Sony 200-600 Connection Issues. Not Displaying Aperture or Focusing

[Tim Mayo]

Has anybody had any connection issues with their 200-600? I attached mine to my A1 last week and the aperture just displayed as -- and the lens also failed to focus. The camera was also incredibly slow to turn on and off. I also tried it on my A7RV and had exactly the same problem. My A1 is also working fine with my other lenses so I can't see it being a camera issue. I've cleaned the contacts but the problem remains. I read over on the DPReview forums that someone had a similar issue and it was diagnosed as: "ZMR Assembly-Faulty F-stop". I've never needed to send a lens in for repair before so it will be interesting to see how that works and how much it costs!

 

[Tim Mayo]

Why are they quoting a '5-group assembly' for a communication error? I would ask that question before they did anything else.

No idea but I have asked them.

 

[Tim Mayo]

almost purchase a new one for that ,labours the killer,be interesting to know why the pc board failed ?

Well not quite. If there was just a couple of hundred in it I would have just purchased a new one or not bothered since I'm quite happy with the Sigma for now.

 

[Tim Mayo]

Why are they quoting a '5-group assembly' for a communication error? I would ask that question before they did anything else.

Here's what they replied:

Thank you for your email. A 5th group ass'y has been estimated for as a precaution and is included in a provisional capacity on your estimate. This is due to this lens having a history of the 5th lens group becoming faulty, this gives you the option to have this group replaced while it is here for repair. However, you can decline this aspect of the repair. Please let us know of your wishes.

It's definitely questionable whether or not they would have just replaced it anyway. I've asked them to only replace the faulty components and nothing further.

 

[Tim Mayo]

So my 200-600 is now back with me. Well it actually arrived a couple of weeks ago just before I went off on holiday but I didn't have the chance to try it out. So it took just under 4 weeks from when I sent it off to Fixation. The total bill including shipping it back to me was £679.33 Did they need to replace all of the parts that they said needed replacing? Apparently, although I have no way of knowing if that's the truth or not. Still, it was cheaper than a new lens although I probably wouldn't of replaced it since I'm very happy with the Sigma 500. But I may sell it at some point and hopefully I'll get a bit more for it than I paid to have it fixed.

 

[Uncle Kevriano]

I think that these companies should have to give a fully detailed report of what was replaced and why, with evidence that the did too. That's a big bill

 

[Tim Mayo]

I think that these companies should have to give a fully detailed report of what was replaced and why, with evidence that the did too. That's a big bill

They did give me a breakdown. No evidence other than their word though. I suppose they could send back the faulty parts but I'd have no way to test them. Or perhaps video the entire process and explain why each part needs replacing, but that would probably cost more!

 

[andrewluke]

So my 200-600 is now back with me. Well it actually arrived a couple of weeks ago just before I went off on holiday but I didn't have the chance to try it out. So it took just under 4 weeks from when I sent it off to Fixation. The total bill including shipping it back to me was £679.33 Did they need to replace all of the parts that they said needed replacing? Apparently, although I have no way of knowing if that's the truth or not. Still, it was cheaper than a new lens although I probably wouldn't of replaced it since I'm very happy with the Sigma 500. But I may sell it at some point and hopefully I'll get a bit more for it than I paid to have it fixed.

i thought everything was priced in their first quote so why has priced doubled??, original quote was £82-£352

Thank you for your email. A 5th group ass'y has been estimated for as a precaution and is included in a provisional capacity on your estimate. This is due to this lens having a history of the 5th lens group becoming faulty, this gives you the option to have this group replaced while it is here for repair. However, you can decline this aspect of the repair. Please let us know of your wishes.

 

[Soundmike]

Proofs in the pudding as they say ,let us know when you have tried it out . I recently came back from holiday and only took the 70-200 f2.8 with my old trusty A9II no problems ,but on my return used the 200-600mm for some barn owl shots and it just wouldn't focus properly. Jiggling the lens on the body made no difference . Came back home checked all the usual nothing to spot . Did factory reset went out again next day it was like a new lens . The only thing I did notice was that I had left Bluetooth and remote switched on but can't imagine this would make any difference .

 

[spudhead]

So my 200-600 is now back with me. Well it actually arrived a couple of weeks ago just before I went off on holiday but I didn't have the chance to try it out. So it took just under 4 weeks from when I sent it off to Fixation. The total bill including shipping it back to me was £679.33 Did they need to replace all of the parts that they said needed replacing? Apparently, although I have no way of knowing if that's the truth or not. Still, it was cheaper than a new lens although I probably wouldn't of replaced it since I'm very happy with the Sigma 500. But I may sell it at some point and hopefully I'll get a bit more for it than I paid to have it fixed.

I know of a site where you can sell it Tim

 

[Tim Mayo]

i thought everything was priced in their first quote so why has priced doubled??, original quote was £82-£352

Thank you for your email. A 5th group ass'y has been estimated for as a precaution and is included in a provisional capacity on your estimate. This is due to this lens having a history of the 5th lens group becoming faulty, this gives you the option to have this group replaced while it is here for repair. However, you can decline this aspect of the repair. Please let us know of your wishes.

The first quote was just a rough estimate before they received the lens based on the cost of repairs to that lens, then they provided a more comprehensive quote once it was received that was closer to the final amount.

 

[Tim Mayo]

Proofs in the pudding as they say ,let us know when you have tried it out . I recently came back from holiday and only took the 70-200 f2.8 with my old trusty A9II no problems ,but on my return used the 200-600mm for some barn owl shots and it just wouldn't focus properly. Jiggling the lens on the body made no difference . Came back home checked all the usual nothing to spot . Did factory reset went out again next day it was like a new lens . The only thing I did notice was that I had left Bluetooth and remote switched on but can't imagine this would make any difference .

I tried a reset but no joy. I also tried it on my other cameras and the same issue was present.

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

This is due to this lens having a history of the 5th lens group becoming faulty,

This bugs me. If it has a history of becoming faulty, then Sony should pay for it!

 

[andrewluke]

anyone else on here had the "5th lens group become faulty" ??

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

I don't attend all of the forums in all of the world, but, from my small sample, get the impression that (apart from better/worse examples) there are not many lens failures.