Sigma 70-300mm Macro Hack Revealed

[RayDream]

Full stripped Sigma 70-300mm Macro Super II. First time attempt lens servicing. Worked in air-con room switched to dehydrate/demoisture mode or whatever you call it Wear glove. Hopefully it's the right way to do it, fatique pls teach me!




This is the culprit responsible to lock the mechanism. I believe Sigma made this so that they can release a few different versions of this lens at a different price. For example the gold-ringed markI can only use macro at 300mm, and red-ringed markII can use it at 200-300mm. For some reason Sigma havn't or never release a 'markIII'.

Hack your own Sigma or you can hire me to do it for you
http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=351027

[fatigue]

Fantastic!
Thanks for sharing

[calebk]

Not meaning to be a wet blanket, but I don't see how the secret has been revealed...

[Jediyam]

I'm using a Sigma 70-300 APO DG Macro. No problems overcoming the mechanical block without stripping the lens. Just zoom to 200-300 range, put on macro mode and twist it gently but firmly back beyond the 200mm block and it will go. Initially will be tight, but after zooming it back and forth a few times it loosens up a little. Now it's on macro mode permanently

[knpan]

Hi i dont get you, what will happen or to the lens advantage when u hack?

[night86mare]

Originally Posted by knpan Hi i dont get you, what will happen or to the lens advantage when u hack?

sigma 70-300 can only use macro mode in 200-300 mm

before that, focusing distance is limited because of the switch you see.. by right cannot extend the lens to focus nearer in 70-200 range

by overcoming this lock, you can focus nearer even in 70-200.. makes the lens more versatile.

if you still cannot get, then i give up

[andylausk]

Before modifying,
Normal mode: Zoom range 70mm-300mm and focusing range from 1.5m to infinity.
Macro mode: Zoom range 200mm-300mm and focusing rang from 0.95m to infinity.
After modifying, does auto focusing still limit at 1.5m to Infinity or even cover 0.95m to 1.5m range in normal shooting mode? If it is so, it double the time when miss focus the object.

[calebk]

Originally Posted by andylausk Before modifying, Normal mode: Zoom range 70mm-300mm and focusing range from 1.5m to infinity. Macro mode: Zoom range 200mm-300mm and focusing rang from 0.95m to infinity. After modifying, does auto focusing still limit at 1.5m to Infinity or even cover 0.95m to 1.5m range in normal shooting mode? If it is so, it double the time when miss focus the object.

After mod, focus will go all the way from 0.95m to ∞, so yes you're right, it doubles the time when it cannot lock focus and focus hunts.

[ederius]

does anybody know if this macro hack works for the tamron 70-300mm too ? the logic sounds applicable to the tamron lens.

[RayDream]

I would love to try it out too.

[fatigue]

Originally Posted by RayDream Full stripped Sigma 70-300mm Macro Super II. First time attempt lens servicing. Worked in air-con room switched to dehydrate/demoisture mode or whatever you call it Wear glove. Hopefully it's the right way to do it, fatique pls teach me! This is the culprit responsible to lock the mechanism. I believe Sigma made this so that they can release a few different versions of this lens at a different price. For example the gold-ringed markI can only use macro at 300mm, and red-ringed markII can use it at 200-300mm. For some reason Sigma havn't or never release a 'markIII'. Hack your own Sigma or you can hire me to do it for you http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=351027

Just a few suggestions:

1. I noticed your using a plastic gloves. A bit dangerous to use because it's slippery.
Try to use rubber/latex gloves. You can get it from Guardian for $12/100pcs
2. You might need a good precision screw driver. Stronger tip, bigger handle.
These screw drivers are not expensive. You can buy individual screwdrivers with #00 and # 0 for around $4 each
3. Prepare a few small magnets. Everytime you remove a screw, stick it to the magnet so you don't loose them

[theArtOfLight]

upz for raydream - thanks for sharing... (can this method be applied for Canon 75-300 as well?)
upz for fatique... nice of you to share your money making skill...

[calebk]

Originally Posted by theArtOfLight upz for raydream - thanks for sharing... (can this method be applied for Canon 75-300 as well?) upz for fatique... nice of you to share your money making skill...

Does Canon 75-300 even have a 'macro mode'? Ask yourself that simple question and you'll find out whether this can be applied.