DP1 Lens Failure

I read about several instances of a lens retract failure in this forum. I never really gave it much thought, saying things to myself like "they probably mistreated their cameras" and "this issue is exaggerated." Well, it finally happened to me, two months out of warranty, on the first day of my vacation (no Foveon photos of Yosemite...). I contacted Sigma on the phone and it doesn't seem like I will get any leniency on the repair. However, I emailed Sigma support. While not giving me much information, they did ask if I still had my receipt. I don't know what this means, but I'm trying to be optimistic.

The DP1 was my first serious camera. I found out about it after reading a post on Engadget about a then-unreleased camera called the Sigma DP2. I wondered why such a small camera was so expensive. I read the negative comments, disappointing reviews, and for whatever reason, I still wanted it. I was set on buying an entry-level DSLR before running into the blog post. Not long after, I bought the DP1, and never regretted it.

Perhaps this is goodbye to my favorite camera. It was fun and I don't feel like the money I paid last year was a total waste, since I learned so much and enjoyed the results. I just don't have the kind of money to do it again. Maybe it's time to use the skills I learned from such a slow and difficult camera on something a little easier and faster. After a year with a "serious compact," I just can't see myself with a DSLR or m4/3. I can probably live with a 1/1.7" sensor as long as it has a fast lens. Anyway, here are a couple of my favorite shots from the DP1:

Three shots that show why I like this camera so much. I hope SIGMA will help you out on your trouble. If they asked for the receipt, scan it and send it.

Thanks Oliver. I'm sending it in tomorrow. If it doesn't work out, I'll still continue rooting for the DP series and visit this forum to see photos. Here are a few more shots, from different lighting situations:

I can feel with you, as I was one of the people having the same problem. Coincidentally, also on a holiday. In my case on the last day instead of the first, fortunately...

My camera was also just out of warranty (one or two months). However, the camera store that I frequently visit assured Sigma Benelux (I'm from The Netherlands) that they know me as a person who handles his cameras with the utmost care. In the end, I only had to pay the transport cost of the camera, which was about 40 euros, and I received a completely new DP1 for free.

I wish you all the best with your DP1; let's hope Sigma stands behind their brand as they did in my case. The lesson I have learned is always to take more than one camera on holiday, especially when one of those is a DP1

Regards,
Mischa

Mischa Bronstring said:

I can feel with you, as I was one of the people having the same problem. Coincidentally, also on a holiday. In my case on the last day instead of the first, fortunately...

My camera was also just out of warranty (one or two months). However, the camera store that I frequently visit assured Sigma Benelux (I'm from The Netherlands) that they know me as a person who handles his cameras with the utmost care. In the end, I only had to pay the transport cost of the camera, which was about 40 euros, and I received a completely new DP1 for free.

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I'm glad to hear that you received quality service. It certainly gives the owner confidence when buying another product from the same company. I just sent the camera this morning. I'm trying to be optimistic, but I'm already researching other compacts. :|

Mischa Bronstring said:

I wish you all the best with your DP1; let's hope Sigma stands behind their brand as they did in my case. The lesson I have learned is always to take more than one camera on holiday, especially when one of those is a DP1

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Thanks. I always thought the DP series were built like tanks. I was partially right, however, the tanks must have drunken soldiers inside. My mom was kind enough to share her camera, a $130 gem from Canon, the Powershot A590IS. So I still managed some decent shots, although the real experience cannot be described in a photo. The views at Yosemite are stunning.

Update

I sent in my DP1. I received a call informing me of their conclusion that the issue was caused by impact damage and would cost $200 for a repair. I kindly explained that an impact severe enough to cause the inside mechanism to shatter would have some proof of impact on the exterior - at the very least, a small scratch or dent. I also mentioned the countless discussions of this known issue. I was put on hold, then was told that a factory refurbished unit would be sent to me free of charge. It seems they are very much aware of this issue. I tried to get more info on whether this has been addressed with the DP2(s) and DP1(s/x), but they didn't give me a straight answer.

Anyway, thanks Sigma for the support. I'll keep my eyes peeled for similar problems affecting the DP2, since I was planning on buying before this occurred. Perhaps they haven't lost a customer after all.

Those photos are making me want to buy a DP1 as a carry camera.
Great work.
--
Obscura

This possibly sounds a little dishonest...almost as if "lets screw 200 bucks out of this owner if we can"....and when a flaw in the request for funds is pointed out, they relent ....

