Quote: "I will never get one because I am already quite invested in the Nikon system and while the sensor and final image of the Foveon sensor cameras is great, I'm not so impressed with the rest of the camera. Also, I do not want to resign myself to using Sigma only lenses and accessories. It's impossible that to say that I won't own one 30 years from now, but not planning on getting one in the foreseeable future."
Er, you dont HAVE to use Sigma only lenses and accessories if you get a Sigma DSLR...I only have one actual Sigma lens, a 14mm f3.5 rectalinear ultra wide. I have one odd one called a Sigmatel multi scalematic 135mm f1.8, that might have been made by Sigma, but thats it.
The rest of my lenses are made by Canon, Nikon (manual versions only), Carl Zeiss, Carl Zeiss Jena, Mamiya (M645), Meyer-Optik, Pentacon, Tamron (Adapatall, Tokina, MTO and Vivitar.
So how do I get all these to fit on the SA mount, I hear you say, well, I have converted some to an SA compatable mount (M42, PK or SA), and some are used via adapters.
The Sigma 14/3.5 came with an FD mount so of course I had to convert it before I could use it...I converted it to M42 mount.
The Sigmatel came with a Y/S-C/Y adapter fitted so I bought a Y/S-M42 adapter so I could use that.
Nikon lenses will fit any SA mount camera via the cheap Roxsen Nikon-M42 adapter plus an M42-SA adapter. This adapter combo does not allow infinity focus however, but its fine for Micro Nikkors as you gain a macro magnification advantage.
If you want to use Nikon lenses at infinity on the SA mount you have three options:
1) Convert each Nikon lens to an SA compatable mount. (M42, PK or SA)
2) Get an SD9 or SD10 and the JTAT Nikon-SA adapter. Sadly, the latter adapter only fits the SD9 and SD10, not the SD14 or SD15 and it wont fit the SD1.
3) Convert the Sigma DSLR to Nikon mount...A mount swap kit is available and its a reversable mod.
I have converted the Nikon 35mm f1.4 Ai-S and 105mm f2.5 Ai-S to SA mount so I could use them at infinity but kept my 55/2.8 Ai-S and 200mm f4 LD IF Ai-S Micro Nikkors in Nikon mount so I can use them via the Roxsen adapter plus an M42-SA adapter.
I use Mamiya 645 lenses via a simple to make M645-SA adapter, I made myself.
Here are some of the lenses I use on my Sigma DSLR's and what mount they have:
Sigma 14mm f3.5 (M42)
Tamron SP 17mm f3.5 (Adaptall-M42)
Tokina 17mm f3.5 RMC (M42)
Carl Zeiss 28mm f2.8 Distagon T* (SA)
Nikon 35mm f1.4 Ai-S (SA)
Carl Zeiss 50mm f1.7 Planar T* (PK)
Canon FL 55mm 1.2 (SA)
Nikon Micro Nikkor 55mm f2.8 Ai-S (Nikon F)
Mamiya 645 80mm f2.8 N (M645)
Carl Zeiss 85mm f1.4 Planar T* (SA)
Canon FD 85mm f1.2 L (SA)
Tamron SP 90mm f2.5 Macro (M42)
Nikon 105mm f2.5 Ai-S (Nikon F)
Sigmatel Multi scalematic 135mm f1.8 (M42)
Carl Zeiss Jena 180mm f2.8 "Olympic" Sonnar(P6-M42)
Nikon Micro Nikkor 200mm f4 LD IF Ai-S
Tamron SP 300mm f2.8 ED IF (Adaptall-M42)
MTO 1000A 1100mm f10.5 (T2-PK)
I have others but I dont use them much.
My three zooms are all made by Vivitar but I dont use them much either as I much prefer primes.
As for accessories, I use M42 and Nikon extension rings, M42 bellows, a 2x Tamron SP teleconverter or occasionally a 3x M42 teleconverter. I use three Metz flashguns (40mz3i and 2x 54mz-3), a Cobra D650 flashgun and a Starblitz 1000 Auto Macro Ring flash.
So you see, I'm not limited to using Sigma only stuff at all!
Quote: "I'm just curious and fascinated by the alternative technology used. Also, the Sigma cameras don't really get much coverage because they don't have the allure of brands like Leica."
I dont get the Leica thing at all...Way overpriced for what you get. The M9 is a good example...The SD14 is sharper and just as noisy over ISO320...The only advantage the full frame M9 has is wider FOV for the same lens than a crop format Sigma but the shallower DOF the M9 has is'nt an advantage for landscape shots. Price wise, there is no contest...Getting a Sigma will save you a bucketload of cash
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