Re-Mill Sigma Lens Foot to fit Arca Swiss ???

I have the last generation Sigma 50-500mm lens.

I have been on a pilgrimage to convert everything around here to Arca-Swiss.

I got the brilliant idea that maybe I could cut the tripod foot on my 50-500mm to fit Arca-Swiss without the need for a separate plate; then, as I was mulling this over in my head, I thought, if I had came up with the idea, then most likely Sigma had already beaten me to it and my lens foot may very well already be cut to fit.

I got the camera/lens and an Arca-Swiss clamp that was laying on the desk and made a quick investigation.

What I found is that the foot is definitely cut in a male dovetail configuration; however, it most definitely is NOT Arca-Swiss.

I was able to spread the clamp I had far enough apart to capture the lens foot, but just barely; and, when I tightened the clamp, the clamping bar cocked over as far as the tongue-in-groove would allow.

The lens foot was tightly clamped and probably would have held firm in most situations; however, it didn't take an Einstein to see that the fit was way off and the angle of the dovetails did not match.

Also, most likely there are Arca-Swiss clamps that are not going to open as wide as the example I was using.

I don't have an example to try; but, I sort of believe that the lens foot is cut to fit the wider, steeper angled, Bogen/Manfrotto style.

Interestingly, once I investigated this, I started reading the reviews on this lens; and, in many reviews, contrary to my own findings, the reviewer makes a claim that the lens foot is Arca-Swiss compatible; whereas, the one I have is most definitely NOT; too wide and wrong angle.

When I laid a proper Arca-Swiss plate against the bottom surface of the lens foot, the foot was quite a bit wider.

That leads me to my question: Have any of you modified your lens foot, of any make/model, to fit Arca-Swiss ?
I do have the technology to do this and I can get it done; however, if anyone else has already accomplished this conversion/re-milling, I would like to have your input on the situation.

From what I am getting the stock dovetail is probably too deep to clean up completely if you milled it to arca swiss width. Without measuring it I don't know for sure. A pic with arca swiss plate attached to foot would help.

Isn’t this what you need... https://www.amazon.com …mm-F4-5-5-6/dp/B07BBPLHRC

rgfrison wrote in post #19157208
From what I am getting the stock dovetail is probably too deep to clean up completely if you milled it to arca swiss width. Without measuring it I don't know for sure.

The Sigma foot is hard to get an accurate width measurement, as the bottom edges are somewhat rounded instead of coming to a nice point.

For the temporary time being, I have drilled/tapped two extra 1/4x20 holes and attached a 100mm long Arca-Swiss plate, now with three mount screws instead of the one.

John from PA wrote in post #19157317
Isn’t this what you need... https://www.amazon.com …mm-F4-5-5-6/dp/B07BBPLHRC

That is a good find.
I wish they provided more pictures and measurements.

I will keep that in mind as a back-up plan for when I make a mess out of my original while milling the dovetail.

I would not expect to have a huge market for those, as I cannot imagine anyone breaking or losing the one that is supplied with the lens.

BuckSkin wrote in post #19157470
I wish they provided more pictures and measurements.

Check the pictures at https://www.aliexpress​.com/item/32998315937.​html

Scroll down once at the site.

John from PA wrote in post #19157488
Check the pictures at https://www.aliexpress​.com/item/32998315937.​html

Scroll down once at the site.

Thanks; the pictures help a lot.

As best I can tell, there are two recessed screws that hold the Arca-Swiss plate to the ring and the two are separate parts.

If that be the case, a smart man like me could fabricate all manner of possibilities with a set-up like that.

BuckSkin wrote in post #19157540
Thanks; the pictures help a lot.

As best I can tell, there are two recessed screws that hold the Arca-Swiss plate to the ring and the two are separate parts.

If that be the case, a smart man like me could fabricate all manner of possibilities with a set-up like that.

If you look carefully, the plate is not included. Quoting from just above where the photos start

If the one that John linked to in post 3 was not available, I could see myself trying. If you've got access to a mill, I'm not even sure why your asking!
But yeah, I'd grab the one on E-Bay.

Us canon big white shooters have been replacing the included Canon foot with an Arca compatible one from Kirk, 4th Generation, RRS etc for decades.

See here http://www.hejnarphoto​store.com/category-s/192.htm

He makes all kinds of hard to find plates and adaptors.