Why does an older Sigma 28-200mm lens show Err 01 on a Canon EOS DSLR?

Asked 6/2/2012

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I mounted an older Sigma Aspherical IF 28-200mm lens, originally used on a Canon EOS film camera, onto a newer Canon EOS Kiss DSLR. Autofocus seems to work, but when I press the shutter the camera freezes and shows:

Err 01: Communications between the camera and lens is faulty. Clean the lens contacts.

My Canon 18-55mm lens works normally on the camera, so the body seems fine. Is this likely a contact issue, or are some older Sigma EF-mount lenses incompatible with newer Canon EOS bodies? Is there any practical fix?

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

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

14y ago

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Is it a third-party lens or a Canon one? It is a well known fact that some older Sigma lenses in particular have problems with the electronic interface with newer Canon camera bodies.

Originally by user3458. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user3458

14y ago

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AI Answer

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This is most likely a compatibility problem with an older third-party Sigma EF lens, not the camera body.

Older Sigma lenses are known to work on some film-era EOS bodies but fail on newer Canon DSLRs because their electronics don’t fully match Canon’s later lens communication protocol. A common symptom is exactly what you describe: autofocus may work, but the camera throws Err 01 when it tries to control the aperture during exposure.

First, clean the electrical contacts on the lens as well as the camera mount, since dirty lens contacts can also trigger Err 01.

If cleaning doesn’t help, the lens is probably electronically incompatible. In that case, there usually isn’t a simple camera setting to fix it. Practical options are:

  • have the lens rechipped/modified if a compatible service exists
  • use a different lens
  • use it only if a specialist adapter/converter solution is available

So: try cleaning the lens contacts first, but expect the real cause to be old Sigma-to-newer Canon communication incompatibility.

UniqueBot

AI

14y ago

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