The Sigma Difference

People who read this column regularly are getting pretty used to the flights of fancy that sometimes occur. And they are more critical than you might think. So I don't think I will have any luck telling them that the lens in the heading image is the Paul Hamlyn part-work Built-Your-Own-Lens in 204 parts and that we have been faithfully buying the magazines every week for over a year now... Ah, well, at least I can content myself with reminding them of a basic fact of photography in Australia - Sigma telephoto lenses have been favourites with long-distance shooters for decades. You'd be hard pressed to find a camera club or society in Western Australia - indeed in the other states as well - in which there are not a number of long Sigma lenses in use. These are seen at sporting venues, in wildlife preserves, and at air shows. They are seen beachside - particularly where there is surf running. I'll bet that they are used for surveillance as well, though no-one who does it would ever tell you...at least they have not told me. The selling point for the Sigma lens always used to be a lower price than comparable lenses from the main camera system manufacturers. I think it might still be - if so, it means that Australians can shoot more and further for less investment. Newer combinations of focal length and aperture can be tried - and some lenses that are offered can be quite unique. The next statement is one that the camera club members can fight out at coffee break - aided by the representatives of the various wholesalers and anyone else who wants to chip in their shilling; it is that Sigma lenses can produce images that are every bit as good as those from other makers. Okay, go to it. Beat on each other... For my part, I have seen results from surfing, car racing, and air shows that bear this out. I don't use a camera system that can take the lenses straight up - and adapting a long DSLR zoom lens is a hiding to nothing when you use a mirror-less camera - but I can admire the work of others. I can also admire the design and finish of the Sigma products - since Sigma have come to their new semi-matt and sintered finishes they have been as handsome and as long-wearing as their competitors. The ergonomics of the focus and zoom bands are all one could wish for - the tripod feet are sturdy enough for a gun mount - and the lens hoods are massive and usefully deep. The fact that they are backed with a two-year warranty is a further seal of quality. In fact. I believe that there will probably be a number of them in use this evening to photograph the super blue blood moon...