Need help - My Sigma DP-1 stop focusing.

Hello,

I just relize this morning to take some test shots on my garden that my Sigma DP-1 can not focus. It looks that the lens is not moving to focus and the LCD did not show focused image. I still hear the sound of unfocus confirmation. Tried on manual focus mode give the same results.

Any one got problem as mine?

Thank you,
RTogog

Sorry to hear of your problems with the DP1, sorry for the lack of responses here, I have been away from my computer for four days so I apologize for the late response.
In the past few weeks there have been some similar posts about your problem.

It seems these cameras have a weak point and that is the lens barrel and focusing system, there seems to be failures due to materials used and they die with very few activations. All one can do is keep track of these occurrences and if enough come to light then there is certainly a problem with the camera.

Your thread is of a negative nature and not in keeping with the spirit that most here would want to deal with however it is real and deserving of responses and for the lack of them I apologize.
Don

Yes--- unfortunately i have the same problem .. my DP-1 just stopped focussing , after taking around 2000 images...
Its still under warrenty , so I will send it in to the danish Sigma distributer.
--
Please visit my galleries at :
http://www.flickr.com/photos/yoicz/
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Donald Ferguson said:

Your thread is of a negative nature and not in keeping with the spirit that most here would want to deal with however it is real and deserving of responses and for the lack of them I apologize.
Don

Click to expand...

?????? How can you say that this thread is of a negative nature ???

I dont understand this attitude at all .... is it forbidden to report any failures or problems with Sigma equipment ????????????????
--
Please visit my galleries at :
http://www.flickr.com/photos/yoicz/
or
http://www.pbase.com/yoicz

I suggest you contact the appropriate Sigma regional/national company for how to proceed with tech support/repair. Contact places and methods as well as warranty coverages vary by country; see the Sigma Japan website for contact info of the Sigma international network.

(For others on the thread: Never any focus problems on my original March 2008 DP1 FWIW; many thousands of shots)
Best regards, Sandy
[email protected]
http://www.pbase.com/sandyfleischman
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sandyfleischmann

My DP1 had focus failure, not exact the same as you had, when it was almost brand new. Here is the link about it:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1027&message=28102799

In addition to that, I also experience 2 other problems that are annoying but I could manage to live with:
1. Flash mis-fire in humid weather
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1027&message=28916876

Solution? once it mis-fire enough times and kinda warmed up the internal mechanism, the problem is gone

2. Battery drains to empty after sitting unused for several days

There are plenty of reports on this, my solution is to always keep a fully charged battery around.

That said, I still love this camera and it's with me every day and every where. I've taken over 10,000 shots with it in the last 2 years . I just hope Sigma have addressed these problems in their later models.

--bryan

bryan, on your point 2.

someone discovered if you remove the SD(HC) card, his DP1 didn't drain the battery in a few days. mine acts this way too. I now keep it with the card out, battery stays juiced much, much, longer. Why? no idea, but it seems to work. Try it.

But I also have spare batteries, 4 batteries total for DP1 and DP2 I've never found myself w/o battery power, shooting or sitting around.
Best regards, Sandy
[email protected]
http://www.pbase.com/sandyfleischman
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sandyfleischmann

My first one did the same. About two weeks old (got it at launch). I just returned it for a new one. Since I returned it, I didn't know the official cause. Later, I just assumed it was a combo of the older firmware, and leaving the battery out overnight with the lens extended.

Sandy, thanks for tips. I will definitely try it out. But then you are risking taking the camera out without a card. I guess it's another thing you need to learn to get used to for this camera.

--bryan

Finally I got respond from Sigma. It looks the delay of their respond is caused by the mood of New Year. They asked me to send the camera. Hopefully it will back soon.
Many thanks for the kind respond from this forum members.
Happy New Year 2010.
RTogog

I would still be interested in knowing how many exposures before this failure.