Sigma contemporary lenses harder to mount?

[CharlesH]

I'm having a problem mounting some Sigma contemporary lenses. I have the following four lenses: 17mm, f/4. 20mm, f/2. 24mm, f/3.5. 45mm, f/2.8. And I've had a mounting issue with the 24mm and the 45mm.

All these lenses are ideal with the S9, they are small with a manual aperture. I've been using these with the S9 as I learn about that camera. They all have a fairly stiff mount with my S9. But the 45mm became harder and harder to twist on as I used it, and it was very difficult to remove the more I used it. The 24mm seemed to be headed in this same direction. I've not used the 17mm and 20mm nearly as much. I can't see any obvious wear or scratching around either the 24mm or 45mm lens or the camera mount. In the mean time all my Panasonic Lumix lenses continued to mount smoothly on the S9, with no issues. I don't have the precision measuring tools I would need to see if there is any difference in the lens mount dimensions between these Sigma contemporary and Lumix lenses. Notably these same Sigma lenses mount on my S5II okay; albeit just a little stiffer than my Lumix lenses.

I finally returned the S9 to B&H for exchange, thinking there is a problem with my S9 lens mount. So I don't have a S9 right now, waiting to see how quickly B&H can do an exchange

I'm continuing to work with these four lenses with the S5II. And it seems like the 24mm is getting harder to mount on the S5II as I use it. While not as sever as with the S9, this is starting to concern me.

So I have these questions:

Has anyone noticed Sigma contemporary are stiffer to mount than Lumix lenses?

Has anyone noticed some Sigma contemporary lenses can become harder to mount and remove the more they are used?

Could this just be an isolated issue with my S9?

Does anyone understand why Sigma contemporary lenses might have a tighter mounting than Lumix lenses?

Does anyone have a solution to get these Sigma contemporary lenses to mount more smoothly?

Help.

 

[Pete_W]

I have the Sigma 35mm f/2 and 45mm f/2.8 and both are a slightly tighter fit on my S5II than my Lumix zoom lenses. My Lumix 50mm f1/8 is a bit tight too although being larger seems to make it a bit easier to turn.

I've got the 24mm f/3.5 and 90mm f/2.8 on backorder, probably a few weeks before I have them. I hope they're not a problem to mount!

 

[dirk]

I never payed attention to this, so I think the difference seems to be not that big on my S5ii. Otherwise I would have realized it.

But I will check later when I am back at home.

 

[Nevyn72]

I never noticed with my 16-28.. It's a good fit on my S5iiX (never tried it on my S5 i think)

 

[Richard Wong]

i have the Sigma 45mm and use it primarily with the S9.
it is slightly tighter than the Lumix lens, but the difference is not enough to alarm me

 

[Jonathan-Mac]

I remember lenses are a bit harder to mount on a brand new camera (happened with my S5 and Pentax K-3) but it goes away after a couple of days of use.

I've owned five Sigma contemporary L-mount lenses and all mount smooth as silk on my S5.

If they previously mounted well on a different camera then it's very likely that the mount on your S9 is slightly deformed in some way.

 

[dirk]

They all have a fairly stiff mount with my S9. But the 45mm became harder and harder to twist on as I used it, and it was very difficult to remove the more I used it. The 24mm seemed to be headed in this same direction.

That is very strange

Notably these same Sigma lenses mount on my S5II okay; albeit just a little stiffer than my Lumix lenses..... // ......I'm continuing to work with these four lenses with the S5II. And it seems like the 24mm is getting harder to mount on the S5II as I use it.....

This sounds for me that something is wrong with your 45 and 24mm lens.

In the mean time all my Panasonic Lumix lenses continued to mount smoothly on the S9, with no issues.

Therefore the S9 can not be the problem.

 

[dirk]

I checked now some Sigma lenses with my S5ii.

They are all fine (24/3.5, 35/2.0, 45/2.8, 50/2.0 and 28-70/2.8).

Maybe the 24/3.5 and 45/2.8 are slightly tighter than the Lumix lens, but this can already be due to different sizes and weight of the lenses, which influences the feeling when mounting the lens. Nothing to be concerned about.

 

[halfmac]

I only have the 45/2.8 of their primes and it is a little stiffer than my Lumix lenses. On the Blackmagic 6KFF, it is a little stiffer than my S5m2x. Then most lenses are a little stiffer on the BM6KFF.

 

[Pete_W]

Maybe the 24/3.5 and 45/2.8 are slightly tighter than the Lumix lens, but this can already be due to different sizes and weight of the lenses, which influences the feeling when mounting the lens. Nothing to be concerned about.

I've just unboxed my Sigma 24mm f3.5 and it is a bit tight fitting on the S9.

But I think you're right @dirk in that these lenses are smaller, they have the aperture ring and are all metal so it's not as easy to get a solid grip on them when mounting compared with the larger plastic matt-finish Lumix lenses.

