Convertyng my Sigma 180mm

[Boris Georgiev]

Hi everyone!

I am converting my Sigma 180mm 3.5 APO EX DG HSM Macro lens from SA to Canon EF mount .I wrote to Sigma to ask them do I need to change the Main Circuit Board and this is the answer:

"Hardware is the same but firmware and contacts are different."

When I asked them if it is possible to change the firmware they told me that they do not know.

So does anybody know is it possible to change the firmware ?Do I need to change the firmware at all?I know it is possible to calibrate the focus in my local service center but I don't know about flashing the firmware.

Please excuse my poor English!

 

[DaSonyGuy]

Hi everyone!

I am converting my Sigma 180mm 3.5 APO EX DG HSM Macro lens from SA to Canon EF mount .I wrote to Sigma to ask them do I need to change the Main Circuit Board and this is the answer:

"Hardware is the same but firmware and contacts are different."

When I asked them if it is possible to change the firmware they told me that they do not know.

So does anybody know is it possible to change the firmware ?Do I need to change the firmware at all?I know it is possible to calibrate the focus in my local service center but I don't know about flashing the firmware.

Please excuse my poor English!

No, you dont need to change the firmware...As Sigma said, the hardware is the same, so all you need to do it swap the SA mounting plate and SA connector block for an EF mounting plate an EF connector block. Some of the securing holes will probably line up with those in the EF plate and any that dont will have to be drilled and countersunk in the EF plate, using the SA plate as a template.

You will need to carefully desolder the ribbon cable going to the SA connector block and resolder it to the EF connector block pin for pin...Of course you will need to source an EF mounting plate complete with connector block before you can do the conversion.

 

[Boris Georgiev]

I am ordering the Bayonet Ring , Inner Baffle, Contact Housing and the bolts from the local dealer, so everything will fit just fine!The problem was that the dealer was trying to sold me and the circuit board.The parts will cost around 30 Euro.

 

[sirkhann]

Strange, indeed. I believe we share the same dealer and people there were kind of not willing to (help me) convert a 1.4x Sigma TC from Canon EF to Sigma SA.

 

[Antone]

Let us know how it goes. I have an interest in making a Canon lens into an SA mount.
--
Tony-S

 

[Boris Georgiev]

Let us know how it goes. I have an interest in making a Canon lens into an SA mount.
--
Tony-S

Hi Tony!

The bad thing is that Canon don't have bayonet rings for SA mount.You can take SA mount and make it fit on the lens.This is SA to EF but it can be helpful to you:
http://www.ricohforum.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=5916

It is possible to modify the camera body to fit the Canon EF lenses:

http://www.sigmacumlaude.com/sigmacumlaude/yetanotherforum/default.aspx?g=posts&t=7

Or:

http://www.sigmacumlaude.com/sigmacumlaude/yetanotherforum/default.aspx?g=topics&f=11

 

[Rodrigo Cunha]

Hi!

I might be interested in doing this myself in the future... so please report your progress

I think the best (cheapest) way to get the parts might be to buy a used broken EF Sigma lens on Ebay. The mounting plate seems to be the same for most, if not all, lenses.

Anyway, 30€ seems very reasonable.

The firmware might be slightly different, but others have done it and it worked. Might not be perfect, but better than nothing

 

[Boris Georgiev]

I have the parts now.Video update next week!

 

[Antone]

Looking forward to your effort.

Does anyone know if CRIS will sell the Sigma SA bayonet ring, inner baffle and board to us consumers? I now have a Sigma 100-300 f/4 with EF mount that I may convert to Sigma SA mount.

I have the parts now.Video update next week!

--
Tony-S

 

[Boris Georgiev]

I hope this will help you:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1027&message=31536316

 

[Boris Georgiev]

Don't forget to order the 3 screws that hold the inner baffle to the bayonet ring like I did.They are longer for the EF.

 

[JW PHOTO]

Looking forward to your effort.

Does anyone know if CRIS will sell the Sigma SA bayonet ring, inner baffle and board to us consumers? I now have a Sigma 100-300 f/4 with EF mount that I may convert to Sigma SA mount.
--
Tony-S

When you order from CRIS just make sure you say you are after these parts to "REPAIR" your broken/dropped lens. They gave me a hard time when I said I wanted them(parts) to do a conversion.

