Returning my new Sigma 150mm 2.8 Macro....

cgipson1 · Oct 30, 2011

Returning my new Sigma 150mm 2.8 Macro....

It was backfocusing about 2" in Autofocus.... no big deal, I usually just dial in some AF correction. But the lens would not respond to any corrections I put in. -20 and +20 looked exactly the same. Sigma support said it sounds like a bad relay or something. So I returned the lens.

Think I might just wait and see if Nikon updates the 200 macro...

Overread · Oct 30, 2011

Gah I nearly chocked on my doritos - why not get it fixed up first? It's a great lens and a little fix and it will keep being great - or you could even consider upgrading to the newer OS edition

Markw · Oct 30, 2011

Get the OS version! If you're going to get the 200 Nikkor upgrade, for $2k+, you could definitely go for the Sigma 150/2.8OS. It's a fantastic lens.

I'm a major supporter of Sigma, especially their macro line, just like Overread. They really are spectacular. :mrgreen:

Mark

Derrel · Oct 30, 2011

Markw said:
I'm a major supporter of Sigma, especially their macro line, just like Overread. They really are spectacular. :mrgreen:

When they work right, and actually interface properly with the brand of camera mount and focusing and metering systems they are alleged to work with...

Markw · Oct 30, 2011

I meant their Macro lens series are spectacular. No necessarily the entire company. But you're right, the 96% of time everything works properly, most of their upper-level lenses are spectacular.

Mark

BlairWright · Oct 30, 2011

My Sigma luck has been about 50/50.. I have had great copies while others were unusable and had to be returned. Front and back focus issues are not uncommon with them

Derrel · Oct 30, 2011

Lemme see....my Sigma 180mm f/3.5 EX HSM APO macro in Nikon mount....likes to go on ridiculous AF hunts, back-focusing for no apparent reason....mostly in bright sunshine...

My Sigma 18-125 DC in Canon EF mount is called "Der Flaremeister" by me for its spectacular green flare whenever shot toward the light...and I love the way the zoom flops out to 125mm whenever the lens is pointed more than 2 degrees below the horizontal....always handy...

My Sigma 100-300 EX HSM in Nikon mount has a decentered element so one side's a bit softer than the other, and can't focus well enough to be relied up for track and field in broad daylight...

but other than that....well...the 180 and the 100-300 EX models are "high-end" Sigma models...and both have very serious issues...

Markw · Oct 30, 2011

Wow. You've had it bad. :lol:

So far, I've owned the Sigma: 50/2.8 Macro, 105/2.8 Macro, 180/3.5 Macro, 18-50/2.8 EX DC D (non-HSM, non-Macro), and 400/5.6 APO (non-Macro).

Besides the 400/5.6 having haze/fungus in the lens when I got it (ebay special! I only paid $100ish for it, what does that tell you? lol), I haven't had issues with any of them really. I get hunting with the 180/3.5 on occasion, but I shoot i in less-than-ideal conditions. I got more with the 105/2.8. The 18-50 has a pretty nasty flare problem, but that's not really surprising to me. I get similar results with the 35/1.8 Nikkor. I also have much worse backfocusing with my 80-200/2.8 Nikkor than any lens I've ever used. And that's a damn good lens.

Mark

Kerbouchard · Oct 30, 2011

I have the Sigma 150 2.8, and from everything I have read, this lens does not suffer from the same variation as many of the Sigma's do. Mine is spectacular. One of my favorite lenses.

Sorry you got a lemon, but that happens with every manufacturer.

cgipson1 · Oct 30, 2011

Overread said:
Gah I nearly chocked on my doritos - why not get it fixed up first? It's a great lens and a little fix and it will keep being great - or you could even consider upgrading to the newer OS edition

This was the new OS version.. Sigma support said it could be repaired under warranty... but I returned it. It was buggy...

cgipson1 · Oct 30, 2011

Markw said:
Get the OS version! If you're going to get the 200 Nikkor upgrade, for $2k+, you could definitely go for the Sigma 150/2.8OS. It's a fantastic lens.

I'm a major supporter of Sigma, especially their macro line, just like Overread. They really are spectacular. :mrgreen:

Mark

I like Sigma also.. and this was the latest OS version. I loved it as far as using it in manual mode... but the AF was screwy as hell. I was unable to correct for it with the AF fine tuning on my body, and Sigma support said it was probably a hardware failure. So I returned it.... I might pick up another one... who knows?

cgipson1 · Oct 30, 2011

Kerbouchard said:
I have the Sigma 150 2.8, and from everything I have read, this lens does not suffer from the same variation as many of the Sigma's do. Mine is spectacular. One of my favorite lenses.

Sorry you got a lemon, but that happens with every manufacturer.

Yea.. it happens.. and I am not holding it against Sigma! I still have a 50mm 1.4, and love it.... sweet lens. But this 150 was buggy. I was wanting it for portrait work also.. as I have heard it really does well at that. but 2" of backfocus is hard to deal with.. and since it wouldn't allow AF fine tuning.. I don't want to mess with it. Still within the allowed return period at the retailer I purchased from.. and they mentioned they have had several come back.

Overread · Oct 30, 2011

cgipson1 said:
Overread said:

Gah I nearly chocked on my doritos - why not get it fixed up first? It's a great lens and a little fix and it will keep being great - or you could even consider upgrading to the newer OS edition

Click to expand...

This was the new OS version.. Sigma support said it could be repaired under warranty... but I returned it. It was buggy...

It's a macro lens - its supposed to be buggy

That said I'd have just had it fixed under warranty

And if its within the return period you could have just had it exchanged for a new copy

cgipson1 · Oct 30, 2011

Overread said:
cgipson1 said:

Overread said:

Gah I nearly chocked on my doritos - why not get it fixed up first? It's a great lens and a little fix and it will keep being great - or you could even consider upgrading to the newer OS edition

Click to expand...

This was the new OS version.. Sigma support said it could be repaired under warranty... but I returned it. It was buggy...

Click to expand...

It's a macro lens - its supposed to be buggy

That said I'd have just had it fixed under warranty
And if its within the return period you could have just had it exchanged for a new copy

Yes.. and I might go that way yet (getting another one)...The Sigma has wonderful IQ.. and if it hadn't had problems, it would stay in my bag.

But I really do have my heart set on the Nikkor 200!

My best, favorite lens is my Nikkor 70-200... it is always fast, sharp and focuses like no other lens I have ever had (remember the flying dragonflies? lol!) I just really feel like the Nikkor might be the way to go... I have always wanted one. If they bring out a new version of it, I will jump on it. In the meantime, I will use my trusty Tokina 100!

(am I turning into a Nikon Snob? hmmmm! lol!)

Overread · Oct 30, 2011

Well macro lenses tend to always be slower in the AF department - heck I know my 70-200mm blows my 150mm out of the water in the AF department; but then again I've read some good things about canons new 100mm IS macro and its AF speed; though I've never tested one to know if its in keeping with the speed of a regular lens.