Sigma 50-150 EX 2.8 HSM

I am interested in this lens and it appears there are 2 versions, an older and a newer Version 11. I did try searching the forum, but only found a recent thread with close focus problems on a 40D. Is there a big difference between the 2 versions? It appears that in South Africa, where I am, that only the older version is available and I am debating about whether to get this or wait for the newer version to come here. I would be using it on a 400D. Any advice welcomed!

i dont own it, neither have i seen any complaint about it since i joined this forum. so im guessing the old one is fine...but thats me.

Seems to get a few good reviews & fredmiranda.com apart from a few front focus issues. I've got one sigma lens & three Canon lenses. My Sigma is on my camera 99% of the time.

http://www.fredmiranda​.com …=331&sort=7&cat​=37&page=1

AlexinS.A. wrote in post #5857759
I am interested in this lens and it appears there are 2 versions, an older and a newer Version 11. I did try searching the forum, but only found a recent thread with close focus problems on a 40D. Is there a big difference between the 2 versions? It appears that in South Africa, where I am, that only the older version is available and I am debating about whether to get this or wait for the newer version to come here. I would be using it on a 400D. Any advice welcomed!

Alex,,,I've owned the Version I for about 6 weeks now,,,brilliant lens.. I also did some reseach and all I came up with was the Version II is a few millimeters shorter..All intents and purposes both lenses are optically identical..When Sigma released the Version I there were a lot of reviews in the media..The release of the Version II passed without hardly a word..

I bought the Version I because it was around 100AUD cheaper than the Version II..Old stck maybe??

I've owned the first version since it first came out. Really don't know much about the second version. Based on my lens, I highly recommend it. The colors and contrast are great. AF speed on my 30D is very fast.

I had one about a year ago, on my 30D then. Never worked very well, front focussed quite a bit and seemed to get worse further down the range. i.e not to bad at 50mm but pretty bad 120mm+. A shame as the range would be perfect. Didn't try another copy, got money back and bought a 24-105 instead... which I now want to sell and get a 24-70 lol

I had version II. I owned it for about 30 days and it stopped working (focus motor ?). When it did work I was pleased with the lens, but I ended up not keeping it. When I called Sigma about getting it repaired the woman on the other end was so rude and unprofessional it really turned me off. So I called B&H and asked them if I could return it and replace it with another lens. B&H said no problem (Great CS if you ask me) and now I own the 70-200 4 IS instead.
It is likely that if I had received better CS from Sigma I would have happily used the lens for a long time, now I just don't see myself purchasing Sigma ever again. Might be a little harsh on my part but this hobby is expensive and deserves polite cs reps at a minimum.

Cheers