LWW Loc: Banana Republic of America

Look him up.

Keen

Years ago, when TAP worked in a camera store, selling lenses, Sigma was pretty crappy compared to most lens brands. What he fails to understand is that Sigma has improved over the years. Hahahahaha In the 1940s / 50s Nikon was pretty crappy....but has since improved a lot. Such is the way of things....make cheap crap today, put meager profits from sales to snapshooters into research & development, improve quality, sell Better lenses to serious amateur photographers, put more profits into more R&D, make better lenses in future, sell to pro photogs, etc. EVERY lens maker went through the process at some point in time. Sigma went through it later than most. If Sigma lenses cost as much as Zeiss lenses, they would still be pretty crappy compared to Zeiss lenses. Because Sigma lenses are better than they used to be, and cost less than Canon, or Nikon, lenses they are pretty good on a ‘Quality Per Dollar Spent’ basis.

For amateur photogs on a tight budget, Sigma lenses can be very good choices....especially if purchased used / refurbished in great condition. Sigma lenses do produce some great images...sharp, well contrasted, etc. They are also more affordable than many alternatives. I have one Sigma lens, and have no complaints about it. I will get my moneys’ worth of use out of it over the next 8 years, or so. As such, even if TAP were 100% correct, and it is useless after 8 years, I will have benefitted by owning it, and getting great images for Low cost over those 8 years. Nikon lenses are better built...and more costly. I own a dozen Nikon lenses, and have no complaints about them. They do as I expected them to do. If two lenses-a Sigma, and a Nikon, or Canon, or Zeiss-cost the same, I would skip the Sigma, and get the other. As Sigmas cost less, I do consider them on occasion, and even bought one...a 100-400mm zoom. Nikon has an 80-400mm lens, a 105mm lens, a 120-300mm lens, a 180-400mm lens, but-as far as I can discover-NO 100-400mm lens. So, I bought the Sigma 100-400mm lens. It was reasonably priced, and is built well enough to last as long as I will need it. Are there better lenses around? Sure...but they cost more, and may not fit into the niche desired. I would never pay Zeiss, or Leica, prices for a current Sigma. I do not mind paying Sigma prices for Sigma lenses.

One of TAPS’ complaints about Sigma lenses is that they do not stand up to abuse as well as do Nikon lenses....when dropped, banged into things, and such. That may be so....but does not become a factor if they are never dropped, banged, etc. I am an Epileptic, and I have never dropped a lens, banged it into a light pole, or such. Since I can be careful while using lenses, so can most other people...if they try. TAPs’ major complaints about Sigma lenses are generally Not applicable to modern Sigma lenses which are Properly handled by their owners. In the end, it is a matter of Quality level per dollar spent. For my money, Sigma measures up that way...especially when Sigma offers what Nikon does not. Sigma is almost never my first choice, but is not something I totally shun, either. Each photographer has to make his / her own decisions as to what provides him / her with value for money. Give Sigma a chance...enough to check them out, and decide based upon how well it suits you, or doesn’t suit you.

Keen

TAP is: opinionated, crass, rude, biased, ranting, foul mouthed etc...all of which is part of his comedy routine persona...like George Carlin, Lenny Bruce, Don Rickles, etc, which go for shock value. You either like such, or you don’t, and TAP is well situated enough to not care whether you like it, or not. Some of his purely opinionated stuff is accurate, and some of it is not. I don’t care for his opinionated, biased, rude, insulting, etc, routine. I do, however suffer through it to get what grains of wisdom are mixed in with it. His non opinion statements are reliable. If he says a lens has OS / VR, an f/ 2.8 maximum aperture, etc, you can usually bet that it does have such. I never rely totally on any of his pure opinion statements, but do consider his factual remarks...in addition to those of: Matt Granger, Tony Northrup, Jared Polin, Kai W, F Stoppers, Mike Browne, Jason Lanier, The SnapChick, Lok Cheung, Adorama, etc. I listen to each, take each with a grain of salt, and weigh their facts, and opinions, with other factors. In the end, my own hands on experience is the ultimate decision maker for me as to whether I buy, or don’t buy. I much prefer the persona of Matt Granger, etc, to that of TAP....but that is me. Some people prefer TAP. That is fine for them. If you do watch TAP, do be careful to realize which of his statements are factual, and which are opinion.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

I value his opinions. His biggest negative is that he is too wordy, repeats himself incessantly, and just loves to hear himself talk. It talks him ten minutes to give what should be clearly said in three minutes. Listening to him repeat everything he says three or four times makes me want to scream.

