24-60 he wants to sell me but it seems to front-focus. I'm worried that MicrofocusAdjust won't be consistent across the range and the results will vary on what I focus on. Having been through the "lens is off" routine before I'm concerned.

Thank you!

Okay, what the heck. I thought we were all promised 5 year warranties? So what happens if I were to try and act on that warranty now? They're just going to blow me off?

Recent photos from NY:

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I sent mine in less than a year ago for front focus issues, came back near perfect . if they can't fix it i'd demand new 24-70 if its still under 5 year warranty. I don't buy that. I would think they would have to keep parts for 5 years from the day its disc. And Iknow it has not been 5 yrs yet

There is way too much hand-wringing in this thread and most others on this forum regarding warranties, discontinued products, shipping times to Canon or Sigma, parts availability, re-chipping, lens focusing adjustments, etc... and a lot of the discussion centers on what might happen 'someday'.

I say stop worrying about things of this nature to the nth degree and enjoy your equipment and use it. I have never ONCE sent a lens in for repair nor needed do and have shot for many, many years.

Neither have I, but I've developed problems with this lens. The hood bayonet is practically toast and needs to be replaced, and the focus accuracy at 24mm has gone to crap. It's really obvious too, I'll try focusing on an easy target 10 feet away and the focus lands PAST infinity. Yeah...

a good lens, mine was soft at 2.8 - quite sharp above, not the best color rendition, average contrast I would say - sold it and bought tokina 35mm 2.8 - a visible improvement in IQ