Sigma 24-70 F2.8 Stiff

[J.davis]

I tried my new 2nd hand Sigma in Manual focus today and was less than happy. It felt stiff and had a real mechanical notchiness to the movement.
Is this normal for this lens / should I send it in for a service (can it be improved by a service?)
It is not the HSM copy but is fast and sharp in Auto.

[kiwi]

John, if it helps the sigmas have a reputation for being quite stiff to start with

[MarkChap]

G'day John my Canon version of that lens does feel, a bit, ummm how do I describe it

When used in manual focus it feels as though you are also actually turning the focus motor, so there is some feel to it

[J.davis]

That sounds like it Mark - the focus motor. I cant get critical focus with it.

[I @ M]

John, we have the same lens and it is a few years & 6 billion pictures old and manual focus is well damped and "heavy" but still very smooth. It has fairly large and heavy elements to move as most fast aperture zoom lenses have so it will always feel heavier that a simple prime lens. I haven't felt the Canon version but it is bound to feel different as all of their lenss have the inbuilt electronic motor as opposed to the non HSM Nikon models that rely on the camera body motor.

That leads me to ask the question, are you engaging manual focus with the push pull collar AND selecting manual focus on the camera body lever to disengage the in camera motor?
If I attempt to manually focus the lens with the in camera motor engaged it does feel stiff, notchy and tight.

[J.davis]

Andrew - Good point. I only had the lens in Manual, I'll go give it atry now.

[J.davis]

Thanks Andrew - all fixed now and am happy again