I'll admit to having a Ricoh GR that has a delicate lens mechanism, and the lens in that powered up in my jacket pocket, I assume it did, got bumped, resulting in the inner lens barrel getting pushed into the camera body, and there were no dents or scratch marks on it. So there could be reasonable suspicion on what happened in your case.

Now I still have an issue with the power drain issue on the DP1, apparently THERE IS NO KNOWN PROBLEM according to Sigma...but read the forums....own the cameras, and you witness the problem. Try putting 2 cameras away for the month...A DP1 and ANY OTHER Brand digital camera. Which one will be dead, and which one will show juice in the battery? Even my ancient Kodak P880 can be put away for weeks, and never show a significant drop in battery capacity...I can't leave a battery in the Sigma for 4 days!

I hate it when companies deny design or manufacturing flaws....remember all those 3-5MP Sony CCD failures due to manufacturing flaws...

flight said:

Update

I sent in my DP1. I received a call informing me of their conclusion that the issue was caused by impact damage and would cost $200 for a repair. I kindly explained that an impact severe enough to cause the inside mechanism to shatter would have some proof of impact on the exterior - at the very least, a small scratch or dent. I also mentioned the countless discussions of this known issue. I was put on hold, then was told that a factory refurbished unit would be sent to me free of charge. It seems they are very much aware of this issue. I tried to get more info on whether this has been addressed with the DP2(s) and DP1(s/x), but they didn't give me a straight answer.

Anyway, thanks Sigma for the support. I'll keep my eyes peeled for similar problems affecting the DP2, since I was planning on buying before this occurred. Perhaps they haven't lost a customer after all.

Click to expand...

Guh! I feel for you. My DP1 just died on the last day of a trip to New Mexico 2 weeks ago. Lens extended, then nada. Wouldn't even retract after that. Haven't heard from the Cdn distributor as of yet regarding servicing the camera.

The camera served me well. I loved it but I don't think I'll replace it if it can't be repaired for a reasonable cost, as much as I love the Foveon sensor.

Here's hopin' there are some great surprises for all of us come Photokina. I'd love a more robust capable portable travel camera... which doesn't cost as much as M9
--
S

Olympus E1 11-22 14-54 50 50-200 EC-14
Leica M4 28 35 50 90
Sigma DP1

Definitely not taking sides in this. But in another life, in a different customer service arena, I know that "we" had fairly cut and dried guidelines for what was financially our responsibility and what was the customer's. That said, management had some discretion to write off certain types of charges "for customer satisfaction", especially if the customer "escalated" their complaint. I don't know if it's objectively "fair" or not but within whatever parameters are "reasonable" to the supplier, it's sometimes the squeaky wheel that gets the grease.

Best,
--
Ed_S

http://www.pbase.com/ecsquires

I sold mine 3 weeks ago (to afford a waterproof, rugged cam for summer stuff), thinking that I could deal psychologically with a lack of Foveon images for a half-year or so, until I could afford an upgrade to DP1x or possibly DP2/s. Couldn't do it - made it a week before hunting eBay for a good deal on a used DP1, which thankfully I found (see other thread - $135 for DP1, VF, and hood).

Anyway, my point (other than bragging about my great eBay find), is to encourage you to find a used DP1 if you can't afford a new DP camera - you won't be dissapointed!!

Obscura said:

Those photos are making me want to buy a DP1 as a carry camera.
Great work.
--
Obscura

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--
Mark Turney
Ocala, FL

Obscura said:

Those photos are making me want to buy a DP1 as a carry camera.
Great work.

Click to expand...

Thank you for the kind words, Obscura. As long as you're familiar with the controls (set the 'W' and 'T' buttons for ISO and focus area), it's not a terribly slow camera to use. I have improved my skills in estimating distances and the 16.6mm lens allows enough depth of field for me to be a little inaccurate when using manual focus.

Mark Turney said:

I sold mine 3 weeks ago (to afford a waterproof, rugged cam for summer stuff), thinking that I could deal psychologically with a lack of Foveon images for a half-year or so, until I could afford an upgrade to DP1x or possibly DP2/s. Couldn't do it - made it a week before hunting eBay for a good deal on a used DP1, which thankfully I found (see other thread - $135 for DP1, VF, and hood).

Anyway, my point (other than bragging about my great eBay find), is to encourage you to find a used DP1 if you can't afford a new DP camera - you won't be dissapointed!!

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The price is currently $344 on Amazon (US). I think that's quite a deal for an unused APS-C camera with a very good prime lens. Just buy the hood and keep the lens extended, as not to stress the interior parts.

