Focus on Sigma 24-60mm 1:2.8 EX DG

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Sam Vimes

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Hello all... first post, and slight photography amateur here, however I'm tearing my hair out over whatever it is that's happened to my Sigma today.

Using a 24-60mm lens on my EOS 40D today just in the lounge experimenting with the christmas tree and some candles as a subject, my camera has just completely stopped focusing; in both AF and MF modes.

In auto the motor is working and the focus ring spinning, and in manual the ring seems to spin fine, however there is no change to the image and I can't adjust the focus at all. The camera and the lens have not been knocked or dropped so I don't know why it has just stopped working.

I've emailed Sigma and spent most of the day Googling and fiddling but to no avail.... so with the manual mode knackered I'm wondering if the lens is blown. Does anyone have any suggestions?
 
Welcome to TP Sam, though I'd guess you'd rather not be here!

That's an unusual problem. I've never heard of it before. If the AF motor seems to be working and the MF ring seems to spin properly, then the lens should certainly be doing something that has a visible effect through the viewfinder.

Does anything at any distance seem to be in focus? If so, what / how far?

If you zoom the lens, does that make a difference? (Other than making the picture bigger or smaller!)

If you use LiveView rather than look through the viewfinder, does that help?
 
Thanks for taking the time to reply...

The image is in-focus (ish) when nicely zoomed out, and the camera can focus and photograph, however zoom in closer and it becomes one big blur with no ability to focus any further, so I'm stuck at the widest angle possible with that lens and no detail close up.

It does seem to be that the focus is stuck at whatever it's stuck at, and I can only take photos with the focal length which corresponds with that focus... If that makes sense?!

As to the LiveView, good point I haven't tried that! Just to add I haven't got another lens to try either so it *could* be the body I suppose.
 
Sam Vimes said:
Update: Just tried the LiveView and no ability to adjust focus when viewing that either.
Click to expand...
OK, so that rules out the possibility that you had accidentally changed the dioptre adjustment on your viewfinder. (I had wondered whether, if that was set horribly wrong, everything would look so out of focus that any changes wouldn't be apparent.)

Any other information you can provide?
 
I'm not sure what else to add really, it really is like the focus is just stuck and the focus ring is just spinning loose, but I have no idea why that would happen.

All I can think is to maybe take the set-up into Jessops or somewhere to see what they suggest but it's all out of warranty etc now anyway. Although the camera and lens is 4 years old it's hardly been used in all honesty!
 
The image is most in focus when zoomed out as far as possible, I can't seem to focus on anything close than 5m at best.

Zooming in just blurs the image, the further it zooms in the more blurred it becomes, and regardless of what auto-setting is in use or whether it's in manual mode, there seems to be no way of sharpening up beyond whatever it's 'stuck' at.

(Sorry if the terminology is a bit out, I'm not too switched on with the science and the lingo!)
 
Wow. It's a same that nobody else has any suggestions, but from what you've said, I think the lens is totally cream-crackered. I think a trip to Sigma's service department could be in order.
 
Well thanks anyway Stewart... Sigma have quoted £85.99 just to look at the thing as a minimum fee, and I've got a local dealer quoting £70. It'll leave me without a lens over Christmas so will maybe have to see about hiring one for the festivities.

I'm just completely baffled as to what could quite literally make it stop working without being dropped or knocked, no unusual noises or rattles, no damage to the glass... Takes a photo and then 30 seconds later, nothing! :shrug:
 
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