re-occuring fault

[Rincewind]

I have a problem, i have a Nikon D810, and almost permanently mounted on it a Sigma 150macro f2.8 lens. Okay camera is well over 6 yrs old with huge number of shutter actuations, lens is a bit older. a little while ago I went to take an image and the lens would not focus and then i saw the shutter speed showed 0 and the F showed 0 in the viewfinder, okay turn camera off - turn camera on - same, drop battery out - refit battery all okay, it has now happened a few times and seems to be more frequent, i cannot tell if it is the camera body or the lens causing it - so could send both of for service, not sure if they will be able to service the lens as i don't think it has been made for a few years now - or accept that its time for new camera/lens - anyone else had a similar problem with Nikon/Sigma and did you get it fixed or retire the kit ?

 

[Box Brownie]

I have a problem, i have a Nikon D810, and almost permanently mounted on it a Sigma 150macro f2.8 lens. Okay camera is well over 6 yrs old with huge number of shutter actuations, lens is a bit older. a little while ago I went to take an image and the lens would not focus and then i saw the shutter speed showed 0 and the F showed 0 in the viewfinder, okay turn camera off - turn camera on - same, drop battery out - refit battery all okay, it has now happened a few times and seems to be more frequent, i cannot tell if it is the camera body or the lens causing it - so could send both of for service, not sure if they will be able to service the lens as i don't think it has been made for a few years now - or accept that its time for new camera/lens - anyone else had a similar problem with Nikon/Sigma and did you get it fixed or retire the kit ?

My immediate first thought was have you simply tried removing the lens and refitting?

If not try that and see if that reduces the apparent miscommunications between body & lens.

Whether the above helps or not then clean the lens (and body) contacts to see if that improves matters as appropriate?

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

I have a problem, i have a Nikon D810, and almost permanently mounted on it a Sigma 150macro f2.8 lens.

Have you cleaned the contacts on both lens and body?

 

[Rincewind]

Have you cleaned the contacts on both lens and body?

yep cleaned contacts on each occasion - little if any contaminant on mount or contacts - removing battery and re-fitting seems to 'cure' for a period of time, the fitting is firm so no movement between body and lens

 

[Box Brownie]

yep cleaned contacts on each occasion - little if any contaminant on mount or contacts - removing battery and re-fitting seems to 'cure' for a period of time, the fitting is firm so no movement between body and lens

The only other 'test' I can think of is empirical i.e. test lens on a different body & vice versa to determine if it is primarily the lens or the body that is triggering the fault

 

[Sky]

Before you send it off for servicing, try swapping the battery with another. It's a long shot, but there are several ways that a failing battery can cause problems (depending on the device) before it fails completely.

 

[Rincewind]

The only other 'test' I can think of is empirical i.e. test lens on a different body & vice versa to determine if it is primarily the lens or the body that is triggering the fault

yeah, I have a 5300 i can put the lens on for a week or so to see if it re-occurs there and a 70-300 tamron lens i can try on the d810 - I hate random faults - when somethign fails its easy - but random fails - arggghh

Thanks all for the input, main thing is I guess its not something that is - ah yeah thats a known fault xxx type of thing

 

[welshwizard645]

I had this problem a few years ago, with a Sigma 180 macro f3.5. Happened just after a firmware update, the lens stopped working. Ironically, there was a firmware update at the same time for the D500, but the lens continued to work on that.

Sigma were completely uninterested, saying it was a Nikon problem. Either I could reset the firmware to a previous version or get the camera seen to by Nikon.

Sigma only focusses on the modern lenses, not EX, they told me. Wouldn't even entertain changing F-mount to K-bayonet.

I sold the Sigma.

Did you update the firmware recently? if so, maybe worthwhile trying to restore camera to factory specification or previous version and see whether that reactivates the lens.

 

[Rincewind]

I had this problem a few years ago, with a Sigma 180 macro f3.5. Happened just after a firmware update, the lens stopped working. Ironically, there was a firmware update at the same time for the D500, but the lens continued to work on that.

Sigma were completely uninterested, saying it was a Nikon problem. Either I could reset the firmware to a previous version or get the camera seen to by Nikon.

Sigma only focusses on the modern lenses, not EX, they told me. Wouldn't even entertain changing F-mount to K-bayonet.

I sold the Sigma.

Did you update the firmware recently? if so, maybe worthwhile trying to restore camera to factory specification or previous version and see whether that reactivates the lens.

Thanks for your time and input, appreciated, interesting, yeah, no way I can get it serviced by Sigma now I think the 150 macro is no longer made and certainly not supported - but no I had the lens serviced 6 years ago by Sigma UK, nowt since - firm believer in 'if it aint broke don't fix it' so have never done firmware upgrades on the camera or the lens unless it is specifically to fix a problem i have, I have only ever done one firmware upgrade 6 years ago on the camera body as it fixed a known issue

 

[Mostly Vintage Cameras]

Sorry, late to the party. Its worth looking carefully at the pins on the side of the lens. The block they are seated in is held in place with a couple of screws. If they work loose the pins may not make good contact. Also worth checking the screw on the side of the mount that stops the lens turning too far as you put it on is present and secure.
Might not help the op but may help someone else if they come looking for solutions.

 

[harpistic]

I don’t have my lens to hand, but if it’s what I’ve sometimes had with an old Nikon lens, it’s because the distance (?) ring has been moved, just twist it back to infinity and all is good.