Macro review

[canoman]

I see this months star lens is the SIGMA 105 . Showing interest I dug mine out to give it a try. Suffering suckersash the autofocus is all gummed up. I promptly put by the gas fire to warm it up. After about an hour it would just about move very slowly. Now don`t get me wrong, It a cracking lens, Moving to manual its a cracking lens, easy to focus manually for spot on focussing macro or distance. I remember years ago when Sigma made SLR lens, geez they performed miserably except the fisheye. So its a case of "You pays your money, you takes your chance".http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/fo...milies/eek.gif

[NikonBob]

Is this gumming up normal for lenses from lack of use or is it a unique problem with Sigma lenses?

I was surprised to see how much better this lens was compared to the Nikon 105 micro, particularly at f16.

The Sigma is defiinitely more expensive. One local dealer is asking about $1100 whereas the Nikon from the same dealer is more than $200 cheaper.

From the weight it would seem this is a well made lens. From the review, despite the difference in price, the Sigma definitel seems to be the better choice compared to the NIkon.

[Derek300Savage]

[QUOTE=NikonBob;77607]Is this gumming up normal for lenses from lack of use or is it a unique problem with Sigma lenses?

I used to have a tamron 75-300 lens a few years ago which i never really used that much as the quality wasnt very great i took it to a shop along with some other kit in order to trade it in towards other items the guy in the shop told me it was worthless as mould had started building up inside it and it wasnt worth keeping it a few hours later with the help of a small jewellers screwdriver it was fixed by removing the lens mount it was possible to gain access to the rear element where the issue was and clean it up it was just a bit fiddly . so i think its possible in the wrong conditions that any lens if left not being used for a long period could have issues , but having said that mine was a cheap one so it could have been that as much as anything

[canoman]

If you are brave you could remove the rear lens mount and check the drive gears for dried up lubricant. I gave a friend a sigma zoom lens that would not autofocus. he was brave and he took the mount off. Lo and behold there was a tooth broken off the drive gear,which he glued on. Been great ever since. Now I wouldn`t touch a sigma with a barge pole.

[Derek300Savage]

Originally Posted by canoman

If you are brave you could remove the rear lens mount and check the drive gears for dried up lubricant. I gave a friend a sigma zoom lens that would not autofocus. he was brave and he took the mount off. Lo and behold there was a tooth broken off the drive gear,which he glued on. Been great ever since. Now I wouldn`t touch a sigma with a barge pole.

This is mad I just took a call from a friend today who has an older sigma 28-300 that hes currently using on a Canon 60D and guess what, he was out and about and the zoom has jammed up, he called me as soon as he got home as hed though i could advise him best on what to try, my best suggestion was a size 10 right into the canal hes got insurance on his gear so hes going to try them first before it gets the boot .

[greenwing]

I don't think that any of you are talking about the Sigma 105mm OS HSM Macro lens that was reveiwed.

[Derek300Savage]

Originally Posted by greenwing

I don't think that any of you are talking about the Sigma 105mm OS HSM Macro lens that was reveiwed.

no not that lens just other lenses that have stopped functioning properly after a while i myself have never had any issues with sigma gear and i rate it quite highly in particular their flashguns at less than half the price of the branded ones i feel they do a first rate job without some of the bells and whistles . im not a big macro user and ive never actually owned a proper macro lens .