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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Question on Sigma lenses (pirated AF rights?)
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02/05/2005 01:42:23 PM · #1
I am intending to buy a macro lens for my D70, and was pricing the Sigma 105mm f2.8 EX DG (in Spokane, WA). I was told that Sigma is a company that pirates AF rights, and that there's a chance that Sigma lenses will not work with a D70.

Does anyone know anything about this? Input appreciated.

Ursula
02/05/2005 01:58:09 PM · #2
Originally posted by ursula:

I am intending to buy a macro lens for my D70, and was pricing the Sigma 105mm f2.8 EX DG (in Spokane, WA). I was told that Sigma is a company that pirates AF rights, and that there's a chance that Sigma lenses will not work with a D70.

Does anyone know anything about this? Input appreciated.

Ursula


Pirating is not the right word. Canon and Nikon don't share with 3rd party vendors the specs on exactly how the camera/lens communication works, so the 3rd parties have reverse engineer it, in other words figure it out on their own. Canon and Nikon can and do change how this works, and sometimes that affects the performance of third party lenses. However, Sigma and other third party companies try very hard to keep up with all these changes. In the cases where their recently made lenses have not worked with the newest hardware, they have retrofitted those lenses for free.

The short version is that you will be OK if you are buying a new Sigma lens to use on your D70, but if you are buying an older lens (more than 4 or 5 years) then it might not.

If you are buying from a store, try it out on your camera in the store. If buying online, make sure that you understand the vendors return policy in the odd event that you do have to return it.

It sounds like the salesperson just wanted to sell you a more expensive Nikon lens, rather than a Sigma lens and was trying to use some lame scare tactics to do so.
02/05/2005 02:02:17 PM · #3
Thank you, Dan. That explains it. It is true that the salesperson was trying to sell me the Nikkor 105 (which is about 200 US$ higher).

Thanks again.
02/05/2005 02:39:30 PM · #4
I have the Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX 1:1 Macro lens. It works just fine on my d70. The AF is slow, but with a macro lens that doesn't make much difference. This lens is VERY sharp and I think a great deal for the money. Also, if you are concerned about the DG working with your d70, why not take your camera body in and as to take a few test shots between the Sigma and Nikon, there's no reason why they shouldn't let you test them out.
02/05/2005 02:47:05 PM · #5
Because they reverse engineer the lenses if you buy a new sigma lens and it does not work on your camera I believe sigma will take it back and make it work. They are one of the few that will does this.
02/05/2005 03:07:49 PM · #6
I know that some of the older 70-200mm f/2.8 Sigmas sometimes locked up on newer Nikon DSLR cameras. Sigma would rechip these lenses for free to put in a CPU that was fully compatable with the new bodies.
02/05/2005 08:02:38 PM · #7
Thanks for the answers. I've ordered the Sigma.
02/05/2005 10:41:55 PM · #8
I'm pretty sure jacko uses that lens - does that sell it's macro capabilities enough :)!
02/05/2005 10:49:23 PM · #9
I know, that's part of the reason why I figured it was a good lens to get :)
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