Time Added For Good Behaviour

Sometimes I sits and thinks and sometime I just sits.


Looks like one of the major lens makers is extending the reach of their warranty for a new lens - and it makes the item look quite attractive. The new lens is from Sigma, and is a wide-ranging zoom for APSC-sized sensors. It starts at 18mm and zooms out to 250mm, not a surprise - but what is a surprise is the statement from the Australian distributor that they are prepared to warrant it for 5 years.

They have been doing 2-year warranties recently as a practice aimed at keeping the sales for their lenses here in Australia, and we welcomed that. We can only applaud this latest decision as it will give even more impetus.

The other thing that encourages me is the realization that this is, like every other commercial decision, a bet on the part of the distributors - they are wagering part of their profit that the lens is well enough made to go for that extended period of time. If they win, you win. If the unfortunate happens, you still win for 5 years.

I win with my Sigma lens every time I use it - though in my case I am talking about a different lens. I use an 8-16 superwide angle on my Nikon D300 for interior and studio tabletop shots and I have not had a bad picture from it yet. It is really well built and the geometry and construction of it are perfect for my purposes.

Therefore, upon my own experience, and the speculation that the Sigma distributors know a good bet when they make it...I recommend the new 18-250 OS DC to you. We'll get some in and I'll road test one. Expect a report in 5 years.