Aftermarket lens makers continue to cater solely to Canon and Nikon

"RichA" wrote in message
...
American companies come to Canada to gain at most an extra 10% on
their bottom line. Apparently, aftermarket lens companies don't see
the benefit in doing with with Sony, Olympus, Panasonic or Pentax
(well, some support Pentax.).

Are you saying that the lenses Sigma manufactures in 4/3, Sony, and Pentax
mounts are not available in Canada?

Tamron and Tokina are making lenses in Sony mount.

"RichA" wrote in message
...
On Aug 11, 2:22 pm, "Pete Stavrakoglou" wrote:
"RichA" wrote in message

...

American companies come to Canada to gain at most an extra 10% on
their bottom line. Apparently, aftermarket lens companies don't see
the benefit in doing with with Sony, Olympus, Panasonic or Pentax
(well, some support Pentax.).

Are you saying that the lenses Sigma manufactures in 4/3, Sony, and Pentax
mounts are not available in Canada?

No, Sigma unfortunately is the only aftermarket company that actually
makes lenses for those brands outside of some exotics like
Voigtlander, but they are slowly eliminating them, at least for
Olympus.
Tamron and Tokina both make better lenses on average than Sigma but
only for Canon and Nikon.

"Bruce" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 11 Aug 2010 14:42:53 -0700 (PDT), RichA
wrote:
On Aug 11, 2:22 pm, "Pete Stavrakoglou" wrote:
"RichA" wrote in message

...

American companies come to Canada to gain at most an extra 10% on
their bottom line. Apparently, aftermarket lens companies don't see
the benefit in doing with with Sony, Olympus, Panasonic or Pentax
(well, some support Pentax.).

Are you saying that the lenses Sigma manufactures in 4/3, Sony, and
Pentax
mounts are not available in Canada?

No, Sigma unfortunately is the only aftermarket company that actually
makes lenses for those brands outside of some exotics like
Voigtlander, but they are slowly eliminating them, at least for
Olympus.
Tamron and Tokina both make better lenses on average than Sigma but
only for Canon and Nikon.


There is no business opportunity for independent lens manufacturers in
Four Thirds, nor in Micro Four Thirds. That's because the two core
manufacturers in FT/MFT, Panasonic and Olympus, both offer high
quality lenses at surprisingly low prices.

Anyway, Sigma was never really committed to Four Thirds. Sigma only
offered some of its existing Third Rate lenses with Four Thirds mount.

I think there is a certain level of niche business for Sigma in 4/3 such as
the 50-500mm Bigma. They've got quite a few lenses that fall into the
niches that Oly and Panasonic don't fill. But, as you say, they don't seem
very committed to 4/3. The previous version of the Bigma was available in
4/3 mount yet the new one is not.

"Pete Stavrakoglou" wrote in message
...
"Bruce" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 11 Aug 2010 14:42:53 -0700 (PDT), RichA
wrote:
On Aug 11, 2:22 pm, "Pete Stavrakoglou" wrote:
"RichA" wrote in message

...

American companies come to Canada to gain at most an extra 10% on
their bottom line. Apparently, aftermarket lens companies don't see
the benefit in doing with with Sony, Olympus, Panasonic or Pentax
(well, some support Pentax.).

Are you saying that the lenses Sigma manufactures in 4/3, Sony, and
Pentax
mounts are not available in Canada?

No, Sigma unfortunately is the only aftermarket company that actually
makes lenses for those brands outside of some exotics like
Voigtlander, but they are slowly eliminating them, at least for
Olympus.
Tamron and Tokina both make better lenses on average than Sigma but
only for Canon and Nikon.


There is no business opportunity for independent lens manufacturers in
Four Thirds, nor in Micro Four Thirds. That's because the two core
manufacturers in FT/MFT, Panasonic and Olympus, both offer high
quality lenses at surprisingly low prices.

Anyway, Sigma was never really committed to Four Thirds. Sigma only
offered some of its existing Third Rate lenses with Four Thirds mount.

I think there is a certain level of niche business for Sigma in 4/3 such
as the 50-500mm Bigma. They've got quite a few lenses that fall into the
niches that Oly and Panasonic don't fill. But, as you say, they don't
seem very committed to 4/3. The previous version of the Bigma was
available in 4/3 mount yet the new one is not.


Based on my personal experiences which you witnessed, Sigma ought to
concentrate on quality control of the mounts they currently make.