Fredrick Loc: Former NYC, now San Francisco Bay Area

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

I was never a fan of shock-jocks, rude talk show hosts, comedians that victimize and insult their audiences or loud-mouthed bullies that self-style themselves as experts. I don't that photographic education has any place for bluster and hype.

Many of theses overly-opinionated and "angry" folks have some impressive fan bases because too many photographers are obsessed with all the latest and greatest gear in lieu of skill. The fact is, an knowledgeable, talented, and savvy shooter can produce excellent work even with relatively modest equipment. Nowadays, a high percentage of the moderately priced aftermarket gear is decent enough and will hold up well in "normal" use and Maintainance. If one tends to rough up their gear, even the top-of-the-line gear will eventually fail.

Perhaps it's my upbringing that formed my present philosophy. I did not live in poverty- my family always provided the necessities but I came up in a kinda rough neighborhood and expensive hobbies were not in the budget. I had an after-school job that provided some extra spending money so I saved up enough to score a Minolta A 35mm rangefinder camera. Our neighborhood auto mechanic and avid amateur photographer generously gave me enough hand-me-down gear to build a darkroom in the cellar- which also housed a coal furnace and a hot water heater. A Kodal Tri-Chem-Packt and the trusty-rusty Federal Enlarger enabled some basic printmaking.

Early education was provided by the free Kodak Data Books which I obtained by writing inquisitive letters to the Eastman Kodak Company. State Street. Rochester 4*, New York (Sales-Service Division)- I collect and memorized 15 books! *Zipcodes were not invented yet!

The next investment was a Karalrt fash holder and a supply of Press-25 Lamps.

In my first year in high school, I shot all the activity photographs for the school newspaper and the yearbook, The school financed my film, paper, chemistry, and flashbulbs.

My point is that I knew, at the time, that "fancy" gear was not in my immediate future so I had to learn to make do with what I had- follow the instructions carefully, lean-to judge lighting conditions, and exposure.

In my second year in high school, my after-school employment was elevated for the grocery store to the photo-studio where I was awarded the position of janitor, gofer, darkroom mixer of chemicals, and clean up guy, and master photographer of passport photographs. Then, I had access to professional equipment but even the venerable old Speedgeaphic was pro-gear but by today's standards it was almost primitive- nothing automatic, programmed, or computerized- it gave new meaning to the concept of MANUAL! The lenses were interchangeable but nobody changed them.

Wehn photojournalism went to 35mm, Leica was the ultimate system but not every freelancer or even staffer could afford that. The Nikon S rangefinder system filled the price gap. The basic Nikon became the workhorse of the photographic press corps. The shooter used them 'till the black paint came off and they still worked reliably- the didn't expire as per the shutter count! My point is that incredibly great images were made with the comparatively simple stuff.

I think a photographer or anyone in the industry only has the real right to call equipment "crap" is it is found to be unreliable, poorly engineered to the point where it does not perform in the FIELD, breaks down prematurely, and does not deliver service under hard use- I need first had information from reliable sources. I don't believe in picks and pans based on rumor, or neesserally, where the gear is manufactured or strictly going by brand name- even some of the top makes, have come up with lemons.

My advice to folks just entering photography as a hobby or a profession is to learn for the masters and experts but don't become a "groupie". Lear the separate the wheat from the chaff when it comes to teachers, mentors, online tutorials, blogs, and courses. Do your homework- do the research!

Zeke4351 Loc: Kentucky

I could not have said it better myself.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

Why do you bother with Ken Wheeler?

Basil Loc: New Mexico

And those are his good points

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

I rather enjoy him. I watch him often.

newtoyou Loc: Eastport

Don Rickles for the photography world?
Bill

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

No, Don Rickles was a comedic genius.
This guy is not even close.

Basil Loc: New Mexico

And those are his good points

vma Loc: Idaho

He knows his equipment. Opinions are emphasized & he is usually right on. Crude but I can overlook it & learn from his experience.

Badgertale Loc: Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

I have never seen a single photo he's ever taken. He got caught claiming photos were his... Guess what? They weren't. Claiming prints as your own work is among the cardinal sins of the photography world. I wish him the best...but, he lied to his audience, and that I cannot abide. I won't badmouth him as he does quite a job on his own.

https://www.chuckjines.com/the-angry-photographer-busted-claiming-other-peoples-work/