7 replies to this topic

[Gary Poole]

I just found that the recent firmware updates to my D810 and D4 firmware caused the loss of AF for my 2 pre-dock Sigma lenses. In my case they were the 150mm 1:2.8 APO MACRO DG HSM and the 120-300mm 1:2.8 APO DG HSM.

Fortunately I had the previous update files for both cameras. Using Update in the Setup menu I was able to "update" my D810 from C1.13 to C1.12 and my D4 from A1.11 and B1.11 to A1.10 and B1.10. These "updates" restored AF for the Sigmas on both cameras.

I'm not sure that I will bother sending the lenses to Sigma for updates. They are quite heavy and the cost of shipping plus insurance will be substantial, and I'll lose use of the lenses for 2-3 weeks. It appears that the updates are primarily for AF-P lenses. These seem to be primarily DX lenses that I have no interest in.

 

I suspect this problem affects other bodies and lenses in addition to the ones I have.  Check your Nikon bodies and Sigma lenses to be sure.  If your Sigma lenses are the newer ones that can use the USB dock, then you should be able to update the lenses firmware to match these latest NIkon camera firmware.  If not you'll have to choose between shipping the lenses to Sigma or "updating" your camera firmware to the previous version.

Edited by Gary Poole, 28 March 2018 - 08:46 AM.

[james23p]

Thanks for the heads up Gary!

Jim

[Sailjunkie]

Thanks for the heads up, Gary.  I wonder if it is only affecting certain lenses?  Back button auto-focus still works fine on the Sigma 105/2.8 DG macro. 

[Gary Poole]

Thanks for the heads up, Gary.  I wonder if it is only affecting certain lenses?  Back button auto-focus still works fine on the Sigma 105/2.8 DG macro. 

Mark

 

I think the correlation is more likely to be the manufacturing date than the model of the lens.  The same lens could have different firmware depending on when it was manufactured.

 

Nikon forces 3rd party lens manufacturers to reverse engineer the lens to body interface specs and protocol.  I would expect Sigma and others to  check their interface design frequently, maybe with each new Nikon body and firmware release.  If they see any changes in the interface they would likely do an update to the firmware of all lenses currently in production probably without changing the model designation.  I bought my 120-300 in July 2013 and my 150 Macro in March 2012.

[Dennis]

Did you also install the latest lens distortion firmware?

[Gary Poole]

Did you also install the latest lens distortion firmware?

Yes I installed the latest lens distortion firmware in both cameras at the same time that I installed the latest operating firmware.  I only rolled back the operating firmware to restore AF for my Sigma lenses.  The distortion firmware is still at the latest version.

[ericbowles]

Thanks, Gary.  My Sigma 150 did not AF after the update on the D850.  I'm still working through possible solutions since I don't want to roll back firmware.  I'll have to check my Sigma 35mm ART and can update that one with the dock.

[Gary Poole]

After reading similar discussions on another site, I think this problem may only apply to FX bodies.  At least the D500 seems to be unaffected.

 

The update was to add support for AF-P lenses.  Most (maybe all) AF-P lenses are DX.   Apparently Nikon did something different for AF-P handling in the updates than they did in the D500.  As a software developer since 1963 I think that is poor programming.  There is no reason to have different AD code for different bodies.