Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM

Hey gang...i am looking to buy this lens off of somebody and have tested the lens but have a bit of hesitation based on the noise of the stabilizer. Is it the copy I am testing or is normal for this lens to make a rather clunky off/on when the stabilizer is activating/deactivatin​g? I have the Canon 70-200 f4 IS which is a bit noisy. This one seems just a bit louder than that one. I have tried searching for info but haven't come up with any solid definitive conclusions. Figured I'd come here to a trusted forum of users to confirm. Thanks in advance!

I have owned one of these since the spring of 2017, bought it used from a retailer (Henry’s). The OS is very quiet on mine. Pretty much not noticeable. The instructions indicate that the OS should be switched off before removing the lens from the camera. If this isn’t done damage can occur to the OS mechanism according to sigma. I believe this as a previous sigma lens I bought used (120-500 IIRC) I did not do this with and it developed a noisy OS mechanism after about a year of regular on/off use. I could hear it and feel it engage.

Jethr0 wrote in post #18684290
I have owned one of these since the spring of 2017, bought it used from a retailer (Henry’s). The OS is very quiet on mine. Pretty much not noticeable. The instructions indicate that the OS should be switched off before removing the lens from the camera. If this isn’t done damage can occur to the OS mechanism according to sigma. I believe this as a previous sigma lens I bought used (120-500 IIRC) I did not do this with and it developed a noisy OS mechanism after about a year of regular on/off use. I could hear it and feel it engage.

Thanks so much for your reply and the information. So, did the lens that develop noise ever malfunction or you never owned it long enough to find out? Those symptoms seem similar to what i'm hearing in the lens. If the OS is still working, I think I can live with it. The price is right ($480 private sale) but maybe that's why. I have never read or heard about having to switch off the OS before removing one of these lenses before. That seems a bit odd. Thanks again for reply.

Shot with the 2xTC...

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