How's Sigma's quality control lately?

kristoffon · 02-04-2009, 07:16 PM

Hello, I've pretty much decided to get the Sigma 12-24 ultrawide since it's full-frame compatible. I've read some reviews and seems like a good lens. However there are the few reports of people who had to try 2 or 3 copies to get a good one - most of them a couple years old so I'm inclined to think their QC improved.

Having to order through the internet and pay a 70% import duty means I don't get a chance to exchange it (would have to pay import duty on the replacement as well).

So, how have your experiences with Sigma been in the recent months?

Thanks.

Thumper473 · 02-04-2009, 07:32 PM

While I don't have that particular lens I do have a Sigma DG 70-300mm that I love. See for yourself:

Has a good 200-300mm Macro focus zoom feature that I like a lot!

dsport · 02-04-2009, 09:02 PM

Anti-flare is a weakness of Sigma, so personally, I would avoid to get a wide angle Sigma unless it is very very cheap.
I had used the Sigma 70mm macro, 18-200mm and 70-300mm macro before. They were all good in term of price and IQ but shared the same weakness in flare control.
To me, the above three lens all did not have any QC issue and indeed quite sharp!
Best regards.

joele · 02-04-2009, 09:12 PM

Funny you say that dsport, as I found the Sigma 10-20 had as good flare control as the Pentax 12-24mm... just an observation from my usage of them both..

Can't say about the 12-24mm though..

As to QC, I have owned around a dozen different Sigmas, in different mounts, and had one fault (which was years ago, an 18-125mm which they replaced with a new one)...

Last edited by joele; 02-04-2009 at 09:18 PM.

Redfish · 02-04-2009, 09:20 PM

I have both the 12-24 on a full frame camera and the 10-20 on the K10D. Both are excellent lenses, and flare is reasonably well controlled considering the front element. I find there is more flare from the UV filter than the lens itself (on the 10-20 only). The 12-24 will not take a front filter due to the shape of the protruding front element.

wiseman · 02-04-2009, 09:28 PM

A 12-24mm is on my wish list as well. I had a note to myself that the Pentax 12-24mm F4 was also usable on full frame camera as well as the Sigma 12-24 EX DG .

I just checked the Pentax web site and they do not say it is FF compatible. I must have read it in a post here in the forum. Can anyone verify that the DA 12-24 is indeed full frame?

troyz · 02-04-2009, 09:41 PM

Originally posted by wiseman

A 12-24mm is on my wish list as well. I had a note to myself that the Pentax 12-24mm F4 was also usable on full frame camera as well as the Sigma 12-24 EX DG .

I just checked the Pentax web site and they do not say it is FF compatible. I must have read it in a post here in the forum. Can anyone verify that the DA 12-24 is indeed full frame?

I can verify that the Pentax 12-24 is not full-frame compatible (mounted to ME super, saw vignetting at 12-16mm or so). I think Ken Rockwell's site says the same thing about the Tokina 12-24.

Of course, even when it doesn't vignette it's almost useless on my film bodies because I have no way to set aperture

joele · 02-04-2009, 09:52 PM

DA 12-24 is crop only..

pdo · 02-04-2009, 10:55 PM

I've had the Sigma 15-30mm. While it is a very sharp and contrasty lens. It tends to flares alot. Pentax SMC coatings is some of the best in the industry.

losecontrol · 02-05-2009, 12:36 AM

Sigma, tamron, tokina ect ect are more cheap becasue of less quality controlls...

So it is good lenses, but somewhat a bit of a chans that you grab a bad copy.

The choice is yours.

On the other hand. Buy pentax lenses today help pentax improve and making them be able to create top-quality lenses in the future.
If we just buy third part lenses and then complain why pentax don't improve.
It's our foult

wiseman · 02-05-2009, 09:56 AM

Thank you for correcting me on the FF ability of the DA 12-24. RATS! Now I need to re-think my plans...

kristoffon · 02-05-2009, 10:00 AM

Thanks for all the replies. Since nobody reported getting a defective lens I'll probably order one in the next few days.

