Sigma EU user website

[David Kilpatrick]

Sigma has a competition with lenses to be won at intervals on their EU user website:

http://www.sigmauser.eu/content/view/227/47/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It looks very inactive (I've just registered and posted something about using the 12-24mm on the A900 on the forum). Declared interest: Richard (son) got the job of looking after this site earlier in the year, so I won't be entering any competitions. The article by Sheldon Davies on differential focus (ultimate bokeh from lenses like the 150mm f2.8 macro) is me under a pseudonym but the pix are not faked in any way, all are genuine Sigma lenses on other cameras, or other lenses on Sigma cameras (I must get my 105mm Super Takumar back from Richard!).

Richard discovered about a month into running the site that most activity seemed to be one person logging in under many different names, posting images and threads to 'talk to themselves'. He found that a whole group of names were the same IP address, and when most vocal (upset because he didn't win the latest prize) was challenged, they all disappeared simultaneously. So what had appeared to be a lively forum and a contest with people winning prizes (yes, that as well, he thinks - but can't really prove anything) looks to have been a scam operated by one person. Now the site could do with some genuine Sigma users.

David