Is it worth having repaired: Got a Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary lens (Canon EF Mount) a few years ago. The other day when out shooting with it. I got a error 01 with it. Cleaning the...

dwmoar Loc: Oregon, Willamette Valley

Got a Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary lens (Canon EF Mount) a few years ago. The other day when out shooting with it. I got a error 01 with it. Cleaning the contacts on both the lens and camera body did not help. When I got back home and tried the lens on one of my other bodies I got the same error 01. Looking at the lens itself I noticed is no longer is wide open when looking at the shutter. It looks like it is still open to the f/9 that I was using when the error occurred.

Do you think that this lens is worth fixing and where would you send it to be fixed? Are there good 3rd party repair businesses or should I just send it to Sigma? How much would you spend to have it repaired 25%, 50%, 75% of the replacement cost of the lens. It looks like a used lens would run about $800.00 (Like new condition)

The reason I have and want to keep the EF mount lens is because I have several older dSLR bodies including my R50. I want to be able to use the lens with any of them.

This is the first time I have ever had a lens die and it is a bummer for sure.

Thanks in advance for your comments and reasonable suggestions.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

If you get it repaired by the manufacturer they usually will check the entire lens, probably making it virtually as new. If you get a used $800 lens, its age is not on your side.
If it costs $200-400 wouldn't that be a benefit?

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Longshadow wrote:

If you get it repaired by the manufacturer they usually will check the entire lens, probably making it virtually as new. If you get a used $800 lens, its age is not on your side.
If it costs $200-400 wouldn't that be a benefit?

Orphoto Loc: Oregon

Take it to Advance Camera repair in Beaverton. Dave and his crew will be able to give you an informed opinion.

dwmoar Loc: Oregon, Willamette Valley

Thank you all for the suggestions and comments. I will take them into consideration.

rcarol

Longshadow wrote:

If you get it repaired by the manufacturer they usually will check the entire lens, probably making it virtually as new. If you get a used $800 lens, its age is not on your side.
If it costs $200-400 wouldn't that be a benefit?

The last time I sent a lens to Sigma for repair, they told me the lens was too old and they no longer carried the parts to repair it. They offered to sell a much pricier lens to me instead. My lens was only about three years old.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

rcarol wrote:

The last time I sent a lens to Sigma for repair, they told me the lens was too old and they no longer carried the parts to repair it. They offered to sell a much pricier lens to me instead. My lens was only about three years old.

But it's worth a try.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

rcarol wrote:

The last time I sent a lens to Sigma for repair, they told me the lens was too old and they no longer carried the parts to repair it. They offered to sell a much pricier lens to me instead. My lens was only about three years old.

Not all companies subscribe to the "parts for ten years" philosophy. Many are when they run out, that's it.......
Especially if they don't have many lenses or spare parts left after production ceases.

dwmoar Loc: Oregon, Willamette Valley

rcarol wrote:

The last time I sent a lens to Sigma for repair, they told me the lens was too old and they no longer carried the parts to repair it. They offered to sell a much pricier lens to me instead. My lens was only about three years old.

Well that sucks. If that were to happen I would be forced to look for something else

rcarol

larryepage wrote:

But it's worth a try.

It is.

tramsey Loc: Texas

I found that lens at KEH for 860 bucks in like new condition. They have several (4) all the way down to exceptional

https://www.keh.com/shop/search?q=singam+150-600+lens+for+canon

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

I would guess that it's the 600mm end of the lens you are really interested in. 150mm lenses are plentiful. So just how important is 600mm to you? That evaluation is something you will need to tell whether it's worth repairing. But first you have to get an estimate.

leftj Loc: Texas

Longshadow wrote:

If you get it repaired by the manufacturer they usually will check the entire lens, probably making it virtually as new. If you get a used $800 lens, its age is not on your side.
If it costs $200-400 wouldn't that be a benefit?

I would agree with that suggestion.

btbg

Orphoto wrote:

Take it to Advance Camera repair in Beaverton. Dave and his crew will be able to give you an informed opinion.

Personally i would go to Camera Solutions on McAdam in Portland, but your advice is good. A few dollars and you will know if it is worth repairing or not.

DVZ Loc: Littleton CO

I have an older Tokina lens that has a manual aperature ring (it can also be controlled by the camera) but if it's not set manally to its minimum aperature I get an error. Don't know if this will help.