--
Peter

"Peter" wrote in message
...
"Pete Stavrakoglou" wrote in message
...
"Bruce" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 11 Aug 2010 14:42:53 -0700 (PDT), RichA
wrote:
On Aug 11, 2:22 pm, "Pete Stavrakoglou" wrote:
"RichA" wrote in message

...

American companies come to Canada to gain at most an extra 10% on
their bottom line. Apparently, aftermarket lens companies don't see
the benefit in doing with with Sony, Olympus, Panasonic or Pentax
(well, some support Pentax.).

Are you saying that the lenses Sigma manufactures in 4/3, Sony, and
Pentax
mounts are not available in Canada?

No, Sigma unfortunately is the only aftermarket company that actually
makes lenses for those brands outside of some exotics like
Voigtlander, but they are slowly eliminating them, at least for
Olympus.
Tamron and Tokina both make better lenses on average than Sigma but
only for Canon and Nikon.


There is no business opportunity for independent lens manufacturers in
Four Thirds, nor in Micro Four Thirds. That's because the two core
manufacturers in FT/MFT, Panasonic and Olympus, both offer high
quality lenses at surprisingly low prices.

Anyway, Sigma was never really committed to Four Thirds. Sigma only
offered some of its existing Third Rate lenses with Four Thirds mount.

I think there is a certain level of niche business for Sigma in 4/3 such
as the 50-500mm Bigma. They've got quite a few lenses that fall into the
niches that Oly and Panasonic don't fill. But, as you say, they don't
seem very committed to 4/3. The previous version of the Bigma was
available in 4/3 mount yet the new one is not.


Based on my personal experiences which you witnessed, Sigma ought to
concentrate on quality control of the mounts they currently make.


--
Peter

Since that episode, I've gotten a Tokina lens that fits tight like that
Sigma you tested. A fellow member of the Suffolk group I belong to reported
a similar issue with a Nikon lens he had that he returned for a replacement.
I've never had that probelm with any Sigma lens but only with one Tokina.
There are quality issues with all makes, not that I'm defending Sigma.

"Pete Stavrakoglou" wrote in message
...
"Peter" wrote in message
...
"Pete Stavrakoglou" wrote in message
...
"Bruce" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 11 Aug 2010 14:42:53 -0700 (PDT), RichA
wrote:
On Aug 11, 2:22 pm, "Pete Stavrakoglou" wrote:
"RichA" wrote in message

...

American companies come to Canada to gain at most an extra 10% on
their bottom line. Apparently, aftermarket lens companies don't see
the benefit in doing with with Sony, Olympus, Panasonic or Pentax
(well, some support Pentax.).

Are you saying that the lenses Sigma manufactures in 4/3, Sony, and
Pentax
mounts are not available in Canada?

No, Sigma unfortunately is the only aftermarket company that actually
makes lenses for those brands outside of some exotics like
Voigtlander, but they are slowly eliminating them, at least for
Olympus.
Tamron and Tokina both make better lenses on average than Sigma but
only for Canon and Nikon.


There is no business opportunity for independent lens manufacturers in
Four Thirds, nor in Micro Four Thirds. That's because the two core
manufacturers in FT/MFT, Panasonic and Olympus, both offer high
quality lenses at surprisingly low prices.

Anyway, Sigma was never really committed to Four Thirds. Sigma only
offered some of its existing Third Rate lenses with Four Thirds mount.

I think there is a certain level of niche business for Sigma in 4/3 such
as the 50-500mm Bigma. They've got quite a few lenses that fall into
the niches that Oly and Panasonic don't fill. But, as you say, they
don't seem very committed to 4/3. The previous version of the Bigma was
available in 4/3 mount yet the new one is not.


Based on my personal experiences which you witnessed, Sigma ought to
concentrate on quality control of the mounts they currently make.


--
Peter

Since that episode, I've gotten a Tokina lens that fits tight like that
Sigma you tested. A fellow member of the Suffolk group I belong to
reported a similar issue with a Nikon lens he had that he returned for a
replacement. I've never had that probelm with any Sigma lens but only with
one Tokina. There are quality issues with all makes, not that I'm
defending Sigma.


I can understand and even forgive QC issues. What drove me up the wall was
when Tim, the Sigma rep kept trying to BS me by telling me it was supposed
to be that way. If one of my employees ever did the equivalent, I would have
canned him on the spot.

You don't lie to customers.

