Rechipping a Sigma 400 5.6 APO TeleMacro for Canon

[wilfredmike]

Hello all. I am new to your forum and have a question someone may have had experience with.  I have a new in box Sigma 400 5.6 APO Tele-Macro HMS for Canon.
I love the lens but it will not stop down using it on my 1Ds Mll. I can only shoot it wide open.  I checked with Sigma and they will no longer rechip.
Does anyone know of a third party that either sells the chip or will rechip the lens?    Thanks Wilfredmike

[Bob Atkins]

That sounds typical behavior for that lens. I haven't heard of anyone who has been able to get one rechipped to work with an EOS DSLR.

[wilfredmike]

I don't know how long ago Sigma quit rechiopping them.  I was hoping to find someone with chip left over from time back.  I wish someone knew how. I sure wanted that lens for its close focusing  for butterfly and flower shots.  I think I am going to have to go with the Canon 300 f4 IS to get close to the sigma minimum focusing and still have good quality. I just hate to pay that much for another lens.

[Bob Atkins]

As I understand it, Sigma's policy on rechipping has been to offer it only on lenses which are in current production at the time of the request. I'm not aware they ever sold the chips to 3rd parties.

I'm not sure when Sigma dropped the 400/5.6 APO, but I think it was around 2003. At that time it could be rechipped to work with the Canon D30 and D60. Even if those chips were still available it's quite likely that they wouldn't be effective with more recent EOS models like the EOS 1Ds MkII.

You might want to look at the  EF 180/3.5L USM macro if you need a lens with high magnification (close focus) and long focal length for good working distance. It's a very good lens.

[wilfredmike]

Yes, I have the 180. It is very good, but I was just wanting that extra magnification and more distance. The Sigma would have worked well for what I wanted, but I don't have to have it. I can get by OK with what I have.