Sigma Lens update

I regret to say that I had to return the wide angle Sigma lens to Warehouse Express today to ask for a replacement. As many other people have reported there seems to be a problem with Quality Control at Sigma. Although I did manage to get a couple of pleasing shots and was happy with the build quality, my lens had severe auto-focussing issues, softness and generally disappointing performance. The top left quarter of the frame appeared to be worst affected by the problem as shown here.

I am hoping the replacement will be here soon and that it will be a good lens. If not, I will get a refund and look for a different marque lens which would be a pity as I am more than happy with my other Sigma lenses, the Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4.5 and Macro 105mm F2.8 EX DG.

I will post test pictures as soon as I have received it.

Cobbles at the Mayflower Steps, The Barbican, Plymouth.

A little known fact is that the Barbican in Plymouth is now the largest single expanse of cobbled paving in the United Kingdom. Here's a photo looking towards the Admiral McBride Pub with the Mayflower Steps centre-left. The actual departure point for that famous vesel is thought to be beneath the pub, the commemorative steps only date from 1934. Once again there is some flare but that is to be expected with a lens of this type when shooting into the sun.

Pictures within pictures: Sigma 10-20mm

I think I really need a few days with the Sigma and I am hoping that this weekend will give me the photo opportunities I am looking for. Anyway, until then I will have to make do with subjects I come across on my way to or from work.

I was looking around for stuff to photograph today but after a long day at work I wasn't really in the mood to hang around waiting for inspiration. Fortunately the wide setting on this lens means that there is loads of room to crop and make selective enlargements of your photographs. In effect you can look for pictures within pictures. This guy took no notice as I snapped away and while the picture will not win me any prizes I am just putting it up to demonstrate the huge field of view!

Daffodil Hunting.

Off we went to Saltram House this morning hoping to photograph daffodils and couldn't find anything decent in the way of narcissus. In short we did not find ourselves in "such a jocund company". Considering that we have had St. David's Day, and that it is thought the daffodil was introduced to Britain by the Romans, you'd have thought we'd have had better luck. What a contrast to this time last year at Mount Edgcumbe, Cornwall, pictured. Maybe it's because we have had an unusually cold winter!

It's so frustrating when you go off with a picture previsualised only to come back empty handed. Never mind, it's not a great day for photography today anyway, very damp and dismal. And my camera battery is going flat...

Ned's first photo with the Sigma 10-20mm lens.

Well, here's my first halfway decent picture with the Sigma and I have to say I love it so far although I haven't really had time to really put it through its paces. I am pleased with the sharpness exhibited and the colour seems lovely and warm, but the camera was on a tripod after all. There is some flare but I was shooting into the light.

I have taken some other photos hand-held which look a bit soft to me but I think it may take a for me while to adjust to focussing the camera. I fully expect any problems to be user error rather than the fault of the lens. Time will tell.

A trip to Haytor.

We took the kids up to Dartmoor today and killed two birds with one stone. We tired them out by climbing Haytor, and then we explored the the famous old Granite Tramway.

We were lucky; a local lady we met said that until a couple of weeks ago the rails were completely covered in gorse but that had all been cleared away in the last couple of days. I was pleased that the railway's points were so near the roadside, no more than 30 feet I would say.