--
Peter

"Peter" wrote in message
...
"Pete Stavrakoglou" wrote in message
...
"Peter" wrote in message
...
"Pete Stavrakoglou" wrote in message
...
"Bruce" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 11 Aug 2010 14:42:53 -0700 (PDT), RichA
wrote:
On Aug 11, 2:22 pm, "Pete Stavrakoglou" wrote:
"RichA" wrote in message

...

American companies come to Canada to gain at most an extra 10% on
their bottom line. Apparently, aftermarket lens companies don't
see
the benefit in doing with with Sony, Olympus, Panasonic or Pentax
(well, some support Pentax.).

Are you saying that the lenses Sigma manufactures in 4/3, Sony, and
Pentax
mounts are not available in Canada?

No, Sigma unfortunately is the only aftermarket company that actually
makes lenses for those brands outside of some exotics like
Voigtlander, but they are slowly eliminating them, at least for
Olympus.
Tamron and Tokina both make better lenses on average than Sigma but
only for Canon and Nikon.


There is no business opportunity for independent lens manufacturers in
Four Thirds, nor in Micro Four Thirds. That's because the two core
manufacturers in FT/MFT, Panasonic and Olympus, both offer high
quality lenses at surprisingly low prices.

Anyway, Sigma was never really committed to Four Thirds. Sigma only
offered some of its existing Third Rate lenses with Four Thirds mount.

I think there is a certain level of niche business for Sigma in 4/3
such as the 50-500mm Bigma. They've got quite a few lenses that fall
into the niches that Oly and Panasonic don't fill. But, as you say,
they don't seem very committed to 4/3. The previous version of the
Bigma was available in 4/3 mount yet the new one is not.


Based on my personal experiences which you witnessed, Sigma ought to
concentrate on quality control of the mounts they currently make.


--
Peter

Since that episode, I've gotten a Tokina lens that fits tight like that
Sigma you tested. A fellow member of the Suffolk group I belong to
reported a similar issue with a Nikon lens he had that he returned for a
replacement. I've never had that probelm with any Sigma lens but only
with one Tokina. There are quality issues with all makes, not that I'm
defending Sigma.


I can understand and even forgive QC issues. What drove me up the wall was
when Tim, the Sigma rep kept trying to BS me by telling me it was supposed
to be that way. If one of my employees ever did the equivalent, I would
have canned him on the spot.

You don't lie to customers.

--
Peter

That can't be defended. That lens will always be a tight-fit, there's no
"break-in" that will occur. To insinuate that it would loosen up was not
right. It would have been simple to say that they'd just get another lens
off of the shelf for you. I would have undoubtedly returned that one, it
was far too tight.

"Pete Stavrakoglou" wrote in message
...
"Peter" wrote in message
...

I can understand and even forgive QC issues. What drove me up the wall
was when Tim, the Sigma rep kept trying to BS me by telling me it was
supposed to be that way. If one of my employees ever did the equivalent,
I would have canned him on the spot.

You don't lie to customers.

--
Peter

That can't be defended. That lens will always be a tight-fit, there's no
"break-in" that will occur. To insinuate that it would loosen up was not
right. It would have been simple to say that they'd just get another lens
off of the shelf for you. I would have undoubtedly returned that one, it
was far too tight.

It might have eventually loosened up. But, if the fitting on my camera was
softer than the metal on the Sigma, I would have had a major problem. After
lunch I went to Nikon and they thoroughly checked the fittings. We even
tried other Nikon Lenses on other bodies. All was according to specs.
Eventually sigma will get the message. But, since they do not have me on
board as a consultant, I have no reason to spend to spend any more time on
this issue.



--
Peter

In rec.photo.digital RichA wrote:
On Aug 11, 2:22*pm, "Pete Stavrakoglou" wrote:
"RichA" wrote in message

...

American companies come to Canada to gain at most an extra 10% on
their bottom line. *Apparently, aftermarket lens companies don't see
the benefit in doing with with Sony, Olympus, Panasonic or Pentax
(well, some support Pentax.).

Are you saying that the lenses Sigma manufactures in 4/3, Sony, and Pentax
mounts are not available in Canada?

No, Sigma unfortunately is the only aftermarket company that actually
makes lenses for those brands outside of some exotics like
Voigtlander, but they are slowly eliminating them, at least for
Olympus.

Tamron and Tokina both make better lenses on average than Sigma but
only for Canon and Nikon.

Tamron has also moved into Sony.

--
Chris Malcolm