Broke my Bigma

[tiktaalik]

My Bigma had a catastrophic failure this weekend at an airshow. The zoom lock button got stuck. Now, 50mm is not a good focal length for an airshow. I worked at the lock button a bit and got it unstuck. However, as soon as I zoomed the lens, the button locked itself again. Well, I could live with it as it was now stuck between 100 and 500mm. This worked for a while until the zoom bound up and I came up with metal filings in my hand. I'm guessing some bit of that lock button had broken off and stuck under the zoom ring. It put a deep gouge in the lens barrel :(

I'm going to call Sigma today but has anyone else had this happen?

I'm just so crying here. It was my favorite airshow lens :(

[cdifoto]

Never happened to mine when I had it. I'm sure Sigma will sort it out for you. Is it still under warranty? If so they should fix it free if they're worth their salt as a company.

[tiktaalik]

Sadly it's no longer under warranty. I've had it about 1 1/2 years now.

In some ways I kind of wish I had dropped it so my insurance would have covered it. :(

[cdifoto]

I'd give Sigma a ring anyway. It might not be as expensive a repair as we'd think...

[Lightstream]

My Bigma had a catastrophic failure this weekend at an airshow. The zoom lock button got stuck. Now, 50mm is not a good focal length for an airshow. I worked at the lock button a bit and got it unstuck. However, as soon as I zoomed the lens, the button locked itself again. Well, I could live with it as it was now stuck between 100 and 500mm. This worked for a while until the zoom bound up and I came up with metal filings in my hand. I'm guessing some bit of that lock button had broken off and stuck under the zoom ring. It put a deep gouge in the lens barrel :(

I'm going to call Sigma today but has anyone else had this happen?

I'm just so crying here. It was my favorite airshow lens :(

Ouch.....so sorry to hear that!

My favorite Canon EF-S 17-85 jammed at 18mm and 60mm. I could work it loose, I did so a couple of times but having read somewhere that it was not a good idea to do this because it may cause more damage than could be economically repaired, I stopped and waited till I could get to a Canon service facility. 5 day turnaround under warranty (it was all of 2 months old) and I was so grateful to have it back in perfect working condition. I asked them and they said the service report only indicates the lens was disassembled, re-lubricated and cleaned. Well, that's as vague as it was gonna get, but I was happy to have it back. Being without your favorite really hurts I can tell you that..

It's tough to ask, but what's the plan now? I'd probably try sending the lens straight back to Sigma, out of warranty but explain what happened and MAYBE (don't count on it) they may help you and bite the bullet on this one. Alternatively you'd probably get it fixed, just a matter of $$ and whether the gouge remains. A barrel replacement might be costly.

Also, off topic I know, but I just wanted to ask (as a former Bigma owner), did you use a pod to shoot those fantastic pics? I had big trouble handholding the Bigma steady when panning all over the sky (parallel to the ground was fine).

[05Xrunner]

Sadly it's no longer under warranty. I've had it about 1 1/2 years now.

In some ways I kind of wish I had dropped it so my insurance would have covered it. :(
Wouldnt your insurance cover it anyway.
My policy covers if anything happens to my gear its replaced no matter what.

[tiktaalik]

Thanks for the responses everyone. I'm definitely giving Sigma a call this morning to see if it's repairable and to get an idea of the $$$. I am worried about that gouge though. I tell myself it's silly to worry over cosmetics if the optics and function can be restored but part of me is really torn up about it :(


My policy covers if anything happens to my gear its replaced no matter what.

Hmmm...I had thought the insurance would only cover damage like drops, crunches, or sudden water immersions. I'll give them a call too today.


Also, off topic I know, but I just wanted to ask (as a former Bigma owner), did you use a pod to shoot those fantastic pics?

Thanks for the kind words about my pics :) No pod - they were all handheld. I've been practicing with the Bigma and get a decent keeper ratio when panning at 1/250s.

[05Xrunner]

drop it in water then....LOL

[Larry Weinman]

The same thing happened to my Bigma when it was still under warranty. They took four months fixing it. It was a miserable experience after which I decided to avoid their products entirely

[Lightstream]

Thanks for the responses everyone. I'm definitely giving Sigma a call this morning to see if it's repairable and to get an idea of the $$$. I am worried about that gouge though. I tell myself it's silly to worry over cosmetics if the optics and function can be restored but part of me is really torn up about it :(


Hmmm...I had thought the insurance would only cover damage like drops, crunches, or sudden water immersions. I'll give them a call too today.


Thanks for the kind words about my pics :) No pod - they were all handheld. I've been practicing with the Bigma and get a decent keeper ratio when panning at 1/250s.

It's always tough when it happens to a favorite. I was worried too that my 17-85 had lasting damage or loss of optical quality and was so relieved it didn't. Went on to produce many more wonderful pictures in the year to come, now it is retiring happily as I transition to full frame.

The Bigma demands practice indeed and only a few go on to really master this lens.. congratulations on being one of them :) I didn't, also because I didn't like the weight.

Eventually ended up with the 100-400 and I get along very well with it. I turn IS off for fast airborne targets (so far, gulls..) when I am panning on both axis, or IS Mode 2 when panning in just one.

