Sigma 8-16mm DEAD.

Last week I bought a brand new Sigma 8-16 from B&H ... today, I mounted it on my camera for maybe the 2nd time... and no AF.

To tell the truth.. I got the 8-16 the same day as my 35L... so, I really wasn't playing with the 8-16 much.... and I really can't say for certain that the AF ever worked on it...

So.. it got boxed back up and sent back to B&H.... now it's the waiting game.... I have to wait for them to get it... then refund my cash.... then... I'm debating on whether or not I'll order another one from them.


***Crazy Thoughts warning *** The following text will be regarded as insane by most.. feel free to not read any more.


The thing that bothers me though... and I know it's irrational... is that I rented this lens and liked it... so bought one with plans to use it for Christmas... now, there's no chance of that.. B&H won't do what they have to do in time for me to get the refund, get another one ordered, and have it delivered by Christmas... now... as I said, I know this is irrational.... but, in the last year, I've bought a 7d, a 70-200 f/2.8 IS II, 24-70, 35L, and the 8-16 all from B&H... so.. damn near $6k worth of stuff... and each transaction, I give them a thousand dollars or two... and trust that they will deliver my ordered products... however, this trust is a one way street... even after spending a ton of money with a retailer.... In my delusional world, they'd look at my past as a customer with them... and as soon as they see that the package has been shipped, they'd send me a new lens... They'd say "Hey... this guy has spent $6000 with us this year.. I doubt he's going to try to screw us over with a $700 lens..."

I wish I had a local camera shop... I feel that with a local shop, I could have walked in the door... tossed them the failed lens, and walked out with a new one.

Well, to be fair, where you have spend $6000 somebody has doubled that. In terms of value, your probably not as big of a customer as you think.

But I know what you mean in all fairness. I just don't know of any company that ships out a replacement without getting the return first.

Plus, why can't you order and overnight the new one and let the old one credit back when they get it? Just be out a few hundred bucks until they refund, and B&H is pretty quick at that.

Agreed with Steven. Just have them cross-ship another one. They'll bill you for two, but will refund you back as soon as the Dud unit arrives back at their warehouse.

I know I'm not a big customer there by any means... I'm just saying.. the amount that I've spent with them, I'm not going to try to get one over on them with a $700 lens...

As to why I don't just order another one... it's Christmas time... and it's a $700 lens... I could toss it on a credit card... but really... Do I need it for Christmas? No... At least not enough to put anything on a credit card...

But... I see your point.... if it was needed for a paid shoot ... I'd toss it on a credit card temporarily... but... it's just for fun.

It's really no loss to you to charge it. he refund will balance the payment. You just don't want it - you are not being fair to B&H.

But on the other hand, there are many companies that will cross ship on the return of defective products - even without requiring a charge on a card.

I went back and fixed the statement that must have made you think I didn't want it...

I definitely want the lens... I want a functional one...

But... I may not order from them... as I'm seeing that there is absolutely no benefit to me being as faithful as I've been to using only 1 retailer...

NeutronBoy wrote in post #11459282
But on the other hand, there are many companies that will cross ship on the return of defective products - even without requiring a charge on a card.

Amazon does that, you just need to return the defective one within specified time frame to avoid CC charge. Anyhow, I was in the same situation with B&H, wasn't happy with 8-16 and needed another copy, was leaving for a vacation in 2 days, ordered another one with next day delivery and got it in time. They refunded me promptly after receiving the defective one. They may have just different policy, Amazon has all your CC information, B&H might not.

va_rider wrote in post #11459296
I went back and fixed the statement that must have made you think I didn't want it...

I definitely want the lens... I want a functional one...

But... I may not order from them... as I'm seeing that there is absolutely no benefit to me being as faithful as I've been to using only 1 retailer...

Their policy is their policy. Sure, you don't have to like it or even continue to be their customer, but if you really wanted it, you would just get it, have the lens available to use and then call it quits with them.

Sounds like you are trying to make a stand on a non issue.

If it makes you feel any better...

Localshops...

1. Over price everything (I have a local shop, trust me, they do)

2. Have Tax (which is 8.75% where I live, thats another $60 on a $700 lens)

I would just have then send you another one and refund you when they get this defective one. I wish you luck with it!

in my opinion it makes no sense to only shop at one online retailer...with so many good ones out there just go with who gives you the best price...your loyalty isn't really going to get you any special treatment..

va_rider wrote in post #11459215
Last week I bought a brand new Sigma 8-16 from B&H ... today, I mounted it on my camera for maybe the 2nd time... and no AF.

To tell the truth.. I got the 8-16 the same day as my 35L... so, I really wasn't playing with the 8-16 much.... and I really can't say for certain that the AF ever worked on it...

So.. it got boxed back up and sent back to B&H.... now it's the waiting game.... I have to wait for them to get it... then refund my cash.... then... I'm debating on whether or not I'll order another one from them.


***Crazy Thoughts warning *** The following text will be regarded as insane by most.. feel free to not read any more.


The thing that bothers me though... and I know it's irrational... is that I rented this lens and liked it... so bought one with plans to use it for Christmas... now, there's no chance of that.. B&H won't do what they have to do in time for me to get the refund, get another one ordered, and have it delivered by Christmas... now... as I said, I know this is irrational.... but, in the last year, I've bought a 7d, a 70-200 f/2.8 IS II, 24-70, 35L, and the 8-16 all from B&H... so.. damn near $6k worth of stuff... and each transaction, I give them a thousand dollars or two... and trust that they will deliver my ordered products... however, this trust is a one way street... even after spending a ton of money with a retailer.... In my delusional world, they'd look at my past as a customer with them... and as soon as they see that the package has been shipped, they'd send me a new lens... They'd say "Hey... this guy has spent $6000 with us this year.. I doubt he's going to try to screw us over with a $700 lens..."

I wish I had a local camera shop... I feel that with a local shop, I could have walked in the door... tossed them the failed lens, and walked out with a new one.

I bought this lens and had focus problem with it on my 60D from day 1 - I called Sigma's tech support they told me to send it in and my 60D as well for them to take a look. Something to do with the firmware and compatibility with 60D as camera is so new that they don't have one to test.

Although it is a sharp and fun lens I will return it and get the Canon since I cannot use any filters on it.

matthew.saji wrote in post #11631003
I bought this lens and had focus problem with it on my 60D from day 1 - I called Sigma's tech support they told me to send it in and my 60D as well for them to take a look. Something to do with the firmware and compatibility with 60D as camera is so new that they don't have one to test.

Although it is a sharp and fun lens I will return it and get the Canon since I cannot use any filters on it.

Do you know if this is a common occurrence with the 8-16 and 60d? I'm about to pull the trigger on one ($630 on amazon right now with 10% coupon) but may just wait for the Tokina 11-16 to get back in stock if this is the case.

I would go to a local camera store and try it with the 60D before you buy it. What you should see is that it will focus once in a while but most of the time it will not focus. Unless I had a bad lens but I did not try again yet.

Overall it is a fun and sharp lens if you manual focus. I just had a bad experience with mine.

Invertalon wrote in post #11459234
Well, to be fair, where you have spend $6000 somebody has doubled that. In terms of value, your probably not as big of a customer as you think.

But I know what you mean in all fairness. I just don't know of any company that ships out a replacement without getting the return first.

Plus, why can't you order and overnight the new one and let the old one credit back when they get it? Just be out a few hundred bucks until they refund, and B&H is pretty quick at that.

Agreed! I've done this several times on various other products. I'm out nothing as a credit will be processed...

Are these issues only with the 60D? I'm looking for a wide angle for my T1i which I'm hoping is old enough to have worked out any firmware issues.