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Archive 2009 · What I hate about Sigma

tanglefoot47
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · What I hate about Sigma

I like some of Sigma lenses like the 100-300 f/4 or the 120-300 2.8 and then there's the Bigma. But I wonder why Sigma can't do a decent paint job? Seems like every large Sigma lens that I see for sale has paint peeling from it. That is one big reason I don't buy Sigma

Mike

Jun 09, 2009 at 07:28 PM

Locster
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · What I hate about Sigma

I've seen a lot of white lenses with paint chips in my day

Jun 09, 2009 at 07:56 PM

phidong
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · What I hate about Sigma

They should just roll with the brushed metal look. Peeled lens looks way cooler than the crackle paint they use.

It probably wouldn't smell as much either!

Phi

Edited on Jun 09, 2009 at 07:59 PM · View previous versions

Jun 09, 2009 at 07:57 PM

tanglefoot47
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · What I hate about Sigma

Locster wrote:
I've seen a lot of white lenses with paint chips in my day

Yes from banging them around but it seems like Sigma peels not chips

Jun 09, 2009 at 07:57 PM

Gochugogi
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · What I hate about Sigma

I have a 1994 EF 300 4L USM and used the heck out of it. Other than a few tiny nicks on the hood, the finish is almost perfect. On the other hand, my Sigma 400 5.6 APO was peeling and nekid in a dozen places after only a year. I treated it just as well as the Canon but simply rubbing against my bag, T-shirt and jeans caused major wear. They called it the "Zen" finish but it was some sort of cheap rubber-like paint. Of course that was the 90s. I imagine Sigma has gotten their shit together since then.

Jun 09, 2009 at 08:02 PM

omarlyn
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · What I hate about Sigma

My favorite Sigma lens was the 70-210 f/2.8 (circa mid nineties). That lens was 'Ubber' sharp & contrasty...but then the whole chipping/re-chipping thing occured...then my lens couldn't be properly re-chipped due to a specific part no longer available...then the finish started to turn to a 'sticky goo'. I never really got over that and all my other Sigma lenses (before & after) also disappointed me as well. I have officially sworn off Sigma no matter what fantastic new lens they come up with. My 20 year old Canon 50/2.5 Macro works FANTASTIC...never had a focus problem, compatibility issue, or finish erosion. All my other old Canon stuff still works too long after all but one of my six Sigma lenses died prematurely. Only my 28-70 f/2.8 remained working into the digital age...it was a descent lens but by bthat time the 'damage' was done & I sold it.

Omar

Jun 09, 2009 at 08:17 PM

RafalA
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · What I hate about Sigma

So you don't buy the lens because the paint comes off??

Wow. I guess I put more emphasis on image quality and value than the lens aesthetics.

Jun 09, 2009 at 08:49 PM

n0b0
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · What I hate about Sigma

Can't you buy a pot of retouch paint from Sigma like those white paint from Canon? Or you can just cover both end of the lens and spray paint it.

Jun 09, 2009 at 08:52 PM

kakomu
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · What I hate about Sigma

RafalA wrote:
So you don't buy the lens because the paint comes off??

Wow. I guess I put more emphasis on image quality and value than the lens aesthetics.

When you start mentioning image quality you'll have to start talking about QC issues. I know that I don't want another sigma after my 24-60 F/2.8 DG lens would only focus correctly about 1/3 of the time.

Jun 09, 2009 at 09:02 PM

jvarszegi
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · What I hate about Sigma

Another vote here for inaccurate AF as the worst Sigma problem I've experienced-- but it was enough.

I tried the 18-50 EX DC, 24-70 EX (I), and 30 EX DC (2 copies), none of which focused reliably. It was a shame because the 18-50 and 30 had good optics (the 24-70 did not). The new 24-70 looks killer-- that and the Sigma 50 are two compelling lenses for Nikon shooters, at least. I just can't trust 'em. Too much emotional baggage, I guess.

Jun 09, 2009 at 09:08 PM

oajlu
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · What I hate about Sigma

i am fine with the material they used to cover lens.
i own 2 sigma lens for almost 3 years, and the paint didnt come off.

in my pov, sigma painting is better than tamron and some cheap canon lens with pure plastic surface.

Jun 09, 2009 at 09:11 PM

anthonygh
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · What I hate about Sigma

I have an ancient Sigma 21 - 30mm APO lens...looks like the day I bought it. Heavy engineering.....good images too...pity it doesn't do digital....

