Lens Problems

[Mannananscloak]

Apologies if I've done wrong but I've posted this problem I'm having in the Sony section, seeing as I have a Sony camera but thought it might get a larger response here. Also it is rather long so sorry in advance...

New poster here though I've been reading the magazine for over a year now. I'm in need of some advice.....new to photography with not a great deal of money to spend I bought a Sony 200 in Sept 08. Really enjoying the SLR experience I then purchased a Sigma 70-300 lens the following Feb 09. Unfortunately this malfunctioned (made clicking noises and wouldn't focus in May 09.This was repaired by Sigma....Four months later in Set 09 the same problem and again Sigma carry out the repair....No problems then until Jan 10 when the same problem occurs to my standard Sony lens. I contact Sony who say they can't do a thing because the camera is out of guarantee. Disappointed I buy a new lens off the internet (not willing to pay the £114 quote to have lens fixed) then the next day the Sigma lens breaks again......I then contacted both Sigma and Sony the upshot being Sony said they will have a look at all my kit. Today I've heard back off them saying there is nothing wrong with the camera. With the Sigma lens now out of guarantee as well I now find myself with a load of kit that I can't use......What I want to know is.....Is this normal to have four lenses break within a year?....Any help in this matter would be appreciated.......Cheers

THEY REPLIED.....

After my investigations into your enquiry, I can confirm that our Technical Department have examined your product. After their investigations they could find no fault with the body of the camera. However for further verification on the issue, they have forwarded your product to Sony Central Services for further testing and examination. When we receive further information we will be in contact with you.Thank you for your patience with regard to this matter......

ANOTHER REPLY.....

I am sorry it is only the body we can not find a fault with, using the equipment we have here, the Lens both had a fault, what we need to find out is if the body is over winding the mech on the lens, then why. I am not aware of Sigma lens being compatible with the DSLR range and i have asked the question , could this be causing problems with the body, that would result in the electronics being effected as far as the motor for focus, could this have enough power to over wind the lens, all these questions could not be answered here and therefore I have asked Pencoed to look into the issue.
Once I know the cause then I can ask you questions about use and setup, until then we are both in the dark as to where or why this is happening, I must admit I have never seen this before.

I replied back regarding the compatibility of Sigma lenses because I believed that it would be and this is the reply I received from the very helpful guy at Sony.....

Sony has not done any testing with Sigma products, although the Minolta line was taken on board, this is where the design and intellectual rights ends..
As there has been no testing, so without knowledge of there product we are unable to support its use, this may or may not have caused the issue with the Body and this is where I have asked the engineers to test, the way the lens works may be to the Minolta spec, or it may be slightly different.

What I want to know is.....Is this normal to have four lenses break within a year?...And could it be the Sigma lens that has caused all the problems? ...Sorry for going on too long .Any help in this matter would be appreciated.......Cheers

[flake]

Reading between the lines here, and sticking my neck out a bit - It seems odd that both lenses fail in the same way. I wonder could it possible that you have been moving the focus rings without disengaging them? I'm not sure if these lens spin the focus rings as they focus, but is it possible you have been holding the focus ring, which would eventually strip teeth from gears or burn the little motor out?

[Mannananscloak]

Hi there, thanks for replying so promptly however I don't think that this is the problem though saying that I'm new to all this slr stuff so I might be. No I just turn the lens to get it into focus and press the shutter leaving my left hand on the lens. I don't ever feel any resistance.

[Forseti]

Doesn't this lens have auto focus (AF)? If so, then a half pressing of the shutter release button sets both focus and exposure. With some lenses you can rotate the focus ring even when in AF.......but not all. What does the lens manual say?

[Mannananscloak]

You know this may sound stupid but I can't ever recall seeing a manual. Yes it has auto focus. This is my procedure.....Put lens on body...switch on....zoom in or out using ring......auto focuses.....press release.....Am I doing something wrong? I certainly hope not......

[flake]

possibly, see my comment above! I still think you might be preventing the focus ring from moving freely.

[Sue Allen]

Scroll down the page on this link -
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/re...s+problem&qf=m

this is one of the posts on dpreview regarding Sony DSLRs and Sigma lenses - not sure if any other lenses are involved but there are a number of threads which seem to indicate there can be a problem. Use the search option there to further investigate.

[Sue Allen]

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/re...s+problem&qf=m

few more observations.

[Mannananscloak]

Thanks Sue. After reading some of the threads it would seem I've bought a lemon.....OOPS...

[KeithT]

Always be careful when buying third party lenses. It was much easier in the days of film because there were far less electronics to worry about in film cameras. Most camera manufacturers share their configurations with some third party manufacturers, but not all. Canon do up to a point, but always warn about using third party equipment with their products. Some users feel this is scare tactics by the main manufacturers to ensure their own products are used, but this is not the full story. I have a Sigma 50mm EX DG Canon fit and it works fine, but that's not to say it will always be the case. However, in the main, most people buying third party lenses have no trouble.

Because Sony are new to the DSLR market, it is unlikely that they share their configurations with any other lens manufacturer other than those they have taken on board. Before buying into any third party lens, or any lens for that matter, you should do a thorough search for user reviews. And even then be wary.