I recently bought a Sigma 180mm f/2.8 Macro, primarily for macro but also for wildlife. I find it as sharp as my Canon 70-200 f/2.8 L IS II, so I am quite happy with it. Bokeh is quite nice, too.
Here is the real news - the Canon 2X Extender III does not fit. When attached, it squeaks a bit and I took it no further. Since that TC fits on the Sigma 150mm Macro, I had hoped it would fit the 180.
So this is a warning for those who might be considering this combination.
If you have a remedy that retains AF and infinity focus, I would love to know it.[ATTACHMENT NOT FOUND]
I'm not familiar with the combination, but from what you are saying, they do physically fit together? If so and it still doesn't work, then I guess the tape trick on the extender might help. You'll have to look it up, but some of the contacts signal the presence of the extender. Cover just those up with thin insulation tape, and the body doesn't know it is there. The remaining contacts allow the lens to function as normal.
<a class="bbc_url" href="http://snowporing.deviantart.com/">dA</a> Canon 7D2, 7D, 5D2, 600D, 450D, 300D IR modified, 1D, EF-S 10-18, 15-85, EF 35/2, 85/1.8, 135/2, 70-300L, 100-400L, MP-E65, Zeiss 2/50, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300/2.8, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Olympus E-P1, Panasonic 20/1.7, Sony HX9V, Fuji X100.
Something changed with the III versions, and the tape trick might not work anymore?
The older II version will work with it. The Kenko 2x TC versions may work without taping. The Sigma 2x TC, I do not know.
The Sigma 2x wont give AF if it is anything like on the 150mm.
<a class="bbc_url" href="http://snowporing.deviantart.com/">dA</a> Canon 7D2, 7D, 5D2, 600D, 450D, 300D IR modified, 1D, EF-S 10-18, 15-85, EF 35/2, 85/1.8, 135/2, 70-300L, 100-400L, MP-E65, Zeiss 2/50, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300/2.8, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Olympus E-P1, Panasonic 20/1.7, Sony HX9V, Fuji X100.
It appears the rubber collar of the TC's outermost lens impinges on the collar behind the Sigma’s rear lens. Do the Sigma’s rear elements move? I am uncertain and that is why I didn’t use the combination. My goal is to have a tele/macro in one package for backpacking. I want to do macro and immediately change to tele if interesting wildlife happens by. I have AF with my Canon 70-200 + 2X TC; why would I not have AF with the Sigma? Thanks for the comments!
We need to break it down to two parts: mechanical compatibility, and electrical compatibility. Without seeing and trying it ourselves, we can only go by the comments provided.
If there is suspected mechanical interference you might try putting manually moving the focus and seeing if you can get the whole range, or if it becomes blocked at any point.
With Sigma's own 2x+macro combination, I suspect they disable AF as the effective aperture at closer distances is then far exceeding f/5.6, therefore phase AF would either not work or be unreliable. I think they could have allowed AF at longer distances if they wanted to though.
http://www.sigmaphoto.com/teleconverter-compatibility
<a class="bbc_url" href="http://snowporing.deviantart.com/">dA</a> Canon 7D2, 7D, 5D2, 600D, 450D, 300D IR modified, 1D, EF-S 10-18, 15-85, EF 35/2, 85/1.8, 135/2, 70-300L, 100-400L, MP-E65, Zeiss 2/50, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300/2.8, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Olympus E-P1, Panasonic 20/1.7, Sony HX9V, Fuji X100.
I have not tested electrical compatibilty, as I did not know whether this lens is rear-focusing. However, I just read in LensTip.com: 'the mount surrounds an immobile rear element'. So I will test electrical compatibility at the next opportunity.
Thanks again for your feedback!
On mt 6D, the camera AF sensor still sees at f8 (Tamron 500mm f8) and at f6.5 or so (70-200mm f4 + 1.7x TC). I have only tried with the cennter point, by the way. But your Sigma is f2.8, it will be no problem focussing it with 2x TC (even at close focus distances).
The Sigma TC will fit, but will need a contact taped off. The Kenko 2x TC's probably are the best idea.
The Sigma 180mm macro will not AF with the Canon 2X III TC. I got a Sigma 1.4X TC and I am very pleased with the results with the Sigma 180mm macro. Correct focal length is recorded by my 6D. No contacts were taped off.
BTW, that TC does not AF well with the Canon 70-200 f/28 II or the Canon 100mm L macro - there is a lot of oscillation before it settles down.
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