 

[Pete_W]

@CharlesH - how did you get on with the issue with Sigma lens mounting being tight? From memory you returned the S9 for review/adjustment?

 

[CharlesH]

From memory you returned the S9 for review/adjustment?

Yes, I got an exchange back from B&H. It took a couple of weeks. The new camera is great, all set up and running. The lens mount is fairly tight, but I've mostly been using the Panasonic 20-60mm and have not used the Sigma lenses where I had the problem. I will try them, but I need the 20-60mm for a couple of weeks on a trip.

 

[Pete_W]

Yes, I got an exchange back from B&H. It took a couple of weeks. The new camera is great, all set up and running. The lens mount is fairly tight, but I've mostly been using the Panasonic 20-60mm and have not used the Sigma lenses where I had the problem. I will try them, but I need the 20-60mm for a couple of weeks on a trip.

That's good to hear.

With a bit more use now, my Sigma lenses don't feel quite as tight as they did originally.

 

[Oíche]

That's good to hear.

With a bit more use now, my Sigma lenses don't feel quite as tight as they did originally.

I'd think twice about this now. That is a badly manufactured out of tokerance lens mount. I had a bad lens or adapter (can't remember which) which I had to really force and I think it bent or distorted the mount on my Pentax K-30 camera. I'll have to check my cheapo K-L adapter isn't doing that as it maybe feels tight but can't remember.

If you force a tight lens it could bend the camera mount and you have a decentred mount. Reminding me of Paul, gone from the forum, hope he's fine and just taking a break from it all.

 

[dirk]

I think we should differentiate between "feels slightly tighter to mount" and "need really to force it to mount".

As far as I can see it, the mentioned lenses are in the first category only. For me this feels harmless and nothing to worry about.

 

[Babylonia]

In my own observations, every new lens, regardless Panasonic or Sigma lenses, when the lens was new,
the mounting was just a little more tight, than used "over time".

By size of a lens (bulky = better grip versus more small = less grip) the feeling is different.
More tiny lenses "seems" to be more tight. But in reality could have the same "power moment" as for turning.

Also keep in mind just some mechanical tolerances by manufacturing.
By this tolerances, the more "wide" Panasonic 16-35 / 4.0 lens has the same "tight" feeling than a Sigma 35 / 2.0 Contemporary lens.

All of my different "mounts" and lenses do have some different feeling as by the above explenation.
But as for my situation all belong to the "first category only" as mentioned by @dirk .

Schematic list - none scientific test - just by "feeling" :

 

[Pete_W]

I'd think twice about this now. That is a badly manufactured out of tokerance lens mount. I had a bad lens or adapter (can't remember which) which I had to really force and I think it bent or distorted the mount on my Pentax K-30 camera. I'll have to check my cheapo K-L adapter isn't doing that as it maybe feels tight but can't remember. If you force a tight lens it could bend the camera mount and you have a decentred mount.

I don't think these Sigma lenses are in that category of being too tight and likely to cause a problem on my S9. I just think that because they are smaller and have less surface area to hold onto, they are less easy to grip and turn.

Reminding me of Paul, gone from the forum, hope he's fine and just taking a break from it all.

I have wondered where Paul is myself! Hope he's doing ok too.

 

[AlanC]

I don't think these Sigma lenses are in that category of being too tight and likely to cause a problem on my S9. I just think that because they are smaller and have less surface area to hold onto, they are less easy to grip and turn.

I have wondered where Paul is myself! Hope he's doing ok too.

I'd agree with you and Dirk there. I've got 5 of the i-series (17/4, 24/3.5, 35/2, 45/2.8 and 65/2), use them almost exclusively on the Sigma fp L, and find the smaller lenses (17, 24, 45) more difficult to attach/remove simply because there isn't much lens to grip that isn't focus or aperture ring. The larger lenses (35, 65) are easier because there's space between the rings. That said, they do seem to fit a bit tighter than my Panasonic lenses, although not enough that I'd be concerned about it, and I haven't seen the situation Charles described in his first post where any of them have become progressively more difficult to remove; that'd be really worrying.

And I was wondering where Paul is too: he hasn't posted any photos to Flickr since 1st July...

 

[Nevyn72]

And I was wondering where Paul is too: he hasn't posted any photos to Flickr since 1st July...

I definitely hope he is alright and just on a really long trip

 

[Markuswelder]

I bought a Viltrox adaptor stupid cheap, it was a really tight fit on my S5. Concerningly so. So I got about a 3mm flat blade jewellers screwdriver, and just tweaked the little hairclip spring that sits under the bayonet protruding lug. Or thereabouts, can't remember exactly. Took about 3 attempts, don't go crazy on the first effort, and it now slips into the camera mount as slick as you like. Not sure if the Sigma mount uses the same system, worth a quick look