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So, I've written a lot lately about my new lens, a Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS, including:
- Sigma's new “Bigma” 50-500mm Super-tele Zoom (now with OS)
- Sigma's new “Bigma” 50-500mm Super-tele Zoom, Part II
- So, Just How Bigma is the Sigma?
- My New Sigma “Bigma”, Day 2
- I Laugh at Your Puny 500mm Lens: Sigma Bigma at 1,000mm
- Walkabout with the Sigma Bigma: Versatility Galore
- Sigma Bigma's New Optical Stabilization
Reading theses, I hope it's obvious that I think it's a great lens that I love using, but there are, unfortunately, a few issues that I've been chronicling on the “Just how Big?” post, here.
The biggest problem, which I first encountered during the Bit of Drama on Mt. Daimonji is that the lens' CPU seems to fritz out occasionally. When it fritzs out, the AF and OS (autofocus and optical stabilization) stop working, and the camera either gets wonky data from the lens, or no data at all. In the former case, the lens tells the camera that the settings are 7,500mm f/95 (!), and in the latter case the camera thinks the lens has no CPU, so defaults to whatever I've set for non-CPU lenses (which is the 100mm f/2 settings I use with the dreamy Zeiss used for the pics on this post).
Take your pick, 7500mm @ f/95 or f/2 when you know you're zoomed at 1,000mm and it'd be comical if it weren't so annoying.
It happened a few times on Mt. Daimonji, then not again for a while, then quite a bit during our mini trip to Awaji Island. Turning the camera off then on again usually fixed the problem right away, and if not, within a few cycles. Annoying. But I don't think it happened at all during the Mounted Archery Rite we saw the other day. Intermittent.
So today I called Sigma, and they apologetically asked me to send it in at their expense. So, I did, and they'll get it tomorrow if they're open during the weekend, Monday otherwise.
Here's hoping for the best.
Did the wonkiness manifest without the teleconverter also (going by “… you know you’re zoomed at 1,000mm”)?
Yes, it happened with or without the TC. —Jeffrey
I’ve tried two Sigma lenses and have had similar wonkiness where the focus just seems to completely crap out and won’t lock again until I detach and re-attach the lens. The OS stopped working on one as well. Needless to say they both went back and I’ve just been sticking to Canon ‘L’ glass since.
So, are you creating a Sigma Bigma Enigma stigma?
I’ve had similair problems with my Sigma 18-250. I thought it was missing contact between lens and camera. I was about to send it in and then the problem stopped. It did start again but cleaning the flange helped. It looks like a quality control problem. Still don’t know if I’ll send it in or not.
Sigma issued a statement about AF issue affecting some of the zooms …
http://www.sigma-photo.co.jp/english/news/info_100616.htm
… affected lenses & serial numbers are …
APO 50-500mm F4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM Serial Number between 10633051 and 10972000
APO 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM Serial Number between 10574001 and 10972000
APO 150-500mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM Serial Number between 10674301 and 10972000
Yeah, I saw that on DPReview today, and checked my new lens, and it’s within the range. They say they’ll fix it if you experience the problem, which I haven’t with the new one, but then, I’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t had a chance to really use it, beyond one day at KidZania —Jeffrey