experience w/ broken zoom lens anyone?

saltydog

Hi everyone,

Not sure where to put this, so I am trying it here. I am hoping that someone can give me some input with my problem:

My Sigma 18-50 mm zoom lens - my workhorse and all around lens - is suddenly stuck and will only work in the 18-33mm range. Which majorly sucks, to say the least. Does anyone here happen to know...

a.) ... what could be causing this (no, the lens isn't locked, or set to macro or anything like that)? It works completely smooth and normal until it hits the 33mm mark.

b.) ... if something like this can be fixed at all? Are there places that take lenses apart???

c.) ... at what kind of ballpark repair figure I might be looking at? The lens is 4 years old but still costs about $440 new. At what kind of repair cost would you guys draw the line and just buy a new lens?

Any info & input is greatly appreciated. Thanks,
Jana

Rach

I have a tiny little bit of info for you. Yes, there are camera shops that can look at your lens and see if they can fix it. Sometimes they will tell you they have to send it to the manufacturer to have it repaired. Then you have to decide whether it's better to buy a new one or send it off.

I just had my main lens lock and not be adjustable at all. Since it's the kit lens that came with my D40, the camera shop said it was cheaper to buy a new one (at about $120) than to get it repaired.

Hope there's something helpful here for you.

Rach

Art Scott

saltydog wrote:

Hi everyone,

Not sure where to put this, so I am trying it here. I am hoping that someone can give me some input with my problem:

My Sigma 18-50 mm zoom lens - my workhorse and all around lens - is suddenly stuck and will only work in the 18-33mm range. Which majorly sucks, to say the least. Does anyone here happen to know...

a.) ... what could be causing this (no, the lens isn't locked, or set to macro or anything like that)? It works completely smooth and normal until it hits the 33mm mark.

b.) ... if something like this can be fixed at all? Are there places that take lenses apart???

c.) ... at what kind of ballpark repair figure I might be looking at? The lens is 4 years old but still costs about $440 new. At what kind of repair cost would you guys draw the line and just buy a new lens?

Any info & input is greatly appreciated. Thanks,
Jana

A- could just be dirty and the lube is gone....which has casued some galding of the focus track -- - - yep had a 70-210f2.8 do that......sent to Pho-Tech In Heston Ks and it was fixed for around $150..........

B- Pho-Tech in Heston Ks will actually disassemble the lens to work on them.........

c- see A above

Pho-Tech - Owner Bernie Barge ............Is also a Nikon Warranty Repair Center..................
Clik the link above and send Bernie a description of the lenses problems.........besure to tell him how old it is so he can make any other suggestions of what may be needed......He will of course tell you that he cannpot be TOTALLY SURE of what the problem is or the proper avenue to take until he gets it in hand.......but this is true of any repair center......

Good Luck

saltydog

Hi, thanks guys. Okay, I've meanwhile found out that most tech places don't repair Sigma lenses but - luckily, the official Sigma service center is located right here on Long Island, about 15 miles away. I was told it's easiest to drop the lens of in person and get an estimate right away. Well, we'll see...