lens destroyed in small airplane

eelnoraa wrote in post #17206522
Definitely not pressure. Lens is not air tight, so pressure will equalize. Buy commercial airplane has cabin pressure between 7000-9000ft only, much lower than some mountain around the world. How blurry is your sigma? you sure isn't shutter speed too slow?

No, that`s not it, I have tried everything. It´s always very blurry at the edges of the foto and slightly blurry towards the centre. The small lens works fine. It can`t be moisture either, we have only been in dry areas this time and the lenses handled any climate fine on previous trips.

Ok, I really wouldn`t know when, but from what you guys are saying the lens must have taken a bump then.

@farmer1957: I will have a look at the Pelican cases. I`d love a 100-400mm lens, but the Canon is nearly 1.400 Euro!

trying to upload a quick example:
lens problem

farmer1957 wrote in post #17205858
The pelican hard cases are nice, the model 1510 is legal to carry on commercial air liners.

These days, you can only say "some". It certainly isn't all any more.

My guess is vibration.
Pelican 1510 is said to be shaped and sized to pass as carry-on luggage for air travel. But all airlines are different.

Nicc66 wrote in post #17204328
We are frequent air travellers and after a recent flight in a small plane in Africa realised the tele lens is blurry, especially at the edges, and can`t focus clearly. I use a Canon 600D and Sigma 70-300mm tele lens (which has been stored in a lined plastic container with lids to close). The 18-55mm Canon lens that has been sitting on the camera doesn`t seem to be affected.

I wonder what happened to the Sigma. I had it for 2 years, but only used it on 3 trips really. I assume it has to do with the lack of cabin air pressurisation in the small propeller plane and maybe the high quality Canon lens handled it better. Anyone heard of that, any ideas?

I want to replace the broken Sigma (quality was good for the price but not brilliant) with a Canon 55-250mm IS. Is there a better way to store the equipment during flights? Is there something like airtight containers for cameras?

It may have nothing to do with the trip. It could have just been "It's Time" to fail.

You say you have only used it a few times. It could it be that there is nothing wrong with the lens and it is just user error. Telephoto lenses have slower apertures and need much faster shutter speeds than normal focal length lenses. This is especially true since the Sigma 70-300mm does not have Image Stabilization.

Your EXIF data says it was taken at 70mm wide open using an f/4.5 aperture and with a 1/125 shutter seed. Even at 70mm 1/125 may not be a fast enough shutter speed for hand holding. At 300mm you should use about 1/500 as a minimum to prevent camera shake.

Did you get any good photos at all from this lens? To further trouble shoot I would remove any filters and shoot with a tripod or higher ISO to eliminate the possibility of camera shake. I would also try manual focus using Liveview, or use Liveview Auto Focus, and shoot with the lens stopped down at f/8 or f/11.

Is this the lens you have? Is there any chance you have it in "Macro" Mode?

Agreed with all the others pressure change isn't the problem.

If the lenses were truly sealed then you wouldn't be able to focus or zoom as the internal change of volume, as a result of the collapsing/expanding of the lens to perform these functions, would cause a change in the internal pressure resulting in the lens wanting to return to it's initial state counter the user inputs.

Also, besides residents in high mountain areas skydivers use standard lenses all the time and they're at or above 10,000 regularly. Additionally, they experience more rapid changes in pressure during their decent then you would, hopefully, in an unpressurized prop plane and their gear works fine.

It definitely got the bump

msowsun wrote in post #17211886
It may have nothing to do with the trip. It could have just been "It's Time" to fail.

Perhaps. Drives me towards buying a "Canon" this time.

msowsun wrote in post #17211886
Did you get any good photos at all from this lens?

Oh definetley. I did get some good photos before and under the same conditions, same safaris, walking, driving etc and yes, I mostly use a Tripod or Monopod. Never used filters.

msowsun wrote in post #17211886
Is this the lens you have? Is there any chance you have it in "Macro" Mode?

Yep, that`s the lens. No, the Macro Mode is not on - I made sure that`s all ok before I started to believe something must be seriously wrong with it. But it`s a good point, the little switch is a bit touchy. Thanks for your thoughts

mike_d wrote in post #17204586
Even Pelican cases, known for their strength, are intentionally not air tight. Doing so would make them nearly impossible to open after a descent.

My case (not Pelican) has an air valve that you open to allow the pressure to equalize.

Use a Pelican. 1514.