Debunking the Sigma QC myth...

  • Thread starter Thread starter reddeathdrinker
  • Start date Start date
Sigma 17-70 (canon fit) - No problems so far, very happy with it.
 
simonkit said:
If the other thread about a 40% Sigma price increase is true they better improve their QC or they'll serious hamper their sales figures !!

simon
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The only reason I bought the Sigma was due to the low price.
If it was 40% more expensive, I wouldn't buy another Sigma.

I certainly can not afford a lens that "might" be sharp!
I just don't understand how a huge company like Sigma can send out sub standard lenses.:shrug:

Spence
 
spencer said:
I just don't understand how a huge company like Sigma can send out sub standard lenses.
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All companies send out defective products. The real question is how many. And I don't think we have enough data to say whether or not Sigma sends out more than other similar companies.
 
StewartR said:
All companies send out defective products. The real question is how many. And I don't think we have enough data to say whether or not Sigma sends out more than other similar companies.
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Agreed - and they probably sell a lot more than Canon or Nikon, as they cover multiple systems (Canon, Nikon, Sony, Pentax, Olympus, Sigma).

They must shift a hell of a lot of volume, so maybe a little more "noise" regarding issues isn't suprising at all.
 
i have recently bought used 30/1.4 canon mount. I like the sharpness when I get it focused. it is ok, but AF not among the best.
 
simonkit said:
The answer to the original question:

YES & NO.......

My Sigma 17-70 was an excellent copy first time, still is, however I had to try 3 copies of the Sigma 10-20 until I received a good one, the first two were awful..one completely de-centred & the 2nd wouldn't produce a single in-focus image, fortunately I'm delighted with the 3rd copy but is was a bit of lottery getting it !!

If the other thread about a 40% Sigma price increase is true they better improve their QC or they'll serious hamper their sales figures !!

simon
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StewartR said:
All companies send out defective products. The real question is how many. And I don't think we have enough data to say whether or not Sigma sends out more than other similar companies.
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What compared to Canon or Nikon!
I've seen more posts about Sigma QC than any other!:nono:

Sorry but I dont think Sigma will come close!:naughty:

"companies send out defective products."
I'm sorry but that surely can not do their reputation much good?
(Its like Beta testing?)

If I spend £200-£300 on a lens, I would at least like to know I'm getting something that has been manufactured to the best of their ability?

Sorry Stewart, you should know more about this than me, but perhpaps its because I've had a bad one & don't want to take the risk of making the same mistake twice.
(& maybe getting lumbered with it like I have already.:shake::shake:)

Spence
 
puddleduck said:
Agreed - and they probably sell a lot more than Canon or Nikon, as they cover multiple systems (Canon, Nikon, Sony, Pentax, Olympus, Sigma).

They must shift a hell of a lot of volume, so maybe a little more "noise" regarding issues isn't suprising at all.
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Its not the noise issue, but more QC.
Its a bit like a car, if you get a bad one you steer clear of it the next time you look to buy a car.

Spence
 
Sigma 10-20mm No problem
Sigma 28-70 No problem
Both lenses sharp as a tack and well behaved.

Paul
 
I have the 10-20 and the 24-70 f2.8, both Canon fit.

The 10-20 is fine; the 24-70 on the other hand is awful in Macro mode, hardly ever anywhere near "on focus", and I end up focusing manually. However as I very rarely use it for this kind of work I'm willing to tollerate it. And LiveView is a great help when manually focusing whilst doing Macro work.

I have to say, I'm not tempted by anything else that they do, these two lenses cover an area that Canon don't for a similar price point. My next couple of lenses will be Canon's own kit.

Steve
 
spencer said:
I had a Sigma 24-70 f2.8, that I returned for being to soft.
Replacement ok.
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spencer said:
I've seen more posts about Sigma QC than any other!:nono:
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You see - your first statement is what the aim of this thread is all about, but the second is just one of those generalities, that is part of the whole "Sigma's Bad QC" myth.

From the posts so far, it would appear that if there has been a problem with a lens, the retailer has accepted it back, or Sigma UK have remedied it to your satisfaction...
 
10-20, mid 2006ish, soft as hell, taken back to jacobs/jessops and swapped. Problem solved.

24-70 end of 2007ish, came with a strange problem, basically every few hundred photos I'd get one that was odd looking, with a weird ghosting (no flash involved), taken back, tested, replaced. Problem solved.

Out of 2, I've had to replace 2; and been lucky with the replacements both times.
 
I'm just wondering how much of the recurring problem is retailers just putting returned lenses back on the shelf with the attitude of "someone will buy it and not complain"... I'm sure it happens.
 
Had the 150mm macro, spot on

Tested with a view to purchase

70-200 f/2.8, focus errors
24-70 f/2.8, focus errors
50-150, f/2.8, focus errors (widely reported at min. focus on the mkI, not tried the mkII)
 
nikontos said:
i have recently bought used 30/1.4 canon mount. I like the sharpness when I get it focused. it is ok, but AF not among the best.
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How much is this you getting used to having a 1.4 lens? All of a sudden if the camera doesn't focus exactly where you want it, and considering the AF point are significantly larger than the 'squares' seen through the viewfinder, its much more obvious
 
reddeathdrinker said:
I'm just wondering how much of the recurring problem is retailers just putting returned lenses back on the shelf with the attitude of "someone will buy it and not complain"... I'm sure it happens.
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I'm sure that's what happens... there are probably a few really bad copies that have been doing the rounds for years!
 
