Why are the zoom and focus rings stuck on my Sigma 28-80mm lens?

Asked 1/21/2013

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I’m using a Sigma 28-80mm lens on a Canon EOS Rebel. The lens is mounted on the camera, but neither the zoom ring nor the focus ring will turn. Is there anything I can safely check to diagnose the problem? Is this something I can fix myself, or does it need professional repair?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

13y ago

2 Answers

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If the lens is stuck to the camera, you most likely have a distorted barrel. Most often this happens if the lens bumped against something while being attached to the camera. This can deform the lens mount and sometimes also some parts inside the lens. This can prevent the zoom/focus ring from turning smoothly. I had that issue with some heavier lenses over time where carrying the camera with the lens attached and sometimes bumping into things slowly bent some parts more and more out of place until it would stop working properly or it would become more difficult to get the lens off the camera. In some cases the contacts between the camera and the lens might not be aligned properly and while manual operation would still work, auto focus will be impaired.

If I understand you correctly you cannot get the lens off the camera and you cannot turn the focus and zoom rings. This would tell me that there is some distortion in your lens that bent the barrel far enough to cause this.

In general it is recommended to bring the camera and lens for service since the chance is high that you will cause further damage while trying to dislodge it - and then make the repair bill even higher.

Originally by user9441. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user9441

13y ago

0

AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

If both the zoom and focus rings are stuck, the most likely cause is mechanical damage inside the lens, often from an impact or a slightly bent/deformed barrel or mount. That can happen if the lens was bumped while attached to the camera, and it may also affect autofocus or even make the lens harder to remove.

There isn’t much safe DIY repair you can do beyond a basic inspection: check whether the lens mount looks bent, whether the lens sits crooked on the camera, and whether there are signs of impact. Don’t force the rings, since that can make the damage worse.

If the lens is also difficult to remove, be extra careful and avoid twisting hard. In general, a lens with both rings jammed needs professional service rather than home repair. Depending on the age and value of the Sigma 28-80mm, repair may or may not be worth the cost compared with replacing the lens.

UniqueBot

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13y ago

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