Sigma fault?

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spacemutt

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Stephen
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Hello all. I'm a newbie here, so I hope you can put up with my daft questions. :)

I have a Canon 30D for which I bought an EX Sigma 17-35mm F2.8-4 lens. Being a beginner and working on a budget I bought second hand. It's been ok for the 6 months I have owned up, but now it's throwing up ERROR 99. It seems on then on 2.8, but any higher it give me problems. The camera is ok with other lenses.

Is it dead? I paid about £200 for it, and I figure Sigma would probably want that much to fix it, or are they cheaper than I assume?

Any help would be welcome as I have two trips away next month and I need to know if I need to find money to buy a replacement. :/
 
I have very little knowledge about your specific problem, but i did witness the same thing when trying a lens out in a shop - turned it out was dirty contacts caused by fondling fingers. Might be worth a punt
 
I have cleaned the contacts, but only with a cloth. Should I use something else like a switch cleaner?
 
spacemutt said:
I have cleaned the contacts, but only with a cloth. Should I use something else like a switch cleaner?
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Use an eraser from a pencil lightly, should work. Do the points look dirty? And how about if you use it in manual focus?
 
BeatenPathPhoto said:
Use an eraser from a pencil lightly, should work. Do the points look dirty? And how about if you use it in manual focus?
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I read somewhere that eraser could rub off gold plating if you are unlucky. T-shirt should easily do the trick if it's just a light layer of dirt. The aperture might be shot, which would mean a new lens
 
We used to get this error at work because the lenses needed rechipping to work fully with digital but can't recall issues with the 30D. Could just be contacts...
 
Update:

It works on F2.8 without a problem, but anything else will bring up an error 99. I have cleaned the contacts again but no change.

I also have a 10D which I have tried it on and I get the same error.
 
spacemutt said:
Update:

It works on F2.8 without a problem, but anything else will bring up an error 99. I have cleaned the contacts again but no change.

I also have a 10D which I have tried it on and I get the same error.
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at f/2.8 the lens doesn't need to do anything, so 'it works'. At any other apperture the blades need to close and probably can't. Try DOF preview button and watch if they [don't] close.
 
spacemutt said:
Update:

It works on F2.8 without a problem, but anything else will bring up an error 99. I have cleaned the contacts again but no change.

I also have a 10D which I have tried it on and I get the same error.
Click to expand...

The 10d is not ment for new lenses. So in turn you will get that message. At least that's what a trusty shop told me. Apparently you can only use film AF lenses
 
Sigma Imaging website quote in FAQ

link http://www.sigma-imaging-uk.com/support/index.htm

Q. When attaching my old Sigma lens to my new Canon digital camera, an Error99 message appears.

A. This could either be due to the lens’ iris or the lens’ circuit which may need upgrading

Les :thumbs:
 
daugirdas said:
The aperture might be shot, which would mean a new lens
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not true, sigma replaced an ap mech on a 70-200 for us.

their method for testing:

"> It sounds like an issue with the aperture/ aperture flex, you can test
> this by setting the camera to AV then f32/22 etc. then press the DOF
> button the one near the lens mount other than the release button. AS you
> press this button zoom in and out slowly, you might find it catches at a
> certain point or freezes again, if so we would need to repair the lens.
> If the Dof test goes well, we would suggest to continue using, but if
> you get any more problems to send to us for testing. "

interestingly ours didnt catch but it kept error99 on the 1dmk3 after a few shots in quick sucession.

if it is that then it is replaced under the standard tarrifs on the sigma support page, the part is ordered in from HK though.
 
BeatenPathPhoto said:
The 10d is not ment for new lenses. So in turn you will get that message. At least that's what a trusty shop told me. Apparently you can only use film AF lenses
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Nooooo. he's spouting bull. I had a 10D and it took all my digital age lenses no problem. The 10D is probably a safer bet for 3rd party lenses working than the latest camera bodies, although EF-S wont fit but Tamron and Sigma APS-C lenses will.
 
Just to confirm, the lens works (worked) fine on the 10D. I had the lens a couple of months before I got the 30D and it works perfectly with it. It's only recently that the lens has developed a fault and won't work on either camera.



neil_g said:
not true, sigma replaced an ap mech on a 70-200 for us.

their method for testing:

"> It sounds like an issue with the aperture/ aperture flex, you can test
> this by setting the camera to AV then f32/22 etc. then press the DOF
> button the one near the lens mount other than the release button. AS you
> press this button zoom in and out slowly, you might find it catches at a
> certain point or freezes again, if so we would need to repair the lens.
> If the Dof test goes well, we would suggest to continue using, but if
> you get any more problems to send to us for testing. "

interestingly ours didnt catch but it kept error99 on the 1dmk3 after a few shots in quick sucession.

if it is that then it is replaced under the standard tarrifs on the sigma support page, the part is ordered in from HK though.
Click to expand...



Oooo that made it angry! When I started on minimum zoom and zoomed out it seemed to snag slightly once or twice. But start on maximum zoom and it really has a hissy-fit and jams everything up.


Now..the question is, do I get this one repaired, or buy another? I have seen Sigma 17-70 lenses go on eBay for about £200.. This will give me macro, but will it still be as good for general pictures? Or is this a whole new can of worms...?
 
I think I'd at least get a price for getting it repaired as it's a full frame lens and that might come in handy one day, plus you could (probably) use it on a 35mm film SLR. You could pick up a nice one for next to nothing these days.
 
I think you're right, a repair will be the best route for now.

I shall have to save my pennies and buy a macro lens aswell. :D

How do I tell if a lens is full frame? I'd rather get a full frame lens so I can keep them if I upgrade the body.
 
I think EX just means it's posh :D (EX normally means it's Sigmas posh finish.) I think it's an EX DG :D but it may pre date the DG logo.
 
Ooo poperly posh I am. ;)

Ah, that rules out the macro lenses I was looking at.. They are all DC. So I shall hold on until I find a DG one. Or posh EX one. :p
 
Sigma do a 50mm f2.8 macro and Canon do a 50mm f2.5 but despite what they say the Canon isn't a true macro, still a nice lens though.
 
Canon lenses would be nice, but probably out of my price range. Unless I can pick up a nice L lens for under £200..?
 
woof woof said:
Nooooo. he's spouting bull. I had a 10D and it took all my digital age lenses no problem. The 10D is probably a safer bet for 3rd party lenses working than the latest camera bodies, although EF-S wont fit but Tamron and Sigma APS-C lenses will.
Click to expand...

I was thinking that. So "KEH" sent me another and the same thing happend so they just gave me my money back. But a local shop "service photo" told me the newer lens would cause error 99 so I just took there word for it bc they were a shop. But I guess u can tell a "little guy" that and I would believe it bc I was new to this.
 
woof woof said:
Sigma do a 50mm f2.8 macro and Canon do a 50mm f2.5 but despite what they say the Canon isn't a true macro, still a nice lens though.
Click to expand...

It is a macro just not a 1:1
 
Lens was dispatched to Sigma last week. Just waiting for them to tell me what's wrong.
 
Got the lens back... They are unable to repair it! Parts are no longer available for this lens. :( So I've had to buy another one off ebay..
 
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