Tales of a Sigma 20-40 f2.8 - Part 2
Discussion
Following on from my adventures with a myopic Sigma 20-40 f2.8, the replacement lens arrived today, well done Warehouse Express 
It's still not right though, focusing about 4mm in front of target on AF
Rang Sigma. Managed to assure them that (a) I was not an idiot (b) the camera body is fine with a Micro Nikkor f2.8 set to 'molecular' mode and all my other lenses.
Sigma are happy to help, by adjusting the lens. Is this done with a jeweller's screwdriver inserted someewhere and tweaked until sharpness is achieved? No. Sigma UK get the lens back, take test shots with it and send the results to Sigma Japan. Sigma Japan then design a new circuit/programme thingy which is then fitted back at Sigma UK...
I can also send my camera off to Nikon be tweaked, but as it works fine with all my other lenses, and as I shall be selling it early next year, and as it's out or warranty, frankly that's a non-starter.
So it looks like I shall have to send this one back to WE as well and simply do without it.
As it's the only affordable fast wide-angle zoom, maybe the Nikkor 18-200mm VR will get its day after all...
It's still not right though, focusing about 4mm in front of target on AF
Rang Sigma. Managed to assure them that (a) I was not an idiot (b) the camera body is fine with a Micro Nikkor f2.8 set to 'molecular' mode and all my other lenses.
Sigma are happy to help, by adjusting the lens. Is this done with a jeweller's screwdriver inserted someewhere and tweaked until sharpness is achieved? No. Sigma UK get the lens back, take test shots with it and send the results to Sigma Japan. Sigma Japan then design a new circuit/programme thingy which is then fitted back at Sigma UK...
I can also send my camera off to Nikon be tweaked, but as it works fine with all my other lenses, and as I shall be selling it early next year, and as it's out or warranty, frankly that's a non-starter.
So it looks like I shall have to send this one back to WE as well and simply do without it.
As it's the only affordable fast wide-angle zoom, maybe the Nikkor 18-200mm VR will get its day after all...
That's disappointing.
Although I have heard of various Nikon-Sigma issues, I am lost as to how it can be a problem in some cases and not others. Also - I thought these were only older lenses, where the lens spec wasn't the same as Nikon, but it hadn't mattered with older bodies that didn't use all the techie gubbins to its limit.
I guess that you're in for a shed load of frustration where you've got two manufacturers' products to try and reconcile. You won't know where the problem is until and unless you can prove which bit is at fault.
Can you get the lens onto another Nikon body or two and get comparative results?
Maybe just check out a few other lenses on the body you've got too?
(Alternatively you really need a 14mm Nikkor! )
>> Edited by beano500 on Thursday 8th December 11:28
Although I have heard of various Nikon-Sigma issues, I am lost as to how it can be a problem in some cases and not others. Also - I thought these were only older lenses, where the lens spec wasn't the same as Nikon, but it hadn't mattered with older bodies that didn't use all the techie gubbins to its limit.
I guess that you're in for a shed load of frustration where you've got two manufacturers' products to try and reconcile. You won't know where the problem is until and unless you can prove which bit is at fault.
Can you get the lens onto another Nikon body or two and get comparative results?
Maybe just check out a few other lenses on the body you've got too?
(Alternatively you really need a 14mm Nikkor! )
>> Edited by beano500 on Thursday 8th December 11:28
beano500 said:
Can you get the lens onto another Nikon body or two and get comparative results?
Just a thought...
I'm overdue to bring back your macro lens, do you want me to bring my D70 over when I return the lens - that way you could have empirical data (ooh!
) from two separate bodies...? Chris
chris.mapey said:
I'm overdue to bring back your macro lens, do you want me to bring my D70 over when I return the lens - that way you could have empirical data (ooh!
That crossed my mind - suggest you pretend I'm a major customer and head over to Simpo HQ tomorrow for lunch..?
It will be interesting to see what you make of it. How did you get on with the macro?
Latest - Warehouse Express phoned this morning. They were happy to arrange collection of the second lens on Monday.
They had also tested the first lens and confirmed that it had 25mm of front focus
So my conclusions are:
1) The Sigma 20-40mm f2.8 is a turkey, at best highly camera-sensitive (interestingly the man from WE said they mostly sell them in Canon fitting) - so perhaps it just doesn't like Nikons...
2) Warehouse Express are a very good company to buy your camera stuff from. Prompt attention and no-quibble collection for returns. A1 service.
They had also tested the first lens and confirmed that it had 25mm of front focus
So my conclusions are:
1) The Sigma 20-40mm f2.8 is a turkey, at best highly camera-sensitive (interestingly the man from WE said they mostly sell them in Canon fitting) - so perhaps it just doesn't like Nikons...
2) Warehouse Express are a very good company to buy your camera stuff from. Prompt attention and no-quibble collection for returns. A1 service.
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