Droopy Sigma zoom

Bought a Sigma 170-500mm second hand (it is probable approaching 5-6 years old) a while back and despite being a great lens as far as sharpness is concerned, it has a problem.

The problem is one of droop (no alcohol here). If placed at anything other than horizontal, the moving portion of the lens (which is pretty heavy) has a tendency to slide in the direction of the ground. There is little to no resistance in the zoom mechanism.

This makes it very difficult to use for anything other than handheld situations where I am holding the lens at the desired focal length.

Any ideas or would it be a return to Sigma?

You can try a Lensband (http://lensband.com/), multiple rubber bands or gaffer's tape.

This commonly happens with some lenses, and while it's annoying it doesn't necessarily mean the lens is dying or anything like that. For example I think the Canon 28-135 has a tendency to that after a couple years.

I have a Sigma 18-50 2.8 EX DC Macro and it has suffered from lens creep ever since I got it. It's a great little lens for the price when you compare it to the Canon equivalent but yeah the creeping it is a little annoying.

It's called lens creep and sadly is all too common on zoom lenses. Is there a lock switch? Usually big zooms like that will have a lock switch that keep it locked at smallest length while walking around.

The Sigma should have a lock button...only problem? I always forget it is locked and miss the shot...
With the heavy zooms, I just try and hold the zoom ring at all times as opposed to letting the camera/lens hang off my RS5 or neck straps..
it sucks, but is part of life with the big tele-zooms..imho

If you can keep the setup level while hangin on your strap(s), that will help. but if tilted down at all, you will always be pulling it up to your eye at the max focal length..

If sitting for a while, use the lock button..if not, just hold the zoom ring..
(havent used the lensband thing though..but this is my experience. had to live with it on my Siggy 120-400 and 100-400L..)

Creepy! Yes, most of those zooms creep. I had one that also creeped but performed really good. At 500mm you need to have a sunny day and high iso.

The problem I have is the lock only works at minimum length on this lens.

Sounds like the lensband is the only reasonable solution (had a look and it would be £100 to send it to Sigma for a service which might tighten it but might leave it as bad).