Sigma .... the little company that could! (fanboy alert)

[Keith]

And did and have ... another rave review of the 24mm f1.4 Art. LINK

I have to ask how Sigma can keep producing absolute winners with their new Art series of lenses that cost around half of the opposition's equivalent offerings ... ie Canon and Nikon.

And in spite of a bit of resistance to the new Quattros courtesy of their quirky design they seem to be gaining a fan base all of their own just like the Merrills did. Whatever this company is doing they are certainly doing it very well. The others read the market and produce cameras that they think buyers want ... Sigma appears to be making what they want to make and the market eventually responds when people get used to them.

And you think Leica has big cajones for making another Monochrom? 🙂

 

[Keith]

And I have to query why this thread has been moved to the SLR forum from photo general discussion?

 

[Darthfeeble]

Keith, I suspect that part of the reason is that they can make one lens and then multiple mounts and double or triple their consumer base. I have had a couple of Sigmas and even the plain model was pretty durn good, the EX 12-24 was just exceptional.

 

[kxl]

I have owned a few Sigma lenses (for the Nikon F mount) in the past and a lot of them were hit or miss. It would sometimes take 3 different samples before I got one that was problem-free. This happened on multiple occasions with different lenses. I eventually parted with all of them.

My next experience with Sigma lenses was just okay -- the 19mm and 30mm Sony e mount lenses were decent performers for the price, i.e., good value, but nothing eye-popping.

Eye-popping came about with the ART series. I currently have the 35/1.4 and in fact recently mostly used just that lens on a recent trip to Japan. It is a fantastic lens -- a must have for DSLR shooters.

I do not yet have the 50/1.4 ART, which by all indications is just as good if not better than the 35/1.4. And now the 24/1.4 and 85/1.4. I will likely purchase the 24mm and maybe the 85mm at some later date. I'm a big believer in this ART series of lenses.

 

[Corran]

I wish the Art series had real aperture rings so I could use them on both my dslr and older film bodies. But that goes for the modern Nikon lenses too. So I'll stick to my old stuff for now.

 

[Freakscene]

I wish the Art series had real aperture rings so I could use them on both my dslr and older film bodies. But that goes for the modern Nikon lenses too. So I'll stick to my old stuff for now.

Sounds like a good excuse to buy an F100 or F6.

Marty

 

[kxl]

Sounds like a good excuse to but an F100 or F6.

Marty

Yup... shooting "G" type lenses on B&W film is the primary reason I had picked up an F100 a few months ago (after stupidly selling one a few years back).

 

[Ranchu]

I have a 28mm f1.8 that cannot be used because it needs a different canon chip, and the 're-chip' chips are no longer 'available' from Sigma.

 

[Corran]

Sounds like a good excuse to but an F100 or F6.

Marty

I have an F5 actually.
I prefer my F4 usually though, or earlier, and like complete compatibility if I can help it! But at least I can use G lenses on the F4 in S or P modes.

I just got a 14-24mm, my first G lens in a long time.

 

[GaryLH]

Keith, I suspect that part of the reason is that they can make one lens and then multiple mounts and double or triple their consumer base. I have had a couple of Sigmas and even the plain model was pretty durn good, the EX 12-24 was just exceptional.

They make lenses for mirrorless as well as dslrs..plus their dp series cameras. Given what Keith is raving about is their new dslr lens....I can understand it being placed here though. I think Keith put it in the non-dslr section so it could be for general discussion though.

Gary

 

[GaryLH]

Yes..the company has changed my opinion a lot over the last three years. I remember a 24-70 zoom lens I bought in the mid-late 80s that I thought was crap.. Fast forward today.. I love the sigma art series lenses. As well as their foveon based cameras 😀

Are they perfect..NO.. Are they good enough for..YES.. That is that counts for me.

Gary

PS.. Forgot to mention, my next Sigma purchase is going to be the DP0 Quattro..that 21 fov in 21:9 aspect ratio...can't wait. Combine that w/ any camera w/ a 40 to 50 fov lens, i am set 😀

 

[Keith]

Yes..the company has changed my opinion a lot over the last three years. I remember a 24-70 zoom lens I bought in the mid-late 80s that I thought was crap.. Fast forward today.. I love the sigma art series lenses. As well as their foveon based cameras 😀

Are they perfect..NO.. Are they good enough for..YES.. That is that counts for me.

Gary

PS.. Forgot to mention, my next Sigma purchase is going to be the DP0 Quattro..that 21 fov in 21:9 aspect ratio...can't wait. Combine that w/ any camera w/ a 40 to 50 fov lens, i am set 😀

I have to admit Gary that I am hankering to own a Quattro .... but which one? LOL 😀

 

[Keith]

I have a 28mm f1.8 that cannot be used because it needs a different canon chip, and the 're-chip' chips are no longer 'available' from Sigma.

That's probably not their fault ... I doubt that they make the chip in question.

Sigma currently have a service to change your lens mount on their lenses if you switch camera bodies. Who else offers this?


By the way Ranchu did you remove the 'screw Sigma' comment from your post or was it another case of over zealous moderation? LOL 😛

 

[Ranchu]

Nah, I didn't want to be so mean. But I do blame sigma, they're making lenses with the needed chips every day. It's their choice not to service the lens, and the one I have isn't the only model affected. Tokina didn't need a re chip, Tamron didn't need a re chip. I won't be bothering with sigma.

 

[Sparrow]

That's probably not their fault ... I doubt that they make the chip in question.

Sigma currently have a service to change your lens mount on their lenses if you switch camera bodies. Who else offers this?

... naa, Leica were doing that way back in the 1950s, and they didn't even make an SLR back then

 

[Keith]

... naa, Leica were doing that way back in the 1950s, and they didn't even make an SLR back then

Leica!!!

We're talking camera makers here mate, not the fashion industry! 😀

 

[Ranchu]

We're never gonna survive Keith, unless we get a little crazy.

 

[jarski]

Am hoping Sigma could collaborate with some other (willing) camera maker to improve some shortcomings in their Foveon cameras (focusing is top on my personal list). Instead of trying solve all things by themselves, thus taking a long time. But, am a fanboy also 🙂

 

[Sparrow]

Leica!!!

We're talking camera makers here mate, not the fashion industry! 😀

They're not fashionable that's for sure .. fancy calling it Quattro .. you'd just need a large moustache, a Kevin Keegan perm and a car with GTI after its name to complete the ensemble

 

[GaryLH]

A shot of the lens testing machine which uses a Merrill sensor

A shot of the lens testing machine which uses a Merrill sensor

http://sigma-rumors.com/2015/05/sigma-quality-control-a1-lens-testing-system/

I am sure all the other lens makers use similar designed testing machines. Just wanted to throw out the the one sigma uses is based on a Merrill sensor.

Gary