Phil Loughran said:

This possibly sounds a little dishonest...almost as if "lets screw 200 bucks out of this owner if we can"....and when a flaw in the request for funds is pointed out, they relent ....

I'll admit to having a Ricoh GR that has a delicate lens mechanism, and the lens in that powered up in my jacket pocket, I assume it did, got bumped, resulting in the inner lens barrel getting pushed into the camera body, and there were no dents or scratch marks on it. So there could be reasonable suspicion on what happened in your case.

Now I still have an issue with the power drain issue on the DP1, apparently THERE IS NO KNOWN PROBLEM according to Sigma...but read the forums....own the cameras, and you witness the problem. Try putting 2 cameras away for the month...A DP1 and ANY OTHER Brand digital camera. Which one will be dead, and which one will show juice in the battery? Even my ancient Kodak P880 can be put away for weeks, and never show a significant drop in battery capacity...I can't leave a battery in the Sigma for 4 days!

I hate it when companies deny design or manufacturing flaws....remember all those 3-5MP Sony CCD failures due to manufacturing flaws...

Click to expand...

Hi Phil. I don't want to accuse the support team of being dishonest. I think that they genuinely believed I had dropped it. It was just frustrating to be accused of something I didn't do when the build quality of their product is to blame. However, I didn't lose my cool and showed them respect, and it seems that they have returned the favor.

s.hum said:

Guh! I feel for you. My DP1 just died on the last day of a trip to New Mexico 2 weeks ago. Lens extended, then nada. Wouldn't even retract after that. Haven't heard from the Cdn distributor as of yet regarding servicing the camera.

The camera served me well. I loved it but I don't think I'll replace it if it can't be repaired for a reasonable cost, as much as I love the Foveon sensor.

Here's hopin' there are some great surprises for all of us come Photokina. I'd love a more robust capable portable travel camera... which doesn't cost as much as M9

Click to expand...

Sounds like the same issue. I hope Sigma will extend you a free repair since they know about the issue. Keep us updated.

Ed_S said:

Definitely not taking sides in this. But in another life, in a different customer service arena, I know that "we" had fairly cut and dried guidelines for what was financially our responsibility and what was the customer's. That said, management had some discretion to write off certain types of charges "for customer satisfaction", especially if the customer "escalated" their complaint. I don't know if it's objectively "fair" or not but within whatever parameters are "reasonable" to the supplier, it's sometimes the squeaky wheel that gets the grease.

Click to expand...

There are certainly no sides to take. I think Sigma handled the situation well. Sure, they initially accused me of dropping it, but I don't think they were trying to get away with something.

According to a chinese dp1 user forum post. Almost all the lens retract problems were contributed by a broken line cable. The cable has about 15 line of electric connection in it. The root cause of the problem is the tight layout of the cable around the camera parts. Since the camera on/off trigger the extension and retraction of the lens, it cause the cable to bend repeatly. As such, the metal line in the cable could go broken in a year or so, depends on the usage of the camera. Also, since most camera nowadays has auto turn off function, which also makes the camera more prom to this problem.

Attached is a picture of the line cable:

According to one of the post, one of the permanent solution is to make the lens stay extended even when turned off. This involves the removal of a tiny white gear. See the attached picture. Don't touch the third one (transparent one).

You can then use HA-11 to protect the lens.

Well, I just wanted to update everyone on my Sigma/DP1 lens failure experience.

It took me quite awhile to finally pack it up and send it to the Canadian distributor, Gentec. Bill Wilby of Contact Photo (who was a great source for these cameras and micro-4/3rds until he retired, darn), put me in contact with them and even arranged to fax my original receipt proof of purchase. My DP1 was well out of warrantee having been purchased when it first came out.

Gentec packed it up and sent it to Sigma Japan for repairs. Neither company blinked an eye at its warrantee expiration nor at the obvious signs of wear (dings and scratches from all the places this camera has been during all the globe trotting I have done in the past 3 years).

I just got it back from Gentec today. The lens barrel was replaced and the camera checked out and cleaned. They even paid for the shipping. Now that is standing behind your product. I know Sigma often gets slammed every now and then for their product. My experience has only been positive.

I sure am glad to have this camera back. My day to day photography really dropped off after it failed. There is something about this form factor and Foveon that made photography so much fun. And it will be tripping with me to the Amazon come November

S
--
Olympus E1 11-22 14-54 50 50-200 EC-14
Leica M4 28 35 50 90
Sigma DP1

All thumbs up!