Can you use a extender on Sigma 150/500 lens ? I have a canon mount sigma 150/500 lens and was wondering if I could use a extender with this lens ?

natureshot Loc: Kirkwood, IL

I have a canon mount sigma 150/500 lens and was wondering if I could use a extender with this lens ?

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

natureshot wrote:

I have a canon mount sigma 150/500 lens and was wondering if I could use a extender with this lens ?

You can, however it may not auto focus due to losing too many stops of light.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Sigma's compatibility chart shows their extenders will work but no auto focus. And they are not meant to work with any other lenses but those on the chart.

http://www.sigmaphoto.com/lenses/lens-resources/teleconverter-compatibility

Something like the Kenko Pro 300 line is made to work with a huge number of lens, just as long as their short end is 70 mm and above.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

From an old email to Sigma tech support, using extenders on their new lenses is a major compatibility problem.

natureshot Loc: Kirkwood, IL

Dngallagher wrote:

You can, however it may not auto focus due to losing too many stops of light.

Thank you Donald for letting me know.

natureshot Loc: Kirkwood, IL

Thank you Robert, do the Tamron have the same problem making them manual ?
I will look at the Kenko Pro 300 line.

robertjerl wrote:

Sigma's compatibility chart shows their extenders will work but no auto focus. And they are not meant to work with any other lenses but those on the chart.

http://www.sigmaphoto.com/lenses/lens-resources/teleconverter-compatibility

Something like the Kenko Pro 300 line is made to work with a huge number of lens, just as long as their short end is 70 mm and above.

natureshot Loc: Kirkwood, IL

Thank you for the information. When I purchased this lens I wasn't thinking about getting an extender until I bought the canon 6d I was using it on a rebel t2i. I am looking at a 7d mk II or a 70d trying to decide, leaning towards the 70d
worried the other will be to hard to use because I am still trying to learn the settings.

rgrenaderphoto wrote:

From an old email to Sigma tech support, using extenders on their new lenses is a major compatibility problem.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

natureshot wrote:

Thank you Robert, do the Tamron have the same problem making them manual ?
I will look at the Kenko Pro 300 line.

The autofocus is dependent on the aperture of the lens and the camera body's ability to focus with that amount of light. 7DII will AF at f/8.0, most others, including 6d at f/5.6.

Adding a 1.4X extender changes the lens' max aperture by one full stop. A 2.0X changes it 2 stops.

So if that makes the lens go beyond the camera's AF ability then you have to use manual focus.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

I have the Sigma 150-600S and the Sigma 1.4 extender made for that lens and they work great together on my 7DII. I'm not sure what the compatibility issue memo is all about but I'm assuming it pre-dates the 150-600S lens.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

rmorrison1116 wrote:

I have the Sigma 150-600S and the Sigma 1.4 extender made for that lens and they work great together on my 7DII. I'm not sure what the compatibility issue memo is all about but I'm assuming it pre-dates the 150-600S lens.

It is possible Sigma just hasn't updated the compatibility chart but I went to their web site and got the link just about 2 minutes before I posted it. Sigma advises against using their extenders with a lot of their lenses and don't state the reason why. Even if you call to ask the people you get in support don't seem to have that info.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

rmorrison1116 wrote:

I have the Sigma 150-600S and the Sigma 1.4 extender made for that lens and they work great together on my 7DII. I'm not sure what the compatibility issue memo is all about but I'm assuming it pre-dates the 150-600S lens.

How does it affect the sharpness. I thought it was generally accepted that extenders worked well mainly with prime telephotos and some of the exotic zooms like the 70-200mm.

travisdeland Loc: deland, FL

rmorrison1116 wrote:

I have the Sigma 150-600S and the Sigma 1.4 extender made for that lens and they work great together on my 7DII. I'm not sure what the compatibility issue memo is all about but I'm assuming it pre-dates the 150-600S lens.

If you look closely, Sigma has 2 models of extenders. The newer model: TC-1401, is designed to work with both versions of the 150-600mm and the 120-300mm lenses-NO OTHERS, at this time.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

travisdeland wrote:

If you look closely, Sigma has 2 models of extenders. The newer model: TC-1401, is designed to work with both versions of the 150-600mm and the 120-300mm lenses-NO OTHERS, at this time.

Apparently, Sigma has optimized this latest extender for these two zooms.This is a GOOD thing ! Traditionally OEM extenders have been optimized for prime lenses 300mm and longer.

Cappy Loc: Wildwood, NJ

natureshot wrote:

Thank you for the information. When I purchased this lens I wasn't thinking about getting an extender until I bought the canon 6d I was using it on a rebel t2i. I am looking at a 7d mk II or a 70d trying to decide, leaning towards the 70d
worried the other will be to hard to use because I am still trying to learn the settings.

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I have the 70D and use most of the time. Also have the 5Diii.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

For any tele-extender/lens/camera combination it is wise to check compatibility before purchase. In some cases, only an OEM device will work properly, in others several will be ok. Even within a brand, not all extenders will work with all lenses. The comment that these devices are really intended for fixed focal length lenses should be considered. Best of luck. Happy New Year!