New* Sigma 24-135mm f/2.8-4.5 IF SLD Lens

[berickf]

I am an amateur photographer in the process of buying a Canon 30D and had originally packaged it with the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Autofocus Lens and the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM Autofocus Lens packaged with all the trimmings. After talking to the sales agent for some time, however, he pushed me towards the *NEW* Sigma 24-135mm f/2.8-4.5 Aspherical IF SLD Autofocus Lens. I can find product reviews for older models of Sigma lenses with the same specs and quite frankly they didn't rate well, although, considering the price that this lens is put at I feel that it must be significantly better? The original Sigma 24-135mm f/2.8-4.5 Lens goes for just a few hundred while this *New* version is apparently worth $1,399 according to their site.

http://www.expresscameras.com/prodet...d=8916&start=1

Basically, what I would like to know is if anyone has used this newer version of this Sigma lens and if they feel that it lives up to the hype that the sales guy was putting forth, or if I should revert back to my original feelings and get the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Autofocus Lens or perhaps the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Autofocus Lens, even though either of these cost less according to the same site?

One other thing, you might want to know the way I intend to use this equiptment before you go recommending lenses for me. I spend a lot of time in Kenya and intend to eventually settle there permanently. I would be using this camera and lens mostly in a walk around style, or from trucks if on safari. I also participate in a lot of ecological projects there and do foot based exploration of the bush as well. It can be dusty there, which is why I was insisting on L's in the first place, so I need to know that the build quality of the lenses are good, and not just the optical quality. So I need to be sure that even if the optics of this Sigma are superb... can it survive when subjected to my potential conditions? Not that I'll intentionally abuse my lenses of course, but I have to think about all the posibilities.

Thanks in advance,

Erick

[Photo-John]

Can't find it on the Sigma site or in the news on this site. Until you can find it listed somewhere else, I'd stay away. I'd also do a search to see how trustworthy Express Cameras is. Anyone that tries to steer you away from the Canon L lenses should be suspect. Unless you can't afford them, or weight is a serious issue, they're absolutely the best glass you can buy for your Canon bodies.

[berickf]

Yeah,

That is my general feeling as well. He said that this lens is a brand new release from Sigma, but surely Sigma would promote their own products? I think I should revert to one of the other two that I have mentioned, unless someone intervenes with some new information for me.

Thanks for your quick reply

[Photo-John]

Buy from B&H, Adorama, or Canoga Camera and get the 70-200L (2.8 or f/4) and the 24-105mm IS. You will be very, very well equipped and you will have no regrets.

[berickf]

I hear you, this has been a learning experience... I can be too trusting but it defiitely looks like that salesman sold me up on an inferior product. For that I won't even try and get him to ammend my order anymore... for his pure violation of my trust the best thing for me to do at this point is to cancel the order, file a complaint with the credit card company if they will not willingly return my money and then go with a more reputable store. Then if I still am feeling bad about it follow up complaints to the better business bureau, Federal Trade Comission and the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs. Damn these guys are going to waste a lot of my time and energy if I let them get the better of me, lol!

[Canuck935]

Customer Reviews fore ExpressCameras.com: http://www.reviewcentre.com/reviews-all-78950.html

[Willyspu]

DO NOT DEAL WITH THESE CROOKS!

Well, I thought I was web savy but this one slipped by. I googled Nikon D80 and expresscameras.com came up with the lowest price $409.00 vs around $1,000.00 for everyone else. I checked the website for the usual safety icons (but I didn't realize these are only symbols not links). I placed my order for the D80 and the Nikon 80-400mm zoom lens for $1299.00 (a common price).

Next day at 6pm pst while I was getting dinner ready and kids doing home work, I get a call to confirm the order. Once confirmed, the caller says, "I have that same camera and the lens you ordered is crap, you should get the "new" Sigma 70-300, it is lighter and faster and takes better pictures and if you don't get it your a real idiot". He told me to check it out on their website, he told me to type in "new" in the search bar and a listing of lenses came up. This one was on it listing for $1599.99. Eventually, I agreed to buy the "superior" lens, mainly to get the guy off the phone but then he tried to push more stuff on me; telling me his job depended on it and I didn't want him to loose his job during the holidays.

After the call, I researched the "new" $1599.00 lens and found that on the sigma website the suggested retail price for the lens was $300.00 and Amazon had it for $119.00. Basically, I was ripped off $1400.00. Next day I called back to cancel the order and they said it had already shipped and was charged to my card.

I called Visa and cancelled the payment and emailed and called expresscameras to tell them. The camera and lens arrived but I sent it all back.

Don't be stupid like me, don't deal with these crooks!