[tiktaalik]

The same thing happened to my Bigma when it was still under warranty. They took four months fixing it. It was a miserable experience after which I decided to avoid their products entirely

Did you put a gouge in yours too? If so, did they fix that?
Anyway, your experience sounds pretty depressing. I just called Sigma and they wouldn't tell me anything beyond 'send it in'.

[ScottE]

I left my Bigma set up on a tripod out on the deck while I was photographing birds in the yard and went inside to get a cup of coffee. My daughter took a telephone call and went outside for more privacy, but apparently not watching where she was going. She walked into the tripod and knocked it over. The Bigma bouced of the concrete floor and into the dog's water dish so it got both bashed and drowned.

The zoom was completely locked in the extended position. I had to devise new packaging to send it back to the distributor since it would not fit in the original box.

The camera was returned in a few weeks with the zoom working perfectly, but there was a slight whisper noise in the AF motor. This was not repaired under warranty since I had caused the damage but the cost was reasonable for replacing the zoom mechanism and giving the lens a thorough cleaning.

I lived with the AF noise for a while, but it got annoying and I contacted Sigma again, explaining what had happened. I sent the lens back and they replaced the AF mechanism, but did that under warranty for no charge, even though I had explained that the damage had occured after the accident. Again the lens was thoroughly cleaned.

I cannot complain about service from the Canadian distributor.

[Seefutlung]

I use my Bigma quite a bit ... after a year or so ... no problems.

Gary

[MrChad]

Sadly it's no longer under warranty. I've had it about 1 1/2 years now.

In some ways I kind of wish I had dropped it so my insurance would have covered it. :(


Don't all autherized Sigma USA lenses come with a 4yr warranty?

[tiktaalik]

Don't all autherized Sigma USA lenses come with a 4yr warranty?

They do? I thought it was a year but I just checked and it is 4 years! Now I just have to find that pesky receipt....

ScottE - thanks for the reply. Your experience with Sigma service sounds a lot better.

[marka123]

Howdy,

I had a pretty good experience with Sigma on my 100-300 f/4... It had a focus hunting issue with my 350D. Sent it in and had a new (and tested.. :-) lens in a few weeks. Its been my primary motorsports lens since.

I expect that things can drop through the cracks a bit easier at Sigma vs. Canon (had to send my 350D in due to a battery grip issue) since Canon does more automated messages and such, but as long as you give them a ring every week or so if you don't hear anything, I expect you'll get good service. They were _very_ helpful when I called them.

Mark

[Tee Why]

I'd give Sigma a call and send it in for repair. They may cover it under warranty, or they may not, but a bigma is a beautiful thing and worth keeping in my view.

[cfcRebel]

My Bigma had a catastrophic failure this weekend ...
I'm just so crying here. It was my favorite airshow lens :(Sorry to hear about the problem, but i'm sure Sigma will take care of it. I broke my tripod ring once and gave Sigma a call. They sent one right over and the price of the new ring is even cheaper than B&H's.

[tiktaalik]

Update!

Sigma is repairing my Bigma under warranty!! :) :) :) Yay for Sigma!

Bad news is that they are waiting on a new front barrel and don't have an estimated date for that. Oh well, I'm happy and can wait. My 'baby' will soon come back home :)

[condyk]

Good result ... my experience with Sigma has been absolutely first class in all respects. Bigma is a great lens too and I'm expecting to get another next year. Despite owning the 100-300mm 4.0 EX, 100-400mm IS L, 300mm IS L it's the long lens I am fondest of.

[guitarman3]

I recently purchased the Bigma and it came with a card to send in to get the extended (additional) 3 year warranty. It said I had to send it in within 30 days of purchase but apparently they are not too persnickety about that! This extended warranty I believe comes with their EX lenses.

Glad they are covering it for you! Hope you get it soon.

[magicmikey]

Dennis is correct. The EX lenses get a 4 year warranty. I just called Sigma Corporation of America to check it out because my 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 lens did not indicate that it had a 4 year warranty. The representative explained that only the EX lenses get the 4 year warranty in the US. (My 17-70 is a DC lens.)

Michael

[runninmann]

Dennis is correct. The EX lenses get a 4 year warranty. I just called Sigma Corporation of America to check it out because my 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 lens did not indicate that it had a 4 year warranty. The representative explained that only the EX lenses get the 4 year warranty in the US. (My 17-70 is a DC lens.)

MichaelSo is my 30 f/1.4 EX;)

[Broncobear]

In Canada EX lenses get a 5 year warranty

[Lightstream]

Update!

Sigma is repairing my Bigma under warranty!! :) :) :) Yay for Sigma!

Bad news is that they are waiting on a new front barrel and don't have an estimated date for that. Oh well, I'm happy and can wait. My 'baby' will soon come back home :)

Congratulations! Looks like the extended warranty came in useful...

[CountryBoy]

wow ! You have to send the card in ? I'll have to see if I can find mine. Maybe, better late then never !

Great news about the Bigma !

[blackviolet]

i had to hand carry my card in when the mount on my bigma broke. they fixed it and had it back in less than a week.

[Larry Weinman]

My zoom lock stopped working when I had my Bigma. It was under warranty so they fixed it free but they took four months to do it. They kept saying they were waiting for a part. Bad experience.