 

[JW PHOTO]

Don't forget to order the 3 screws that hold the inner baffle to the bayonet ring like I did.They are longer for the EF.

Boris,

Glad you found the parts you needed and let us know how it works for you when it's up and running. JohnW

 

[Boris Georgiev]

Well it works perfectly!The AF is correct and there is no need to calibrate it.
The local service was wrong that you need to change the main board!

Unfortunately I didn't manage to make the Video that I promise you.I don't have video camera at the moment but when I have one I promise to make a video!

Happy holidays !

 

[Rodrigo Cunha]

Great!

If I ever need to switch to Canon I know I can keep my lenses

 

[Joseph S Wisniewski]

Well it works perfectly!The AF is correct and there is no need to calibrate it.
The local service was wrong that you need to change the main board!

Unfortunately I didn't manage to make the Video that I promise you.I don't have video camera at the moment but when I have one I promise to make a video!

Happy holidays !

And to you.

One silly question: were you doing this as a challenge, a "labor of love" sort of thing? I can understand that, I've done more than a few things just to prove I can.

If you're doing it for financial reasons, you have to ask yourself three things:

• How many hours did you put into it?
• How much is an hour of your time worth?
• How much would you have lost selling your SD mount lens and buying a used EF mount version?

Generally, the sort of thing you're doing only makes sense if you want a lens you can't get in your format, like putting an SD mount on a Canon 17mm TS-E. I did something similar once, a Zeiss Jenna 75mm f1.5 Biotar converted from Exakta mount to Nikon.

--
Rahon Klavanian 1912-2008.

Armenian genocide survivor, amazing cook, scrabble master, and loving grandmother. You will be missed.

Ciao! Joseph

http://www.swissarmyfork.com

 

[Boris Georgiev]

And to you.

One silly question: were you doing this as a challenge, a "labor of love" sort of thing? I can understand that, I've done more than a few things just to prove I can.

If you're doing it for financial reasons, you have to ask yourself three things:

• How many hours did you put into it?
• How much is an hour of your time worth?
• How much would you have lost selling your SD mount lens and buying a used EF mount version?

Generally, the sort of thing you're doing only makes sense if you want a lens you can't get in your format, like putting an SD mount on a Canon 17mm TS-E. I did something similar once, a Zeiss Jenna 75mm f1.5 Biotar converted from Exakta mount to Nikon.

Hi Joseph!

Well I am on student budget and this was the cheapest way to have 180mm macro for the Canon that I bought.

The hardware change is done for 10-15 minutes + 30 minutes going to local service centre to get the parts.

Selling it and buying a new is not easier or faster.I live in small country and there aren't many people shooting with Sigma camera bodies.Because of that second hand SA lenses are cheap.

PS: I not prove to my self that I can but I prove to the local service centre that they were wrong and you don't need to change the main circuit board!

 

[Boris Georgiev]

The video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Y1t08Qhnrw

This is my first video with DSLR so it isn't very good!

 

[Antone]

Boris, from your video it looks like you did not have to drill any holes for the SA to EF swap? I want to do the reverse, but not with a Sigma lens, instead a Canon EF 100-300mm f/5.6L micro-USM, and if that works also a Canon 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 ring-USM. I assume their may be some soldering involved as DaSigmaGuy has mentioned.

Thanks!

Well it works perfectly!The AF is correct and there is no need to calibrate it.
The local service was wrong that you need to change the main board!

Unfortunately I didn't manage to make the Video that I promise you.I don't have video camera at the moment but when I have one I promise to make a video!

Happy holidays !

--
Tony-S

 

[Boris Georgiev]

I used original parts from Sigma.When you convert a Canon EF lens to SA you will have to make the parts fit.It is not an easy thing to do!Some people at http://www.sigmacumlaude.com have done something different - they converted the Sigma camera body to EF mount.

http://www.sigmacumlaude.com/sigmacumlaude/yetanotherforum/default.aspx?g=posts&t=7