sigma 8-16 with electrical problems

pimpim · 02-12-2022, 02:36 PM

Hi all, this is my story how the universe doesn't want me to get a sigma 8-16

Found a nice deal on a new old stock lens some time ago, but it was ready for pick up two days after I left town for several weeks

Had to cancel that one.

Now I found a used one, with warranty, but shooting with it on the day it arrived it had nasty electrical problems, would jump to MF even though all sliders where at AF, 9 out of 10 shots didn't get the focal length passed through into the EXIF data

I already have the cheap & cheerful 10-20 4.5-6 and I did recently order a brand new HD fisheye 10-17 so maybe it's just the universe's sign to tell me enough is enough

The 8-16 seemed pretty sharp though. Does anyone know if these kind of electrical issues show up more often in this line of Sigma lenses?

740K70 · 02-12-2022, 03:10 PM - **1 Like**

Any chance the electrical contacts are a little tarnished and just need cleaned?

pimpim · 02-12-2022, 03:34 PM

Yeah thanks for the hint, I was wondering that but I anyway sent it back to the shop immediately, if I wait too long they won't count it as "defective on arrival" anymore.

And if it's something else than the contacts (e.g. water damage) I would have a much harder time proving the issue was already there. Maybe the shop will react on the cause of the issue.

---------- Post added 12-02-22 at 15:47 ----------

Oh, the focal length not always registering might be default for the 8-16 on Pentax: Sigma lens recognition when fitted to K-5: Pentax SLR Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review
Apparently the Sigma's focal length below 10 is registered as 0 in Pentax. The K-70 seems to interpret that as "----mm" in the detailed picture view.

The lens shifting to MF by itself was for me the main issue of this particular copy. If it's e.g. an issue with the AF/MF slider it would be very expensive to fix.

**GeeEmm** · 02-12-2022, 06:14 PM - **1 Like**

Pentax doesn't recognise focal lengths below 10mm.

I have not heard of those sort of issues with the 8-16, never had a problem with mine while I had it.

**Digitalis** · 02-12-2022, 06:44 PM - **1 Like**

I can't say I have ever come across this kind of issue before with any lens - though I get a lot of stuff new. I also hate to be the bearer of bad news but I had to go through 4 different copies of the Sigma 8-16mm to find one that wasn't horrifically de-centered.

Keep looking, it's a very specialized but also a very fun lens to work with.

Pentax K5IIs - Sigma 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 11mm ISO 80 f/11 1/30th

**Joetitch** · 02-12-2022, 11:55 PM - **1 Like**

What I hate (in the nicest way possible) about this forum is the way in which a lense gets brought to my attention and I convince myself that I do not need it and then some "person" comes along with more talent in their little finger than I have in my whole body a posts some glorious photo to show what can be done with it. 🤪

**StigVidar** · 02-13-2022, 12:55 PM - **3 Likes**

As someone already have mentioned, there is some issues with recording the focal length to exif. I use exiftool to write 8mm as focal length to images taken with this lens and where the focal length is zero. That way it is not completely wrong when imported to lightroom

Pentax K-3 - Sigma 8-16mm F4.5-5.6 DC HSM
10,0 sec at f / 16, ISO 100
Focal length: 16 mm
Place: Stavanger Rogaland Norway
Date: 24.09.2014

**fs999** · 02-14-2022, 02:46 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by StigVidar

As someone already have mentioned, there is some issues with recording the focal length to exif. I use exiftool to write 8mm as focal length to images taken with this lens and where the focal length is zero. That way it is not completely wrong when imported to lightroom

I have made a little program to add the 8mm with exiftool. It can check a directory to find all those missing the focal length : Sigma 8-16mm modifier program.

pimpim · 02-14-2022, 08:20 AM

it's back at the shop now, they'll just send me a refund.

I'll keep the 8-16 in mind though. The shots posted here are promising!

**mikesbike** · 02-14-2022, 07:25 PM

Originally posted by pimpim

it's back at the shop now, they'll just send me a refund.

I'll keep the 8-16 in mind though. The shots posted here are promising!

You might consider the Pentax DA 10-17mm fisheye zoom lens, which can be de-fished if needed.

740K70 · 02-14-2022, 07:29 PM

Originally posted by mikesbike

You might consider the Pentax DA 10-17mm fisheye zoom lens, which can be de-fished if needed.

Ho do you defish it?

Levus · 02-15-2022, 05:10 AM

Originally posted by fs999

I have made a little program to add the 8mm with exiftool. It can check a directory to find all those missing the focal length : Sigma 8-16mm modifier program.

Hello !

The program is not available for download at the moment. It would be great if you could share it again.

Best Regards,
Levente

pimpim · 02-15-2022, 02:10 PM

my 10-17 HD just arrived! but I don't like to postprocess so will use it for fisheye only. For now I'm good trying that out

According to most reviews the 8-16 seems to have way less abberations etc so more controlled, probably combined with not having to defish the 8-16 (when you get a good copy) it should probably be a good lens next to the fisheye. Also, when you defish the 10-17 you will also defish all the abberations which I can't imagine will lead to good results.

**StigVidar** · 02-15-2022, 02:43 PM

Originally posted by 740K70

Ho do you defish it?

Its a single button click in Lightroom

**fs999** · 02-16-2022, 07:22 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Levus

The program is not available for download at the moment. It would be great if you could share it again.

It's back again !

