RE: I'm becoming disillusioned with Sigma
And some of them are more reliable to offset their lesser expandability. Perhaps, but my Compaq Presario has given me nothing but hxxx over the years. Not to mention they chose to include the slowest HD and stupid software modem. It wasn't even the cheap model by the time it was bought. And their customer and online support are... almost none. My sister was even insulted by the phone support guy. Way to go Compaq... :( regards, Alan Chan _ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Re: I'm becoming disillusioned with Sigma
I had the Sigma 400/5.6 APO Macro in Pentax AF. Optically, it was a first-rate lens in every respect. The build quality was good also. I returned it within the 30-day return period because it didn't report the proper aperture when used on a Super Program, and I was afraid there would be further problems in the lens' compatibility down the road. But the photos it produced were as good as the Pentax F* 300/4.5, which is saying a lot, so overall the lens would have been a keeper except for my compatibility concerns. But now Sigma reports they have discontinued production of that lens - because they sell many more of their 135-400 and other long zooms than the autofocus APO 400/5.6 Macro. The point of this is that Sigma's newer long zooms are optically crap, compared to the 400/5.6 APO Macro. Reviews and tests show they are soft at full aperture at the long end, and not much better stopped down. Really barely good enough for 4x6 inch prints, and useless for enlargements. So build quality and compatibility are issues, to be sure, but it seems modern buyers would prefer anything with the word zoom in it to an optically fine lens. I suggest Pentax start marketing Zoom Primes. These lenses would actually be prime lenses, but with the word Zoom prominently printed in large letters on the side of the lens. This would satisfy the cranially challenged buyers who just want a good Zoom. Hey, maybe Pentax could even call their new line a CanoZoom. Sales would skyrocket, for sure. -- John Mustarde - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Re: I'm becoming disillusioned with Sigma
At 06:11 AM 11/9/01 -0600, John Mustarde wrote: But now Sigma reports they have discontinued production of that lens - because they sell many more of their 135-400 and other long zooms than the autofocus APO 400/5.6 Macro. I noticed this recently. The upshot is that there are now no third party 400mm f5.6's being made, AFAIK. And that's not just for Pentax - that's for any brand. The point of this is that Sigma's newer long zooms are optically crap, compared to the 400/5.6 APO Macro. Reviews and tests show they are soft at full aperture at the long end, and not much better stopped down. Really barely good enough for 4x6 inch prints, and useless for enlargements. One can only wonder about Sigma's marketing strategy. One one hand they are introducing some very good optics in their EX series - all of which seem to hold their own, zoom or prime. They are also presenting some prime lenses that really swim against the tide of the zoom based market place - like the 28mm f1.8. But on the other hand they discontinue one of the lenses that was generally very well recieved and did a lot to improve their image. They probably have the marketing department decide what to introduce and the accounting dept decide what to discontinue... - MCC - - - - - - - - - - Mark Cassino Kalamazoo, MI [EMAIL PROTECTED] - - - - - - - - - - Photos: http://www.markcassino.com - - - - - - - - - - - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
RE: I'm becoming disillusioned with Sigma
Yes both Sigma and Tokina have stopped production of those 2. As a result members of both the Pentax and Minolta lists I'm on are scrambling to find either of these 2 late models before they disappear entirely. Some countries already have no stock left. Either lens is definitely better than the Sigma 135-400 and 400mm. All this inspite of the fact that shooters like Art Morris say every one shooting wildlife should have one in their inventory of this size. Kent Gittings -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Mark Cassino Sent: Friday, November 09, 2001 8:07 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: I'm becoming disillusioned with Sigma At 06:11 AM 11/9/01 -0600, John Mustarde wrote: But now Sigma reports they have discontinued production of that lens - because they sell many more of their 135-400 and other long zooms than the autofocus APO 400/5.6 Macro. I noticed this recently. The upshot is that there are now no third party 400mm f5.6's being made, AFAIK. And that's not just for Pentax - that's for any brand. The point of this is that Sigma's newer long zooms are optically crap, compared to the 400/5.6 APO Macro. Reviews and tests show they are soft at full aperture at the long end, and not much better stopped down. Really barely good enough for 4x6 inch prints, and useless for enlargements. One can only wonder about Sigma's marketing strategy. One one hand they are introducing some very good optics in their EX series - all of which seem to hold their own, zoom or prime. They are also presenting some prime lenses that really swim against the tide of the zoom based market place - like the 28mm f1.8. But on the other hand they discontinue one of the lenses that was generally very well recieved and did a lot to improve their image. They probably have the marketing department decide what to introduce and the accounting dept decide what to discontinue... - MCC - - - - - - - - - - Mark Cassino Kalamazoo, MI [EMAIL PROTECTED] - - - - - - - - - - Photos: http://www.markcassino.com - - - - - - - - - - - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org . ** This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager. This footnote also confirms that this email message has been swept by MIMEsweeper for the presence of computer viruses. www.mimesweeper.com ** - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Re: I'm becoming disillusioned with Sigma
