Sigma Apo DG focus fault

Tea drinker · 22-01-2009 1:09pm #1

Hi, My wifes 70-300 APO DG has developed a fault which locks up the focus and is unusable. The focus moves freely, but in a vastly constricted range.

The Guaruntee is only for 1 year and the lens is nearly 2 years old.
Somehow I don't see Sigma repairing it for free :P

So my options seem to be:

1. Send to Sigma for repair at cost.
2. Bring to local camera shop (which one?) for repair
3. Man-up and get the jewellers screwdrivers out (I see a new lens with this approach)

Any recommendations folks?
Oh FYI - it happened when we were shooting in about -8c my Nikon didn't develop any faults.....

Stephen · 22-01-2009 1:25pm

No idea what's wrong with it but given that those lenses are so cheap it probably wouldn't be worth getting professionally repaired.

Alun · 22-01-2009 1:27pm

How constricted? I've had a few odd moments with mine where the Macro switch appeared to have stuck half way in some odd position, and after much wiggling of said switch together with the focus ring freed it eventually. I never did get to the bottom of it though.

Tea drinker · 22-01-2009 1:37pm

Alun wrote: »

How constricted? I've had a few odd moments with mine where the Macro switch appeared to have stuck half way in some odd position, and after much wiggling of said switch together with the focus ring freed it eventually. I never did get to the bottom of it though.

Thanks for the replies guys.
Alun - I did muck about with the old switch a bit, I'll see if some more dedicated attack will yield results here.
I also saw this review on Adorama... seems like a similar (perhaps widespread) problem:
This is actually the second of this model I have had. The first fried the internal plastic focusing mechanism and was too costly to replair. That makes this lens a disposable imho. You ceratainly can't do better for the money but if you have the money you can do much better. It has a very difficult time focusing at the extreme high zoom and the manual focus ring is not calibrated accurately. So a full setting of infinity results in a blurry photo every time! The bottom line is that until I find more cash this lens will have to do and I have in fact gotten some nice shots with it. Just not as many as I would have liked.

AnCatDubh · 22-01-2009 1:58pm

Currently retailing at about £150 STG http://www.parkcameras.com/Search/70-300%20APO%20DG/ - Might be worth a look with a screw driver though if you are half prepared to do a replacement. At least that way the good lady will have someone other than the inanimate weather to blame - a hubby's got to do what a hubby's got to do

CabanSail · 22-01-2009 2:28pm

You could phone Hahnel Industries in Cork (023 414606). Talk to the service guys there. They should be able to give you an idea if it's worth fixing or not. My guide is that if it's going to cost more than 40% of a new one then replace it.

Mycroft H · 22-01-2009 2:46pm

Those sigmas are notorious for there pretty poorly constructed focus mechanism..... I had one and within four weeks the it sounded if i had thrown a handfull of sand in it. Turns out i had stripped the plastic af gears. Returned it for full and bought a second hand minolta one. Metal body and gears, built to last.....

My advice is to buy a decent nikon second hand one as it will probably be of better build quality.....

Sigma Apo DG focus fault

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