Help - My Lens is Stuck! - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

10/08/2006 09:31:34 PM · #1

My favorite (or at least most useful) lens is acting up today. I was out shooting, put on my Sigma 18-125, and while composing, went to zoom out, and now I find my 18-125 is now a 35 to 70. Not a trendmendously useful range.

Any ideas for something to do other than send it for repair? Anyone know the warranty length? This is about 2 years old this month. Probably just out of warranty, right?

Help!!!!

I don't have any coverage from 22-70 (the gap in my other lenses that this lens filled, not counting the fixed focal length 50). Hmmm. I guess actually, I am out 22-35, if this lens is still shooting sharp. But seriously, this is a lens I often just carry by itself, it's a great range (or was).

(On the bright side perhaps, if I had to pay to fix it, I might just wait for the Sigma 18-200 OS lens to ship. Was thinking about getting that anyway.)

violinist123

Canon EOS-6D

10/08/2006 09:34:55 PM · #2

Good excuse to go buy the 24-70 L heheheh.

Stupid question - any chance the focus limiter is the culprit?

Sigma 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical HF for Pentax

10/08/2006 09:42:41 PM · #3

Originally posted by routerguy666:

Good excuse to go buy the 24-70 L heheheh.

Stupid question - any chance the focus limiter is the culprit?

It doesn't have one. It does have a "lock", but as far as I can tell, it's not locked (I usually don't lock it). I can't try toggling the switch either, because it normally only works in the 18mm mode, and I can't get there.

Pug-H

Pentax K10D

10/08/2006 11:02:30 PM · #4

Hmmm. My Sigma 28-105mm is also stuck like that - it's now more like 48-105. It's the lens I bought when I got my film Pentax in 2000, and it got like that not long after I started using it on my dslr.

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

10/08/2006 11:14:38 PM · #5

Originally posted by Pug-H:

Yes, though interestingly, mine's stuck (limited) at both ends, which somehow must mean something diagnostically.

I did notice the other day that it wasn't smooth zooming through it's range, sort of a resistive click when it passed certain points (which must be the new limit points).

idnic

Canon EOS-60D

10/08/2006 11:17:04 PM · #6

My 50 1.4 does that sometimes; well it gets stuck at the infinity point. Try putting it in MF mode, then gently press the outer element inward while rotating the focus ring. It works for mine.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24, S24+, S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm f/4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

10/09/2006 01:19:48 AM · #7

Originally posted by idnic:

My 50 1.4 does that sometimes; well it gets stuck at the infinity point. Try putting it in MF mode, then gently press the outer element inward while rotating the focus ring. It works for mine.

His problem is with the zoom, not the focus...

R.

banmorn

Nikon D750

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR

10/09/2006 01:24:42 AM · #8

No Cindy is on to it. Often when I am done shooting, my Sigma 70-300 does not retract all the way. I just slip it into manual and close it the rest of way. I have to so the same thing with my Sigma 50mm Macro when I am done using it.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24, S24+, S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm f/4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

10/09/2006 01:30:52 AM · #9

Originally posted by banmorn:

Well, if you say so... but what does manual focus being on/off have to do with the ability of the lens to zoom properly? It doesn't seem to make any sense to me.

R.

gbautista87

Nikon D70

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

10/09/2006 03:45:29 AM · #10

Does the zoom ring still rotate the same amount of degrees? Or is it also stuck?

Also, if you shake the lens, do you hear anything rattling inside?

Message edited by author 2006-10-09 03:48:50.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

10/09/2006 10:16:51 AM · #11

No, it's not anything to do with focus, and changing focus man/auto doesn't help.

The zoom ring rotates EXACTLY what it would if it were a more limited focal length zoom. It stops where I said the focal lengths stop, not going all the way to either end.

No, nothing inside rattles.

I was wondering if putting it in the fridge or freezer is a good idea, trying to get it to contract? Or would that give me condensation inside the lenses?

bfox2

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

10/09/2006 10:20:38 AM · #12

I put a lens of mine in the freezer for a while once inside a plastic bag. I did get some condensation in it but it dried out nicely in the end.

Have you tried (depending on how brave you are) forcing it? I had a weird zooming glitch with my Kit lens once, and after some repeated and forceful zooming in and out it went away. I think it was a piece of sand or something.

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

10/09/2006 10:50:27 AM · #13

Originally posted by bfox2:

I tried going back and forth with the zoom to smooth it when it was "sticking" in two places. But either it didn't help or made it worse, hence the current state of affairs.

How long did you freeze it? Why were you doing it?

Anyone think putting it in the freezer might help?

Bobster

Canon EOS-20D

10/11/2006 06:33:02 AM · #14

my 28-200 did the same thing a few weeks back - but i 'tweeked' mine a little hard and the zoom ring now rotates 360 deg without effecting the zoom! i've mailed Sigma (they took 4 days to reply) and my lens is now in their hands..

10/11/2006 12:06:21 PM · #15

Originally posted by Bobster:

Did they say it was covered? I can't find mention of how long the warranty is, but I ordered mine Oct 18, 2004. Probably will just miss a 2 year warranty, if it's 2 years, or murphy's law, a 1 year warranty. :(