Jun 09, 2009 at 09:14 PM

n0b0
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · What I hate about Sigma

Just curious coz I'm thinking about getting the Sigma 30/1.4, is it ALL their lenses or just the non-EX ones that have this problem?

Jun 09, 2009 at 09:16 PM

Gochugogi
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · What I hate about Sigma

RafalA wrote:
So you don't buy the lens because the paint comes off??

Wow. I guess I put more emphasis on image quality and value than the lens aesthetics.

You're really young and idealistic aren't you? So I suppose you don't recall Sigma of the 1990s? Their real problems began when electronics and CPUs entered the camera industry. Nevertheless, Sigma's attention to details--e.g., paint quality--is very telling of their general approach to design and IQ. Like Omar, I owned 6 Sigmas in the 90s. My 24 2.8 was metal, had good finish but wouldn't AF worth a shit. Well, you don't really need AF for a wide angle so I lived with it. However all 6 of m y Sigmas were rendered useless when I bought a new EOS body (EOS 3 in 1999). Apparently they needed a new ROM chip. Although all were bought new, within 3 or 4 years all were discontinued save my 50 2.8 EX. No ROM chips available making 5 of them into very expensive paperweights. And, yep, I have Canon EF lenses from the late 80s and early 90s that work perfectly and, hot damn, have most of their finish intact!

Jun 09, 2009 at 09:19 PM

brucem48
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · What I hate about Sigma

I own two canon L lenses and which are good copies. As a matter of fact they are excellent through many of my tests. The Sigmas are not as reliable focusing lenses as the Canons and have absolutely no cosmetic issues after 4 years of use. The 150 macro and 70 macro after many tests come out on top by a slim margin over all of them. my calumet 4x5 view and my med. format film cameras didnt have auto focus as well as many higher quality rangefinders. Chimping and auto focus go hand and hand to me. I find the Sigma EX color files richer than Canon and never hesitate when I want excellent resolution and color. I buy lenses for the quality of the final file and not anything else..Period

Jun 09, 2009 at 09:26 PM

jvarszegi
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · What I hate about Sigma

n0b0 wrote:
Just curious coz I'm thinking about getting the Sigma 30/1.4, is it ALL their lenses or just the non-EX ones that have this problem?

I don't know enough to say. Technically I think the 30 is an EX, which is just their pro-grade designation-- the "DC" in the name means it's for crop cameras only. Fans of the Sigma 30 say to just be ready to send it to Sigma for calibration, but I've read it's not guaranteed to work either.

I think there is so much variability in technique and bodies and calibration of bodies and lenses that it is nigh impossible to sort out the exact source of all the problems from user reports on the web. I think a large part of it is that some of the fans don't know when their camera has missed focus, literally-- every so often a thread pops up praising this or that lens, but the shot is misfocused, then others pile on and post more misfocused shots, sometimes missing by a mile. (Of course, as long as the user is happy that's all that matters.)

Some users are candid and say that they are willing to put up with a few more AF misses (which is how they characterize it) to get good optical performance at such a price. And, of course, there are users way at one end of the spectrum who swear up and down that their lenses have great AF, even the best they've ever had.

Just about the only lens I haven't read reports of AF problems on was the Sigmonster. It's just hard to get a handle on the scope of the problem.

Jun 09, 2009 at 09:28 PM

dragonfly5
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · What I hate about Sigma

I owned a Sigma 150 macro for a year and a half - sharpest lens I had and never any issues with focus or paint chipping/flaking.

Jun 09, 2009 at 09:30 PM

Andrew J
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · What I hate about Sigma

anthonygh wrote:
I have an ancient Sigma 21 - 30mm APO lens...looks like the day I bought it. Heavy engineering.....good images too...pity it doesn't do digital....

It will on a 1D.

Jun 09, 2009 at 09:39 PM

tanglefoot47
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · What I hate about Sigma

RafalA wrote:
So you don't buy the lens because the paint comes off??

Wow. I guess I put more emphasis on image quality and value than the lens aesthetics.

Goes hand in hand with QC if they put a cheap paint job on the lens and we are always hearing stories of IQ on these lenses so it's deeper than paint.

Jun 10, 2009 at 12:22 AM

Yakim Peled
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · What I hate about Sigma

Locster wrote:
I've seen a lot of white lenses with paint chips in my day

I have seen only one.

Happy shooting,
Yakim.

Jun 10, 2009 at 03:20 AM

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