COMPATIBILITY PROBLEMS WITH SIGMA LENSES ON MY CANON DIGITAL

[Lee Casler]

Both of my Sigma lenses will not work with the Digital Rebel. I called Sigma and they acknowledged that many of their lenses do not work and mine they say are not upgradeable. (Some are). One of those lenses was bought only 5 years ago and cost $400.00. Canon did offer me a trade-in which was giving me $20 for my old lens. I have decided not to spend my hard earned money on a lens that is not really totally Canon compatible. What new feature will show up in the future that will make today's Sigma unusable on your new camera? You can imagine how it is to put your lens on your new camera body and get a funny sound and error 99 in the window. The odd thing is that Sigmas are not all that cheap either. The Sigma lenses that I have are the 50mm macro and the 18-35 zoom.

Lee Casler

[robertwgross]

... One of those lenses was bought only 5 years ago and cost $400.00. ...

You do realize that five years in the digital camera marketplace is an eternity.

You'll probably need to ask your question to the Canon Vice President in charge of Crystal Ball Gazing.

---Bob Gross---

[G3]

I ran into the same issue with a 170-500 Sigma lens on my 10D. I also got the same response from Sigma the first time I called. After finding that others with the same lens had gotten theirs upgraded (free) by Sigma, I got hold of one of the managers of the Service Dept. and found out that mine was, in fact, upgradeable. The person that first told me it wasn't was mistaken. They have it now for rechipping.

If you are interested in trading it in for a newer lens, Sigma also has a trade-in program for lenses that cannot be rechipped. They don't give you much, but it's probably more than Canon offered you.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Lee,. I'd go back to Sigma and bang some heads.. it seems they are trying to dodge this probably costly upgrade now. I don't about the particular lenses you own.. but I'd make damn sure that they really are "non upgradeable" before throwing in the towel.

Like G3 said,. he had to kick and scream a little and then all of sudden the lens was upgradable.

[kraterz]

Create some noise at Sigma, maybe they will respond. This is the reason I stopped using Sigma. The lens stops working on a new camera and you have to jump hoops in order to get anything done if you have an older lens, and you are often screwed. They wouldn't rechip my old 24/2.8. I've had much better luck with Tamron.

[Trunkmonkey]

Depending on the lens, Sigma will reflash (rechip) it for free or for the cost of shipping. If the lens is too old, they have a trade-in program. Just e-mail them through www.sigmaphoto.com to get the ball rolling. Since my Quantaray wasn't reflashable, they upgraded me from a QUANTARAY TECH-10 CN AF 70-300 1:4-5.6 Macro to a Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 APO Macro Super for $160.00. A much better deal than the $40 B&H offered me.

[mikehsia]

I sent in my Sigma lens a while ago before I bought my 10D this past month. I still havent recieved my upgraded lens back, and I sent it in the middle of dec. ...they keep saying they are waiting for the parts from japan or something. anyhow, I think you can contact them by phone (631-585-1144) and ask for the service/upgrade dept. to inquire about your lens upgrades and such. goodluck!

[4walls]

I had the same problem with my Digital Rebel and an older Sigma 55-200mm Canon AF mount lens. I could get the lens to work once in a while if I wiggled it around on the camera lens mount a little. But only 1 in every 5 attempts. Otherwise I got the ERR 99 code as well. That sucks.

[photoguynorth]

I just got my 70-300 APO back, It only took about 2 weeks (free).