Sigma 150mm F/2.8 Macro Lens Update

www.dennismook.com

A few weeks ago, after a lot of research, I purchased a new Sigma 150mm F/2.8 Macro lens.  This is the newer of the two versions.  If you read those posts, you will remember that I planned on a project which consisted of making 1:1 images of many of my thousands of Kodachrome and Ektachrome slides that I have in my archives from the past 40 or so years.  I had decided, with the proper equipment and in my case with my Nikon D800E and this Sigma lens, I could make as good a digital copy as I would by paying someone to scan and digitize the slides.

You will remember that during my extensive testing of the lens with the FoCal software, the focus was very inconsistent, which also would then not allow me to set the micro-focus adjustment on my camera body, nor determine the optimum apertures.  So, I returned the lens.

Shortly thereafter, I emailed Sigma U.S.A. and described what I was doing, my experience with the copy of the lens I had purchased and why I wanted to obtain a copy of their highest quality sample of this lens.  That primary reason is for submission to my stock photography agency.  I asked if they had demo copies that had been calibrated and tested as I wished to purchase a copy from them.

Now, three or more weeks have gone by and nothing.  No answer, no acknowledgement, no nothing.

There is no excuse for not responding.  If they planned in not responding to emails, then they should not make their email available through their "Contact Us" page.  Even if they said they can't do that, that would have been fine.

Why is it a large corporation won't even bother to answer a single, polite, professional email of a customer who wants to spend about $1000 US buying their products.  My plan was to also possibly acquire a long telephoto lens from them as I am starting to dabble in wildlife photography.

Now, I will NOT buy from Sigma.  My advice to you is that if this company is this callous in handling just a question, then I suspect if you have a real issue, they will be as callous or even moreso and you may never get your lens fixed, issues resolved or questions answered.

I ran a multi-million dollar "company" for over 10 years.  I made sure, even if I had to do it myself, that we addressed every complaint, ever customer issue and every problem, to the best of our ability.  But, maybe I expect too much from others.

The bottom line is I'm very disappointed as this was THE lens that I researched that would perfectly fit my needs for my project.  Now, either I settle on another or send the thousands of slides out for scanning.  I'm going to sleep on it awhile.

No Sigma lenses in my future.

Thanks for looking.  Enjoy!

Dennis Mook


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