sigma telephoto IQ and build quality

hi,

i'm interested in the Sigma 150-500 OS and the 50-500 OS.

i've read a table on the net of a lens lease company which details that the sigma lenses have pretty high numbers of problems.

looking around this forum, i don't see any complaints ...

i'm concerned about focus issues and AF/OS mechanism reliability.

comments please?

[over here we only have a 1 year warranty, and repairs i believe take months which i'm sure also eats at the warranty period]

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on that note, anybody have the 50-500 OS already? is it sharper than the 150-500 OS?
is it a replacement? what are the reasons to go for one over the other (if the 50-150 range doesn't matter)

thanks!

It seems there are certain Sigmas which are prone to focusing issues (I'm thinking of the 50mm f/1.4, but there are others).

Front and back focusing can be fixed, but they necessitate returning the lens for service. I own the two Sigma lenses in my signature, and I've never had an issue with them. I'd buy them again.

No issues with mine so far. Takes great pics and is easy to handhold.

It's hit or miss,. maybe it can be argued Sigma's have more misses than Canon, but I've not found that.
I have used extensively the 50-500mm (non IS) the excellent 500mm f/4.5 EX HSM (second only to Canon and Nikon's lenses,. this is one of the best lenses made) a 12-24mm and a 24-60mm, and a Sigma70-200mm f/2.8 EXHSM

All were excellent, none had any issue or gave m reason to send to Sigma.

Sigma is an innovative company that nips at the heels of the big two constantly. And, like the big 2, their lenses should be taken on a case by case basis. I've owned several Sigma lenses (and an SD-14, ). My 100-300 f/4 EX is one of my favorite lenses - one that i look forward to using - but I digress. Do your research and I think you'll be happy with what you find.

http://www.lensrentals​.com …09.20/lens-repair-data-10

that's the link i found on another forum re: sigma

mike cabilangan wrote in post #9954668
http://www.lensrentals​.com …09.20/lens-repair-data-10

that's the link i found on another forum re: sigma

Wow, 90% of Sigma 120-300 f2.8s have issues! That's amazing.

I personally love Sigmas, excellent lenses from what I can tell!

No problems with my 150-500, it's a cracking lens, my brother in law hasn't had any problems with his Sigma 10-20 either, they are no more prone to problems than Canon. No company is going to ship sub standard products and stay in business, Sigma have ben around for a long time.

mike cabilangan wrote in post #9954668
http://www.lensrentals​.com …09.20/lens-repair-data-10

that's the link i found on another forum re: sigma

That's a year and a half old. Here's the newest one:

http://www.lensrentals​.com …11.01/lens-repair-data-35

Sigmas aren't nearly as bad anymore based on that list.

mike cabilangan wrote in post #9954668
http://www.lensrentals​.com …09.20/lens-repair-data-10

that's the link i found on another forum re: sigma

I think that the early batch(s) of the 150-500 had a pretty high number of issues, but those seem to have been diminished in later batches. I got mine in late December 09 and have had no issues at all.

Regarding image quality, check out this thread:https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=514846

Note that the earliest posts were from the lenses in the earliest batches. Check out the improvement of the images as the thread progresses.

Part of that is that the lens issues were addressed by Sigma. Another part is that a 500mm lens is difficult to use if you have not used a lens that long before. I know. I had to learn.

Make no mistake, this isn't the Canon 500 f/4 L in either IQ or build, but it is also about 1/6 the price.

Tim

I've had more problems with Canon L glass than my Sigmas...

You might try reading the customer reviews at B&H. The forums usually have people posting in lens threads that, many times, are just repeating crap info they heard somewhere else. The B&H reviews are more from people who have actually spent the money and used a specific lens. You still have to run them thru the common sense filter too.

FWIW, my 120-400OS isn't perfect. It is the most bang for the buck in my kit though. I am very pleased with it.

Hello out there. I have owned the Sigma 150-500mm since November. Things I like:
build quality is good, the reach is incredible on my Canon 50D at 240-800mm. I also like that the lens actually came with it's own tripod collar, case(never useit), and an enormous hood. Since I am somewhat inexperienced with such a long tele, I can't say for certain that my IQ is consistent. The results I am getting are inconsistent at best. I have found (common sense) that my results are better when I use a tripod, but at 500mm the sensitivity to movement cannot be underestimated.

One other point I would like to make is that my photos seem to be sharper at around 150-430mm between f7.1 and f11.

If anyone is willing, I would be very grateful if someone could assist me in confirming or denying my suspiscions of inferior IQ are due to me, or the lens. I have not had the courage to experiment with micro adjusting but willing to get my feet wet if that becomes necessary. Thanks for your attention to this loooong post!

soleful2001 wrote in post #9956984
If anyone is willing, I would be very grateful if someone could assist me in confirming or denying my suspiscions of inferior IQ are due to me, or the lens. I have not had the courage to experiment with micro adjusting but willing to get my feet wet if that becomes necessary. Thanks for your attention to this loooong post!

Supertele glass is also subject to environmental issues. Mirage is a big cause of degrades image quality in certain situations. It is probabable that some inexperienced users confuse mirage with focus issues. If your 150-500 is like my 120-400, it will like to be stopped down at least one stop for optimal clarity. If you decide to MA, go for infinity focus because that is where you will most likely use a lens of this type.

Camera shake is a big deal with long lenses, especially on a densely packed sensor like the 50D. Be sure to allow the OS time to lock on and use a high shutter speed when possible. The stabilizer on my lens is a bit jumpy, but once locked on does a great job.

Is it the case that Sigma lenses have more problems when they are a relatively new type, but that these problems get less after a while?