You see - your first statement is what the aim of this thread is all about, but the second is just one of those generalities, that is part of the whole "Sigma's Bad QC" myth.

From the posts so far, it would appear that if there has been a problem with a lens, the retailer has accepted it back, or Sigma UK have remedied it to your satisfaction...[/QUOTE]

I am in complete agreement.There must be many hundred Sigma lenses in use across this forum and obviously many happy users.There is no need for a single one of those lenses to be duff as Sigma customer service is so good.
DazzaJI made a comment with regard to his problems buying the 10-20 which was a lens that was notorious for poor QC.This problem was rectified by Sigma sometime ago so it does make one wonder if reddeathdrinker is right about some dealers keeping returns on their shelf.
Pete.
 
8mm f/4 Fisheye (2nd hand but still in original sealed bag!)
12-24 Zoom
24-70 f/2.8
170-500 (2nd hand from a friend who bought it new)

No problems at all with any of them and considering getting the 150-500 VR (to replace the 170-500).
 
My first Sigma lens was the 70-300 APO DG, which was great for the money, no problems at all. Then came the 10-20. I must have been very lucky because I've had this lens for 3 years and it's been brilliant since day 1.
Then I bought the 120-300 2.8 to replace the 70-300 and I must say that I am a big Sigma fan now. Have bought the 1.4x and 2x TCs, and I'm happy with both. I even use sigma flashguns, having bought the Sigma EF500 DG Super a couple of years ago.
Have used the 30mm 1.4 and was amazed by the IQ, built quality and results, have tried the 50-150 2.8 in store, and the photos where great on my pc and I was quite happy with the quality by "birdie's" sigma 70mm macro when I tested it last time we met.

All in all, I have owned or tried 9 different pieces of equipment with 100% satisfaction. And tbh, for the price difference in some lenses between sigma and canon, I am willing to take the risk of having to send it back and wait for a couple of weeks. But I always buy in-store, tell them to hold it for me, go home, check the photos on my pc and then go back to store and buy.
 
sigma 70-300 APO DG - No problems, since sold on.
sigma 50mm 2.8 EX macro - fine, still own and use.
 
I have -

50mm f/1.4 - from new & perfect
30mm f/1.4 - bought s/h & perfect
105mm f/2.8 Macro bough s/h & perfect

I was very sceptical about Sigma lenses after reading the negative comments, but the primes that I have are superb...
 
I've bought 2 sigma lenses and had to send the initial copies of BOTH back for replacements immediately.
The first 105mm macro wildly front focussed and the first 50-500 DG EX was so soft even with manual focus it looked like it had a gaussian blur applied to the files.
I was happy with the 2nd copy of each that i recieved (till i started buying L lenses anyway with regards to the 50-500 :naughty:)

This was about 3 years ago.
 
I have or have owned all with no problems at all. (all Canon fit)
sigma 17-70
sigma 70-300 APO DG
sigma 24-70 f/2.8
sigma 10-20
sigma 180 macro

Originally had a Canon 70-300 and had two copies that were terrible. I ended up buying the sigma version and saving a few quid and having a dam good lens to boot.
 
I,ve noticed a few negative comments lately about Sigma lenses :(
All I can say is I'm really happy with mine, have had my 105 macro for more than 2 years and the 150 macro for almost a year
Both get well used but have had no problems at all
Pete
 
Hi I just bought a Canon fit Sigma 18-50 second hand. Don't know how many times the original owner swopped it but this ones fine. Sharp and good focus.:clap:
 
17-70mm DC 2.8 - Worked perfectly
10-20mm DC - Outstanding
 
I've owned five Sigma lenses. Two primes and three zooms.

50mm F2.8 Macro - no problems
150mm F2.8 Macro - no problems

70-300mm F4-5.6 DG (Non APO) - Failed under warranty - front element fell out!
10-20mm - failed under warranty - focus motor died
50-500mm - failed under warranty - intermittent focus motor problems

All three failures replaced under warranty and going strong with their current 2nd owners. I wonder if Sigma hold back the best copies for warranty replacaments? LOL!

I currently own six Nikon lenses. No problems.
 
My list:

150mm 2.8 - Perfect
10-20mm - Perfect
50-150 2.8 - Ok so far but not many uses
150-500 - Going back under warranty for being too soft
2x 2xTCs - Both perfect
 
I own two Sigma lenses, both zooms:

120-400mm f4.5-5.6 APO DG OS HSM - Owned since November 08, only one slight issue so far. I though the IS had a problem a couple of weeks ago, where it seemed to be bouncing the image in the view finder, but that may have been because it was so bloody cold, as it fixed itself and I've had no problems since.

18-125mm f3.5-5.6 DC - Bought second hand from Jessops in December 08, and it's going back tomorrow as it has an AF issue. Basically, it sometimes refuses to autofocus unless you flick the switch to manual, move the focus ring a little, and then put it back to AF.
 
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