My 50-500 Sigma is broken...

Does anyone know of this happening to another 50-500 lens?

The barrel started to get harder to extend for tele @500mm and then made noises while extending... Now it has frozen extended at 500mm and won't retract...

There are a bunch of scrapes and scratches in the paint along the underside of the extending section of the lens... Something has broken off inside the lens and it has jammed itself between the two barrels of the lens, 1st scraping paint and now jamming it fully extended...

Oh yeah, the lock switching "button" gizmo now just comes off in my hand so it's a fair bet that this breakdown has something to do with it's associated internal parts...

Boy, am I unhappy! This 50-500 is a fine lens but now it must head off to Sigma for service... Whatever broke scraped the lens assembly a lot... If they just repair the problem I'm still left with a pretty messed up looking high value lens...

Does Sigma place as much value on repairing their premium EX series lenses as they do when they sell them? I'm not being snide... Is there someone in Sigma or some service division for EX "pro" lenses?

I'm actually a big fan of their lenses but this is a real pain...

Here is why I'm a bit gunshy:

Here is why I'm a bit gunshy:
I just had a warranty 70-300APO SuperMacII take exactly 4 months at Sigma... It was a brand new lens that I sent for service... They just shipped me another new one but 4 months is a lot of waiting... I'm a very polite person so there wasn't any "spite" involved in holding up my repair.

Does anyone know if they treat EX glass service better than "consumer" lenses... Don't get me wrong, I love their products. But, how would a 4 month repair/replacement wait feel to you if it was your new lens?

Perhaps someone here knows a contact person at Sigma service? There isn't any doubt they will resolve this... I'd like it to help it happen in a timely manner...

I see no alternative to sending it to Sigma UNLESS.. as you say. it is a brand new lens?

In which case. can't you just return it for a new one and let the Vendor deal with Sigma?

[QUOTE="CyberDyneSyste​ms"]...(Snip)UNLESS.. as you say. it is a brand new lens?
quote]

Thanks for your prompt response CDS...

The new one (70-300APO SuperMacII) was just past return time when the problem showed... That was the 4 one that took exactly 4 months...

The BigMa 50-500 less than a year old... Sure, I'll send it for service but I'd like to get it back a bit faster than the last one... Just fishing around a bit for a contact person at Sigma who might help to keep this repair on track and timely...

I like Sigma products and own a few other EX series lenses... I have two of their consumer grade lenses and commend some of those models highly also... I'm just put off by that original 4 month wait... Wouldn't you?

I don't have personal experienc with dealing with Sigma on EX lenses.. but it does seem to vary dramatically.

I have read posts in this forum where it is a short week.. and well.. then there's the 4 month stories like yours (pretty sure 4 months is the worst I've read )

I would certainly HOPE that Sigma does better with the EX lenses... they are marketing them as Pro lenses.. so I'd act like a pro and insist on being treated like one.. but I honestly can't say anything else of value.

Good luck
CDS

I thought you had a 50-500mm too? Or do you mean you never had to service an EX lens?

"...Dealing with Sigma...".


Yes,. I have owned and still own Sigma lenses.. including the 50-500mm.. but no,. I've never had to deal with Sigma.

I had the same problem with the same lens. I am fortunate as here there is a repairshop who is authorized Sigma & Canon as well as Nikon repair. The lens was still under warentee and has been repaird by them at no charge and has worked fine eversince.

CyberDyneSystems wrote:
(excerpt)...then there's the 4 month stories like yours (pretty sure 4 months is the worst I've read )
(snip)... so I'd act like a pro and insist on being treated like one.. Good luck
CDS

Again, thanks... Someone in FM reports it took from late January to early June to get his 50-500EX returned from Sigma repair... My 70-300 was 4 months to the day but this was even longer for an EX pro series lens...

"act like a pro"... Good advice... But I paid the going price just like you did... I bought a pro grade lens and I paid a pro price... The 50-500EX's are going for $800 to almost $1000 now... I can see pro's getting into the fast lane for repairs; in fact I agree that they should... They use their gear to make a living... But, there isn't any good reason why I need to lubricate the repair process by being a pro just to get reasonable service...

I'm spooked because it been less than a month since my "consumer" 70-300 was returned... after being in the black hole at Sigma repair for 4 months...

I think it might help if I have a Sigma contact person... I might get my warranty repair done by Sigma in a week or two...