Sigma Lens Complaints

eug · 23rd May 2003

Hi All,

Please put down all your complains about Sigma Lens in this thread.

jesser · 23rd May 2003

Quote:

Originally posted by eug
Hi All,

Please put down all your complains about Sigma Lens in this thread.

is very plastic and looks cheap......but this toys can really produces very sharp and good photos. this is what i want the photo to be....who care about how the lens looks.

Adam Goi · 23rd May 2003

The built? The rest seem fine!

munfai · 26th May 2003

the large expensive 82mm filters one would have to buy for some of their lenses...

yeocolin · 26th May 2003

anybody used sigma lens for more than 4 years? Any problems?

I was told by a lens repairman that the sigma lens don't stand the test of time and produces this white fuzzy thing in the lens. Its explained as air entering between lens coating and the lens itself, and its uncleanable. As a result, he only sells Tamron, Tokina and 1st party lens, but stopped selling Sigma lens.

Wai · 26th May 2003

Quote:

Originally posted by munfai
the large expensive 82mm filters one would have to buy for some of their lenses...

agree.....

and the build, the size too

but performance & cost is really attractive

Larry · 26th May 2003

there seems to be a lens mount problem in general with Sigma, if you don't take care of them properly. i've encountered more than a few folks whose lens mounts became loose after some usage.

synapseman · 28th May 2003

My first ever system was the Sigma SA-300n SLR, and 5 years later, it just totally fell apart. In the short term, Sigma products represent excellent value for money as far as specificiations are concerned. It matters little if lens test charts indicate they aren't as good as marque lenses because the differences are only quite slight, but the differences in price are HUGE.

HOWEVER, as a long term investment, I say forget it. You've head it all before, about horror stories about their build quality. I can readily attest to that fact. But the biggest bugbear is its service and support. To put it plainly: They suck.

The Sigma service centre is in some dingy-looking Alexendra Distripark, hardly impressive on first sight and so tells a lot about the company. And seccondly, on my numerous trips there, it just doesn't look very "pro", the way they do things, unlike Nikon's service centre. Best of all, the entire Sigma centre seems to have only ONE technician, because my waiting period was significantly extended because he was "on leave". And does cheap-looking company with cheap products mean cheaper repair costs? NO WAY!

So my advice regarding Sigma products? Just don't, man...

serendipity · 28th May 2003

FYI. Sigma service centre has moved to E-Centre. The building next to Canon's service centre. :P So now Nikon, Canon and Sigma all very near to each other.

munfai · 28th May 2003

Quote:

Originally posted by synapseman
But the biggest bugbear is its service and support. To put it plainly: They suck.

there was this one occasion when i sent my new 2x TC back as it was focusing very slowly.

this was roughly what the technician said:

'ya... focus seems slower than it should be...'

a few minutes later:

'if you focus outdoors in bright sunlight it is ok maa... indoor contrast is low, so focusing is slower...

... there is nothing to repair in a teleconverter. the problem is usually in the lens. but your lens doesn't have a problem.'

at that point i asked for a new unit of the TC to test, and they said they didn't have any, and i left.

later that day i sent a mail direct to Sigma Japan describing the problem, and got a prompt reply that they will courier 2 new units of the TC to Singapore, and will arrive here in about 3 days. the person who replied also CCed the technician here in singapore.

3 days later i called up the service centre, and they act blur... say that they did not receive any news from Japan. two weeks later they called me up, and said that the one new unit TC was here.

fortunately, the new TC was working fine. otherwise it will be another few trips to hell

BraveHart · 1st June 2003

Actually the only thing bad I find about Sigma is its reputation of old. Things have certainly improved with the EX line~ though breakdowns are still not unheard of.

I don't see much problems with them optically though. HSM is a real plus IMHO.

Wai · 1st June 2003

Quote:

Originally posted by munfai

fortunately, the new TC was working fine. otherwise it will be another few trips to hell

interesting....TC also can have problem?

what's wrong exactly?

munfai · 1st June 2003

Quote:

Originally posted by Wai
interesting....TC also can have problem?

what's wrong exactly?

focusing was very slow, slower than when i used the lens with a non-Sigma TC, and focusing hunted very badly.

the TC was also of an old Minolta non-D version. when they replaced it they gave me a new version which supported the D feature.

23rd May 2003	#1
eug Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Buangkok Posts: 537	Sigma Lens Complaints Hi All, Please put down all your complains about Sigma Lens in this thread.

23rd May 2003	#3
Adam Goi ClubSNAP Idol Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Jalan Suka Posts: 5,321	The built? The rest seem fine!

26th May 2003	#4
munfai Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 1,313	the large expensive 82mm filters one would have to buy for some of their lenses...

26th May 2003	#5
yeocolin Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Singapore Posts: 812	anybody used sigma lens for more than 4 years? Any problems? I was told by a lens repairman that the sigma lens don't stand the test of time and produces this white fuzzy thing in the lens. Its explained as air entering between lens coating and the lens itself, and its uncleanable. As a result, he only sells Tamron, Tokina and 1st party lens, but stopped selling Sigma lens.

26th May 2003	#7
Larry Moderator Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: singapore Posts: 6,097	there seems to be a lens mount problem in general with Sigma, if you don't take care of them properly. i've encountered more than a few folks whose lens mounts became loose after some usage.

28th May 2003	#8
synapseman Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: State of Confusion Posts: 2,088	My first ever system was the Sigma SA-300n SLR, and 5 years later, it just totally fell apart. In the short term, Sigma products represent excellent value for money as far as specificiations are concerned. It matters little if lens test charts indicate they aren't as good as marque lenses because the differences are only quite slight, but the differences in price are HUGE. HOWEVER, as a long term investment, I say forget it. You've head it all before, about horror stories about their build quality. I can readily attest to that fact. But the biggest bugbear is its service and support. To put it plainly: They suck. The Sigma service centre is in some dingy-looking Alexendra Distripark, hardly impressive on first sight and so tells a lot about the company. And seccondly, on my numerous trips there, it just doesn't look very "pro", the way they do things, unlike Nikon's service centre. Best of all, the entire Sigma centre seems to have only ONE technician, because my waiting period was significantly extended because he was "on leave". And does cheap-looking company with cheap products mean cheaper repair costs? NO WAY! So my advice regarding Sigma products? Just don't, man...

28th May 2003	#9
serendipity Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Singapore Posts: 447	FYI. Sigma service centre has moved to E-Centre. The building next to Canon's service centre. :P So now Nikon, Canon and Sigma all very near to each other.

1st June 2003	#11
BraveHart Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Singapore Posts: 322	Actually the only thing bad I find about Sigma is its reputation of old. Things have certainly improved with the EX line~ though breakdowns are still not unheard of. I don't see much problems with them optically though. HSM is a real plus IMHO.