The cost of fixing a Sigma 120-300 2.8?

ukaskew

ukaskew

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Has anyone had any experience of getting a Sigma 120-300 2.8 EX fixed direct with Sigma? I'm getting very frequent F-- errors when it's connected to my Nikon D90, on a day out it can show that message for a couple of hours, then come back to life and be ok again. I assume it's the contacts but everything looks clean and ok.

Contacted Sigma re a service and it's £155, but I'm terrified of sending it off for that and then it needing lots of parts/work to fix the issue, as £155 is going to cripple me as it is.

Gutted that it's failed on me, been offered several motorsport photography jobs in the past few weeks but I'm having to turn them all down until I figure out what to do.
 
It does sound like a contact problem, try giving them a good clean with a clean rubber. It may be just oxides that you cant see.
 
I had a similar thing with my 70-200 VR and it was the contacts. I did a bit of research and got some Deoxit Not cheap for a tiny tube, but it certainly did the job, and you only need a super small amount. Never had any problems since.
 
I dropped my sigma 120-300 and the end with all the computer type bits in it came off and snapped the connections... 70 quid to replece all that part... hmm 18 mths or so ago?

Same lens got new AF system for another 70 quid and the difference when done was amazing.. its strange how the AF can slow down over time and you not realise.. then when replced its massive.

ADDYONBIT: Both times mine went in I phoned sigma UK beforehand and they explained what it might be and possible prices and return times... they insisted they couldnt say for sure but based on what I told them... Most helpful on phone for sure :)
 
I too have always found Sigma helpful over the phone - much better than Canon!
 
Clean the contacts and make sure the lens is locked at F32 before spending any money.
 
fracster said:
Clean the contacts and make sure the lens is locked at F32 before spending any money.
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Gave it a good clean today and it is indeed locked, still getting the problem though.

Only way to force it to work is to pull the lens back towards the camera quite firmly (so I assume the contacts aren't, er, contacting too well under normal conditions), but when I connect a Sigma 1.4tc it's just a constant F-- error and never kicks into life.
 
cost me £170 for a new AF motor and service for my 300 prime.

Either way when you consider the price of the lens which is knackered the cost is a pain but could be a whole lot worse.
 
Some good points raised here, £155 isn't too much compared to the price of the lens to be honest. From what people have said on here their prices are pretty reasonable, so I'd say go for it. Especially if you're having to turn down jobs because of it!

What's worse, spending ~£200 to get it back into working order, or having a £2000 paperweight?! :)
 
Had to send my Sigma 24-70 f2.8 back for overhaul last year and as I recall they have fixed price repairs so you know up front how much you're committing to. Think I downloaded the price list from their web site.
 
ukaskew said:
Has anyone had any experience of getting a Sigma 120-300 2.8 EX fixed direct with Sigma?
Click to expand...

"but when I connect a Sigma 1.4tc it's just a constant F-- error and never kicks into life"

You mention two different lenses, do you have the same problem with both, if so it could be the contacts on the camera, not the lens.
 
Have you checked the screws are tight on the lens mount and the end of the lens? Also try the lens on a different body to see if you get the same issues
 
I'd be checking the camera before assuming the lens is to blame - make sure the lens is seating properly, Nikon bodies are notorious for throwing up error codes due to play between camera and lens, especially with large, heavy lenses.
 
ChrisWXM said:
"but when I connect a Sigma 1.4tc it's just a constant F-- error and never kicks into life"

You mention two different lenses, do you have the same problem with both, if so it could be the contacts on the camera, not the lens.
Click to expand...

Perhaps I didn't explain too well...

120-300 on its own = F-- errors 80% of the time
120-300 + 1.4TC = F-- errors 100% of the time

My assumption was that if the 120-300 was having connection issues, it would still throw up an F-- error if the lens couldn't connect to the TC (and therefore the camera body)

ppp said:
Have you checked the screws are tight on the lens mount and the end of the lens? Also try the lens on a different body to see if you get the same issues
Click to expand...

All screws have no movement. I also have an old D50, I get exactly the same issue with that.
 
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