Modifying EF-S 60 macro for FF use

I'm sure some of you have seen the 17-85 and 18-55 kit lens conversions to work on full frame cameras, even the 10-22 has had its FF conversion done although realistically you can only use it from 11mm onwards to prevent the rear element from crashing into the mirror.

Now I'm asking if anybody is aware of a modification for the 60 macro.. I love this lens, with its only real flaw being that it is EF-S. I don't care if I get vignetting, I can always crop that out.

I'm aware you can use it with the EF12 extension tube, and I might consider that, although it would be nice to bypass the extension tube and retain the full range of working focus distances by chopping off the EF-S mount instead.

Note that I mentioned full frame - the rear element has to clear a FF mirror.

I think others have simply swapped the rear plate round the lens mount to make this lens fit an EF mount.

Since you own the lens does the rear element come close to or extend past the rear plate or into the rubber surround?

If not then you need to find a matching rear EF lens mount cover.

Else, why not simply sell the 60mm and upgrade to a 100mm Macro that will work on both bodies without a crop.

Mounting the EF-S on the FF will give you more of a black ring around the frame then a vignette. More like using a telephoto lens hood on a wide angle lens.

The lenses you cite above were modified to fit on a standard EF mount. But, the underlying motivation was typically not for "full frame" cameras as you cite, but for the 1.6 crop Canon 10D (and possibly the 1.6 crop D60 and D30).

The Canon 10D has a standard EF mount, but a 1.6 crop sensor (as does the D60 and D30), and a mirror smaller than a “full frame” camera. This means that if you can get the EF-S lenses, the 17-85, 18-55, or 10-22, on the 10D they will perform perfectly, without vignetting. The 10D also has a mirror that is much smaller that a "full frame" camera, so the protruding rear element is not so problematic (as it would be with a "full frame" camera).

I have modified an 18-55 to use with my personal 10D, all you have to do is remove the projection on the back of the lens. There are several methods to remove the projection, just do a web search and have at it.

But, remember, the primary motivation for modifying these EF-S lenses was to gain function on the 1.6 crop Canon 10D, not on “full frame” cameras as you cite.

Enjoy! Lon

Thanks guys. That's what I am thinking, I've checked clearance on that lens and it might not actually have enough room to clear a FF mirror. Fully agreed with londuck that other conversions have been done to adapt EF-S lenses to reduced-mirror-size cameras and not FF ones.

Looks like I'll be keeping my 350D for this. I like the 60 macro for what it is, including small size. The 50 Compact Macro would be a logical FF choice but I passed on that thanks to lack of 1:1 macro, lack of USM/FTM - not only for USM, but FTM is useful in macro work since the AF engine tends to 'miss' more at macro ranges than at normal working ranges.

Also, I find the 350D's popup flash very useful for macro illumination work. I want something that is lower down and closer to the subject than the 430EX - less height is more, and products (equipment) that I photograph tends not to give me red eye (I would be quite alarmed if it actually had eyes)

Lightstream wrote:
The 50 Compact Macro would be a logical FF choice but I passed on that thanks to lack of 1:1 macro, lack of USM/FTM - not only for USM, but FTM is useful in macro work since the AF engine tends to 'miss' more at macro ranges than at normal working ranges.

Well I can understand passing on the 50mm macro for the focusing reasons, but do not understand the problem with the lack of 1:1 macro.

You are intending to use an EF-S 60mm macro lens that only goes to 1:1, on a "full frame" camera. That will require a huge crop of that image because the EF-S lens image circle will not cover the "full frame". Seems you will net a useable “cropped” image of about the same size as the magnification limit the Canon EF 50mm macro would afford (that you indicate is unacceptable).

Enjoy! Lon

I believe I once read a person using extension tubes to make an EF-S fit?

Not sure, about it though, Just read it once heh

There is not point in doing this as the EF-S lenses image circle will be too small. Also the lens elements may stick further into the camera and damage the mirror on a FF camera.

What you may have seen is this mod performed so these lenses can be used on a 10D, which is an APS-C camera but predated the EF-S mount.

Why not check out the Tamron SP90mm Macro, it is 1:1, only a little bit longer then the 60mm EF-S.

shutterghost wrote in post #1599229
I believe I once read a person using extension tubes to make an EF-S fit?

Not sure, about it though, Just read it once heh

Did that to my Kenko set...only modded the 12mm one figuring I would use it first and then stack if necessary for more mag.

I even used crude tools and it worked. Essentially you just make the inner diameter of the cardboard like tube bigger. Just enough so that the larger and longer protrusion of the EFs mount fits through it. But you don't make it so big that you lose the gold contacts.

Lester Wareham wrote in post #1600228
There is not point in doing this as the EF-S lenses image circle will be too small. Also the lens elements may stick further into the camera and damage the mirror on a FF camera.

What you may have seen is this mod performed so these lenses can be used on a 10D, which is an APS-C camera but predated the EF-S mount.

To get around this potential mishap by not paying attention to which body I was mounting the 12mm tube to (XTi or 5D) ...I just bought a set specifically for the 5D....because I just knew I would do something stupid at some point.