CANON and SIGMA - a lens enigma . . . .

BobBCN

BobBCN

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Hi,

Hope someone can shed light on this ...

My old Canon EOS 600 has now given way to a Canon 1100D with the original std lens (35-70mm) being fully compatible.

However I also have a Sigma 70-210mm but I find I can't use this ... er ... completely.

Basically, on settings P,Tv and M- it doesn't work - Error Message -faulty communication between camera and lens.

But on Av - At 210mm it works fine - (info in viewfinder, auto focus and man. focus etc) but at any other focal length despite having all the info and no issues with the focus I get the error message about faulty communication between camera and lens.

On A-DEP it seems to work perfectly.


If the lens didn't work at all then I would probably sling it. But as it's usable to some extent .....

Still I am baffled by this ...... :help:
 
is this an old sigma from film days ? - if so you will need to have the chip changed to work properly with the eos dslrs.

so long as you've had it from new and can prove it (ie purchase receipt or registered waranty) sigma will do it for about 35 quid - if you havent or can't then you are out of luck as the full price bof chipping is probably more than the lens is worth
 
The reason for this is that Sigma lenses aren't 100% compatible with Canon bodies... more like 99% compatible :|

Canon won't release their specs to Sigma, which forces Sigma to backwards-engineer their lenses to work with Canon cameras. Sigma guarantee that their lenses will work with whatever Canon models are available at the time the lens is sold.. however they may not work properly with new cameras released years in the future :(

Sigma used to offer a re-chipping facility to make their lenses useable again, but you'll probably find they won't do it with a lens that old :(

Unfortunately this is an argument against buying Sigma lenses for Canon bodies, as Canon are no doubt well aware :( Unless you can accept that your Sigma lens might turn into an expensive doorstop at some point in the future!

A.
 
Anorakus said:
Unfortunately this is an argument against buying Sigma lenses for Canon bodies, as Canon are no doubt well aware :( Unless you can accept that your Sigma lens might turn into an expensive doorstop at some point in the future!

A.
Click to expand...

:thinking: no it it isnt - all EF fit sigma lenses work perfectly with any canon eos film slr, the need for rechipping only came with the DSLR , any sigma EF fit lens sold since then will work with all the DSLRs (with the obvious proviso about circles of view and not putting those built for a APS sensor on full frame etc) should there be a need for rechipping in the future sigma will doubtless do it again -just like they did last time
 
So then what I have is a partially compatible lens which worked perfectly with the old EOS but needs a chip update for it to work with a newer DSLR.

Reckon it'll go back in the camera bag for those times when I fancy doing some film photography.

Thanks for the answers so far .......

I suppose that the reason it works some of the time (as in A-DEP mode) is because the original chip can cope with those parameters?
 
If you have the Sigma 70-210mm F4-5.6 I would say it's not worth getting re-chipped and should consider selling it on and replace it with a Canon 55-250mm IS. You will gain image stabalisation, increased focal length, and improved image quality. A 55-250mm IS second hand is around £90 and you should be able to sell you Sigma lens for around £25.
 
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