How do you know your getting getting a good copy?

wibbly

wibbly

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Dave
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OK, this maybe a stoopid question, but please bear with me :D

I'm quite interested in trading my 50mm f/1.8 for either a Canon 50mm f/1.4 or the Sigma 50mm f/1.4.

It appears the Sigma is a great lens, and possibly a better option than the Canon, however it seems finding a good copy can be a bit of palava.

So how do you know if the copy you pick up front focusses or back focusses or is a good copy. I'm not sure I would know, or would I? :shrug:
 
Buy it, try it, if youre happy with the results then no matter what the input from anyone else youve got a good copy, simples.
 
When I buy something new I usually take a load of test shots at different apertures and distances and in different lighting and I also focus at different points, ie. away from the middle of the image. It sounds like a faff on but really it only takes a few minutes to take and then view the images on a pc.

Personally I think that internet reports of doom and gloom are mostly just Chinese whispers and about as reliable. So far I haven't had a faulty lens from any manufacturer but if I did get a duff one I'd take it back. Hassle maybe, but simples.

Gotta be careful with new gear though and be sure to eliminate any user error before blaming the kit.

PS. I have the Siggy 50mm f1.4 and it lives on my 5D. It's a good lens IMVHO and if you prefer it to the Canon you should buy without too many worries.
 
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Do you take pictures of brick walls? Do you frequent DPReview?

If the answer to both those is no, it's likely you'll get a good copy.

Believe it or not they still QC lenses. In general, they don't QC people posting on DPR.
 
wibbly said:
OK, this maybe a stoopid question, but please bear with me :D

I'm quite interested in trading my 50mm f/1.8 for either a Canon 50mm f/1.4 or the Sigma 50mm f/1.4.

It appears the Sigma is a great lens, and possibly a better option than the Canon, however it seems finding a good copy can be a bit of palava.

So how do you know if the copy you pick up front focusses or back focusses or is a good copy. I'm not sure I would know, or would I? :shrug:
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Just buy it and use it. In the (very unlikely) event that you find a problem and it's not user-error (nine times out of ten it is - check all the posts on here of alleged poor copies) then Sigma will fix it for you.
 
If/when you do send to sigma don't just presume it is perfect because they calibrated it, I've just sent one of mine back for a third time and now its getting firmware custom made in Japan to correct the last 14mm of front focusing they cannot fix
 
JonathanRyan said:
Do you take pictures of brick walls? Do you frequent DPReview?

If the answer to both those is no, it's likely you'll get a good copy.

Believe it or not they still QC lenses. In general, they don't QC people posting on DPR.
Click to expand...

The gentleman with whom I share a name is correct. Duff lenses are incredibly rare, and you're protected by consumer law in the unlikely event. Mostly it's pilot error, and a failure to appreciate that digital photos nearly always need some sharpening.
 
Bear something else in mind that qc is about tollerances, so while it may be soft it may also be within what both they and Canon deem acceptable. That is why I now send my lenses away to be calibrated by them and believe me while my 50-500 was good when it left me it came back great
 
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