I missed the first part of this discussion. I have a couple of Sigma's- the EX 50mm f2.8 macro and 14mm f3.5 - and they work fine. No compatibility problems at all. I finally broke down and ordered the Sigma 70 - 200 f.28 as well, but have not recieved it yet. If anything, I've had more compatibility problems with my Tokinas - the ATX 100-300 f4 zoom is inconsistent on the A setting - sometimes loosing the connection at defaulting to fully stopped down. It always failed to connect with my old Pz-70. The aperture display disappears and is replaced by the two dashes - - when this happens. And my ATX 400 f5.6 is very finicky with the Mz-S. Sometimes the finder reports really odd f stops (like f99) and sometimes the AF cam doesn't engage. Remounting the lens solves both problems, which are fairly uncommon. I think sometimes it's just the individual lens itself. - MCC At 11:15 PM 11/6/01 -0500, you wrote: After nearly 10 years of using Sigma lenses I'm actually becoming disillusioned. Here's the email they sent back... Dear Mr. Hufnagel, Thank you very much for your E-mail. First of all, we regret very much that our customer had such a trouble with the Sigma lens. We have no experience such issue before, therefore, in order to understand the origin of the problem and provide the required maintenance, we kindly ask you to return the lens to Sigma Corporation of America. Please attach a memo describing your lens trouble, your name, address and phone number. If your lens is under warranty, please attach a copy of sales receipt from Sigma dealer. The warranty period is one year from date of purchase. If it is not under warranty and we have to charge for repair, we will send a FREE estimate by mail. If you are not US resident, please contact Sigma distributor in your country. Kind Regards, SIGMA Corporation of America Service Department 15 Fleetwood Court Ronkonkoma, NY 11779 U.S.A. Tel: 631 585-1144 Fax: 631 585-1895 http://www.sigma-photo.com I don't know about you, but I don't buy the no experience such issue before line. I can't be the only one with display problems with Sigma lenses and Pentax bodies. I won't even go into the horrible english (translation??) And finally... Where's a contact name? This smells like a form letter... I HATE form letters for customer service. Has anyone here ever sent in a Sigma lens under these kinds of conditions? I really like my lenses. I am especially fond of the 14mm rectilinear and 15mm semi-fisheye lenses... They're fantastic. It's sort of like a beautiful woman with a scar on her face... Still beautiful, but dimished somehow. I hope this can be resolved. None of my lenses are under warranty... They're just too old. So I get the feeling I'll be shafted in the end. I'd try and replace them with Pentax glass, but unless I got a long lost rich uncle that just croaked it won't happen... Too damn poor now. Oh well... Off the soap box now. -- John - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org . - - - - - - - - - - Mark Cassino Kalamazoo, MI [EMAIL PROTECTED] - - - - - - - - - - Photos: http://www.markcassino.com - - - - - - - - - - - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
RE: I'm becoming disillusioned with Sigma
The only time it pays to buy a name brand computer is if you are a total non-techie and haven't a clue what one end of a screwdriver is. Generally what you get in a name brand is a little fuzzy security blanket without knowing that since your computer can't be upgraded very much or at all you will need to replace it in a couple of years if you are doing serious work. Nice thing about a real clone is that every part in it complies with some standard so when new technology comes out all you have to do is swap out something for a newer better part. Nowadays, the term clone is somewhat ambitious for PCs. When IBM released 8088 in early 80's, everything else was considered the clones. But this is not the case anymore today. There are many companies which have come up with some standards and then every manufacturer just followed those standards. When the IBM TV ad said do you realy want a clone?, I couldn't help but thinking this ad was misleading somehow. However, I do agree that big name computers (like Compaq, IBM, HP etc) are often less flexible. Same thing in lenses except that in the case of factory ones the only bad thing is price (although every makers has some turkey's in their lineup they have less that the 3rd party ones). I really don't see how the PC industry can be compared to the photographic industry. Each camera manufacturer has her own design/standard and not interchangable between brands (except Ricoh, Vivitar, Casina). This is not the case with PCs. When considering a 3rd party lens you need to separate the good from the junk. Sigma lenses were made in the Sun Optical factory prior to a merger/buyout in the late 70's. With the introduction of the QD line in the late 70's Sigma's build quality was close to as good as any camera maker 70's? I started using Sigma lenses in mid-80's until mid-90's. I had both zoom and prime lenses, all manual focus. Mechanically, all of them were crap. None of them were even close to the usual built quality of Nikkors or Pentax lenses which were 10-20 yrs older. Not only Sigma used crappy materials, but their fundamental designs were poor. That's why Sigma lenses do not last. line. Of course the performance wasn't quite as good as the best of the factory lenses but the price performance ratio was good. Sigma has made some crappy consumer lenses with OK performance but cheap construction, but they seem to have gotten over that stage that happened in the mid 90's. In my collection is a late 70's Sigma QD 135/1.8 in Pentax K mount. While not as good as a Pentax A* 135/1.8 you can get this lens often for around $300-350 in Mint to Excellent condition, which is much less than the cost of a Pentax. Has the same kind of all metal construction as the Pentax lens although of course it doesn't have the real SMC coatings. I always feel the term price performance ratio is a very poor indicator. No doubt cheap products often score well in this aspect. But then durability or reliability could never be accurately measured in any tests, until you have used them long enough. When Sigma lenses worth almost nothing on the secondhand markets, there must be a reason. regards, Alan Chan _ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