02-04-2009, 07:16 PM	#1
kristoffon Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Brazil Posts: 532	How's Sigma's quality control lately? Hello, I've pretty much decided to get the Sigma 12-24 ultrawide since it's full-frame compatible. I've read some reviews and seems like a good lens. However there are the few reports of people who had to try 2 or 3 copies to get a good one - most of them a couple years old so I'm inclined to think their QC improved. Having to order through the internet and pay a 70% import duty means I don't get a chance to exchange it (would have to pay import duty on the replacement as well). So, how have your experiences with Sigma been in the recent months? Thanks.

02-04-2009, 09:28 PM	#6
wiseman Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Peachtree City, Georgia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 102	smc PENTAX DA 12-24mm F4 ED AL (IF) A 12-24mm is on my wish list as well. I had a note to myself that the Pentax 12-24mm F4 was also usable on full frame camera as well as the Sigma 12-24 EX DG . I just checked the Pentax web site and they do not say it is FF compatible. I must have read it in a post here in the forum. Can anyone verify that the DA 12-24 is indeed full frame?

02-05-2009, 09:56 AM	#11
wiseman Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Peachtree City, Georgia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 102	smc PENTAX DA 12-24mm F4 ED AL Thank you for correcting me on the FF ability of the DA 12-24. RATS! Now I need to re-think my plans...

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02-04-2009, 07:32 PM	#2
Thumper473 Guest	While I don't have that particular lens I do have a Sigma DG 70-300mm that I love. See for yourself: Has a good 200-300mm Macro focus zoom feature that I like a lot!

02-04-2009, 09:02 PM	#3
dsport Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hong Kong Photos: Gallery Posts: 431	Anti-flare is a weakness of Sigma, so personally, I would avoid to get a wide angle Sigma unless it is very very cheap. I had used the Sigma 70mm macro, 18-200mm and 70-300mm macro before. They were all good in term of price and IQ but shared the same weakness in flare control. To me, the above three lens all did not have any QC issue and indeed quite sharp! Best regards.

02-04-2009, 09:12 PM	#4
joele Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,308	Funny you say that dsport, as I found the Sigma 10-20 had as good flare control as the Pentax 12-24mm... just an observation from my usage of them both.. Can't say about the 12-24mm though.. As to QC, I have owned around a dozen different Sigmas, in different mounts, and had one fault (which was years ago, an 18-125mm which they replaced with a new one)... Last edited by joele; 02-04-2009 at 09:18 PM.

02-04-2009, 09:20 PM	#5
Redfish Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery Posts: 33	I have both the 12-24 on a full frame camera and the 10-20 on the K10D. Both are excellent lenses, and flare is reasonably well controlled considering the front element. I find there is more flare from the UV filter than the lens itself (on the 10-20 only). The 12-24 will not take a front filter due to the shape of the protruding front element.

02-04-2009, 09:41 PM	#7
troyz Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 389	Originally posted by wiseman A 12-24mm is on my wish list as well. I had a note to myself that the Pentax 12-24mm F4 was also usable on full frame camera as well as the Sigma 12-24 EX DG . I just checked the Pentax web site and they do not say it is FF compatible. I must have read it in a post here in the forum. Can anyone verify that the DA 12-24 is indeed full frame? I can verify that the Pentax 12-24 is not full-frame compatible (mounted to ME super, saw vignetting at 12-16mm or so). I think Ken Rockwell's site says the same thing about the Tokina 12-24. Of course, even when it doesn't vignette it's almost useless on my film bodies because I have no way to set aperture

02-04-2009, 09:52 PM	#8
joele Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,308	DA 12-24 is crop only..

02-04-2009, 10:55 PM	#9
pdo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Westminster CA Posts: 264	I've had the Sigma 15-30mm. While it is a very sharp and contrasty lens. It tends to flares alot. Pentax SMC coatings is some of the best in the industry.

02-05-2009, 12:36 AM	#10
losecontrol Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Gnesta, Sweden Posts: 373	Sigma, tamron, tokina ect ect are more cheap becasue of less quality controlls... So it is good lenses, but somewhat a bit of a chans that you grab a bad copy. The choice is yours. On the other hand. Buy pentax lenses today help pentax improve and making them be able to create top-quality lenses in the future. If we just buy third part lenses and then complain why pentax don't improve. It's our foult

02-05-2009, 10:00 AM	#12
kristoffon Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Brazil Posts: 532 Original Poster	Thanks for all the replies. Since nobody reported getting a defective lens I'll probably order one in the next few days.