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I got back today the lens I sent to Sigma a week ago. They replied that they couldn't reproduce any of the problems I reported (which doesn't surprise me, because it was so intermittent and unpredictable) but sent me a new one as a replacement.
We'll see how it goes... hopefully this one won't freak out like the first.
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Hey, at least they sent you a new one! Better than what Nikon usually does.
Hi Jeffrey,
I got my Bigma last week and have taken lots of test shots. Everthing was workig well until yesterday when I was taking pictures of birds and itermittetly the lens would not focus. The exposure meter 1/250 @ f0 (zero). I had about a dozen shots were the screen was black. It seems like the lens went into a sleep mode. Sometimes re-activating the focus would get it going but other times I had turn off the camera and/or the OS in the lens. This happenend about 5 times during a four hour period. I am using a Nikon D-300 and had the shutter button set independently from the focusing (using the AF-ON buton). Was your problem similar to mine? Did Sigma reconize this problem as having affected other users with Canon cameras? Thanks.
Fernando B. Corrada
Sounds a lot lot like the problems I ran into. (The f/0 is likely because you have no non-CPU lens info set in the camera menus). Sigma said that they couldn’t reproduce the problem I ran into, and gave no info about whether others may have had it. —Jeffrey
If it’s any comfort, it appears that the new Nikkor 24/1.4 can’t auto-focus MOST of the time. Don’t think Nikon is swapping them out gratis. And that lens is half again more costly than the Bigma.
I suppose it’s nice that Sigma replaced the lens, but practically speaking, all it means is that I’ve rolled the dice again. The only other time I bought a Sigma lens, their most-excellent (when it works) Sigma 30mm f/1.4, it took four or five tries until I got a good one. The odds do not bode well that the new Bigma they sent to replace my week-old old Bigma will be error free. )-: —Jeffrey
Well I called Sigma today and explained to them the problem with the new lens . They said there were not aware of any issues with the new 50-500. The customer service rep told me that she has been using the lens with a Nikon D-300 for about 3-4 weeks and she has not noticed any focusing problems. They told me that they are only a distributor for Sigma and that I could send the lens to them for repair or I could call the vendor for assistance. I am surprised that they did not offer to replace the lens that I purchased less than 10 days ago.
I called my trusted B&H Photo and they immediately offer me a new lens. They gave an RMA # to send the lens back. I decided to order a new lens and then next week I will send them the defective lens for a full refund. Right now is the best birding time so I do not want to be w/o a super zoom. Right now the lens is usable as long as I keep tapping the shutter once every 1 to 1.5 minutes. It seems that if there is no activity, the camera/lens goes into a sleep mode. Sometimes it will wake up after 3-5 taps to the shutter but other times it will not work at all unless the camera is turned off 1 to five times. It is a terribly random problem. What was the serial # of your original lens? What is the serial # of the replacement lens you just received?
My lens serial # is 10717390. How is the new lens performing? Thanks.
Fernando
Oh, and was joking about the old serial number… it really was 10717330 😉 —Jeffrey
I see that your defective lens serial # and mine are very close but you new lens is much farther apart numerically. I do not know if it has any significance. My replacement lens should arrive in 1-2 days.
Did Sigma test your defective lens? Did they provide any possible explanations for the malfunction? Where did you send the lens? Thanks.
Fernando
The response was very terse… said they couldn’t reproduce it, but were replacing it with a new lens. They sent a new retail-box lens. (I’ve now got an extra tripod collar). I sent the lens directly to their Japanese service center. They have only one. —Jeffrey
Received a replacement lens 3 days ago and so far so good. No problems at all. The serial number happens to be just six numbers earlier (10717384 vs 10717390).
Hopefully this lens will continue to function well . Thanks.
Fernando
Hi,
Sigma has recalled these lenses as the found the autofocus to be an issue. They are reparing it for free have mentioned the serail numbers that are affected.
I am looking at buying these lens, however, I will wait a weebit longer to get the newer serail numbers out…
http://www.dpreview.com/news/1006/10061601sigmatelephotonotice.asp
I couldnt find the actual post, however, if you search on sigma you might get it..
All the best, and I hope some of your lens arent in the range of affected serail numbers.
Dave