02-12-2022, 02:36 PM	#1
pimpim Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Mainz Photos: Albums Posts: 253	sigma 8-16 with electrical problems Hi all, this is my story how the universe doesn't want me to get a sigma 8-16 Found a nice deal on a new old stock lens some time ago, but it was ready for pick up two days after I left town for several weeks Had to cancel that one. Now I found a used one, with warranty, but shooting with it on the day it arrived it had nasty electrical problems, would jump to MF even though all sliders where at AF, 9 out of 10 shots didn't get the focal length passed through into the EXIF data I already have the cheap & cheerful 10-20 4.5-6 and I did recently order a brand new HD fisheye 10-17 so maybe it's just the universe's sign to tell me enough is enough The 8-16 seemed pretty sharp though. Does anyone know if these kind of electrical issues show up more often in this line of Sigma lenses?

02-12-2022, 03:34 PM	#3
pimpim Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Mainz Photos: Albums Posts: 253 Original Poster	Yeah thanks for the hint, I was wondering that but I anyway sent it back to the shop immediately, if I wait too long they won't count it as "defective on arrival" anymore. And if it's something else than the contacts (e.g. water damage) I would have a much harder time proving the issue was already there. Maybe the shop will react on the cause of the issue. ---------- Post added 12-02-22 at 15:47 ---------- Oh, the focal length not always registering might be default for the 8-16 on Pentax: Sigma lens recognition when fitted to K-5: Pentax SLR Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review Apparently the Sigma's focal length below 10 is registered as 0 in Pentax. The K-70 seems to interpret that as "----mm" in the detailed picture view. The lens shifting to MF by itself was for me the main issue of this particular copy. If it's e.g. an issue with the AF/MF slider it would be very expensive to fix. Last edited by pimpim; 02-12-2022 at 03:39 PM.

02-12-2022, 06:44 PM - 1 Like	#5
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	I can't say I have ever come across this kind of issue before with any lens - though I get a lot of stuff new. I also hate to be the bearer of bad news but I had to go through 4 different copies of the Sigma 8-16mm to find one that wasn't horrifically de-centered. Keep looking, it's a very specialized but also a very fun lens to work with. Pentax K5IIs - Sigma 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 11mm ISO 80 f/11 1/30th Last edited by Digitalis; 02-12-2022 at 06:51 PM.

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02-12-2022, 03:10 PM - 1 Like	#2
740K70 Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2022 Location: Ohio Posts: 67	Any chance the electrical contacts are a little tarnished and just need cleaned?

02-12-2022, 06:14 PM - 1 Like	#4
GeeEmm Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Canberra Posts: 230	Pentax doesn't recognise focal lengths below 10mm. I have not heard of those sort of issues with the 8-16, never had a problem with mine while I had it.

02-12-2022, 11:55 PM - 1 Like	#6
Joetitch Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Leura NSW Posts: 502	What I hate (in the nicest way possible) about this forum is the way in which a lense gets brought to my attention and I convince myself that I do not need it and then some "person" comes along with more talent in their little finger than I have in my whole body a posts some glorious photo to show what can be done with it. 🤪

02-13-2022, 12:55 PM - 3 Likes	#7
StigVidar Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Norway Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 705	As someone already have mentioned, there is some issues with recording the focal length to exif. I use exiftool to write 8mm as focal length to images taken with this lens and where the focal length is zero. That way it is not completely wrong when imported to lightroom Pentax K-3 - Sigma 8-16mm F4.5-5.6 DC HSM 10,0 sec at f / 16, ISO 100 Focal length: 16 mm Place: Stavanger Rogaland Norway Date: 24.09.2014

02-14-2022, 02:46 AM - 1 Like	#8
fs999 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Luxembourg Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,636	Originally posted by StigVidar As someone already have mentioned, there is some issues with recording the focal length to exif. I use exiftool to write 8mm as focal length to images taken with this lens and where the focal length is zero. That way it is not completely wrong when imported to lightroom I have made a little program to add the 8mm with exiftool. It can check a directory to find all those missing the focal length : Sigma 8-16mm modifier program.

02-14-2022, 08:20 AM	#9
pimpim Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Mainz Photos: Albums Posts: 253 Original Poster	it's back at the shop now, they'll just send me a refund. I'll keep the 8-16 in mind though. The shots posted here are promising!

02-14-2022, 07:25 PM	#10
mikesbike Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Southeastern Michigan Posts: 4,549	Originally posted by pimpim it's back at the shop now, they'll just send me a refund. I'll keep the 8-16 in mind though. The shots posted here are promising! You might consider the Pentax DA 10-17mm fisheye zoom lens, which can be de-fished if needed.

02-14-2022, 07:29 PM	#11
740K70 Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2022 Location: Ohio Posts: 67	Originally posted by mikesbike You might consider the Pentax DA 10-17mm fisheye zoom lens, which can be de-fished if needed. Ho do you defish it?

02-15-2022, 05:10 AM	#12
Levus Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Location: Hungary Posts: 31	Originally posted by fs999 I have made a little program to add the 8mm with exiftool. It can check a directory to find all those missing the focal length : Sigma 8-16mm modifier program. Hello ! The program is not available for download at the moment. It would be great if you could share it again. Best Regards, Levente

02-15-2022, 02:10 PM	#13
pimpim Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Mainz Photos: Albums Posts: 253 Original Poster	my 10-17 HD just arrived! but I don't like to postprocess so will use it for fisheye only. For now I'm good trying that out According to most reviews the 8-16 seems to have way less abberations etc so more controlled, probably combined with not having to defish the 8-16 (when you get a good copy) it should probably be a good lens next to the fisheye. Also, when you defish the 10-17 you will also defish all the abberations which I can't imagine will lead to good results.

02-15-2022, 02:43 PM	#14
StigVidar Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Norway Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 705	Originally posted by 740K70 Ho do you defish it? Its a single button click in Lightroom

02-16-2022, 07:22 AM - 1 Like	#15
fs999 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Luxembourg Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,636	Originally posted by Levus The program is not available for download at the moment. It would be great if you could share it again. It's back again !

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