Body or the lens?

slip · 02-12-2015, 09:42 AM

Hello everyone
I am down in Costa Rica and having issues with my Sigma 70-200 2.8 ex apo on my K5 iis. Sometimes when I want to focus the lens only moves a little bit. I push the shutter half way down a bit and it does the same thing. It does this several times then sometimes it locks focus and sometimes not. If I move the focusing ring back and forth with my hands it will work fine then stop working properly again. Could this be the lens or the screw motor in the body? Other lenses seem to work fine but they are not as heavy as the 70-200 either.
I cleaned the body and lens contacts and it doesn't help.
We are checking out a place where the monkeys hang out so this is my go to lens if I can get it going.
Any and all opinions welcomed!

Thanks

Randy

**jatrax** · 02-12-2015, 09:51 AM

Hard to be positive without the camera in my hands. But if other lenses are working, that seems to me to be the lens is the problem. Does it work with manual focus all the time? If you can manual focus is the focusing ring stiff? Maybe something bent or something stuck in the focusing helicoid.

jaz · 02-12-2015, 10:39 AM

I had problems focusing with a Sigma 170-500. It turned out that the tiny screws on the mount on the lens were loose. I tightened them with a precision screwdriver and the problem was solved. Maybe the weight of the lens loosened the screws.

Docrwm · 02-12-2015, 12:30 PM

Clean the contacts of the lens if it is only this lens. Seems trivial but it can "cure" such problems occasionally.

rburgoss · 02-12-2015, 02:00 PM

As others said. Clean contacts (lens and body), check mount screws for tightness (lens and body) and test again. Does it happen just in one body? Do you have another body to test the lens separately?

I live in Costa Rica. Depending on where you are and your trip plans, perhaps we can arrange something to test lens by itself and maybe even have the service shop look at it. Let me know. I'll be checking this thread frequently.

slip · 02-13-2015, 04:52 PM

Thanks everyone for the help. Yes it was the contacts... But they needed to be cleaned with a lens cleaner before the lens would work.

Cheers

Randy

02-12-2015, 09:42 AM	#1
slip Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 2 hours north of toronto ontario canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,535	Body or the lens? Hello everyone I am down in Costa Rica and having issues with my Sigma 70-200 2.8 ex apo on my K5 iis. Sometimes when I want to focus the lens only moves a little bit. I push the shutter half way down a bit and it does the same thing. It does this several times then sometimes it locks focus and sometimes not. If I move the focusing ring back and forth with my hands it will work fine then stop working properly again. Could this be the lens or the screw motor in the body? Other lenses seem to work fine but they are not as heavy as the 70-200 either. I cleaned the body and lens contacts and it doesn't help. We are checking out a place where the monkeys hang out so this is my go to lens if I can get it going. Any and all opinions welcomed! Thanks Randy

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02-12-2015, 09:51 AM	#2
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	Hard to be positive without the camera in my hands. But if other lenses are working, that seems to me to be the lens is the problem. Does it work with manual focus all the time? If you can manual focus is the focusing ring stiff? Maybe something bent or something stuck in the focusing helicoid.

02-12-2015, 10:39 AM	#3
jaz Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New Jersey Posts: 45	I had problems focusing with a Sigma 170-500. It turned out that the tiny screws on the mount on the lens were loose. I tightened them with a precision screwdriver and the problem was solved. Maybe the weight of the lens loosened the screws.

02-12-2015, 12:30 PM	#4
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Clean the contacts of the lens if it is only this lens. Seems trivial but it can "cure" such problems occasionally.

02-12-2015, 02:00 PM	#5
rburgoss Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: San Jose, Costa Rica Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 972	As others said. Clean contacts (lens and body), check mount screws for tightness (lens and body) and test again. Does it happen just in one body? Do you have another body to test the lens separately? I live in Costa Rica. Depending on where you are and your trip plans, perhaps we can arrange something to test lens by itself and maybe even have the service shop look at it. Let me know. I'll be checking this thread frequently.

02-13-2015, 04:52 PM	#6
slip Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 2 hours north of toronto ontario canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,535 Original Poster	Thanks everyone for the help. Yes it was the contacts... But they needed to be cleaned with a lens cleaner before the lens would work. Cheers Randy