Sigma 120-300 and Nikon D700?

[marcotrov]

A little help and advice, please.
Income tax time So I have been longing for the 200-400VR but still a bit over a grand short of getting it. I have also wanted(insert 'needed' here so we can avoid the 'Do you really need.....' ) a D700 or D700s when it arrives(main reason I really could use the 1.5 to 2 stop extra in the ISO over the D300( ) as well as the wide angle capabilities of the full frame etc,etc).

Anyhow, I had just convinced( or is that deluded ) myself that my Sigma 120-300f/2.8 that i already own along with the EX teleconverters is a terrific lens with speed, sharpness and a few other benefits so really the D700 is the way to go for now. Well I tested the Sigma 120-300 on a friends D700 and to my surprise(actually, bloody annoyance! ) the exif data on the sample shots I have taken shows that when coupled with the D700 the 120-300 is seen by the D700 as a DX lens and hence goes into crop mode.
I tested this with my Nikon 80-400VR(at same focal distance) and while it shows image dimensions of 4256x2832 the Sigma comes in at 2784x1848. Does this mean the sigma needs a modification or am I missing something here?

cheers
marco

[big pix]

the lens may need re-chiping and calerbrating for the latest bodies....... ring CR Kenndy

[marcotrov]

Thanks Bernie. I got this reply from Flickr sigma forum:

Since the D700 doesn't understand the lens' CPU, it's selecting DX to be safe.

Not sure if Sigma has a lens CPU update for this: you can check with them.

Meanwhile, just go into your D700 menus and turn off AutoCrop:
Shooting menu -> Image area -> Auto DX crop -> Off -> OK

Also make sure the Image size setting = FX:
Shooting menu -> Image area -> Choose image area -> FX format -> OK

What do you think Bernie, will it work because I am of a mind to sell the Sigma(as much as I love the lens) and start saving for the 'dream' 200-400VR

cheers
marco

[Raskill]

I noticed this when I first tried the combo. The 120-300 is a 'FX lens', don't worry, it's all good. I never let the body decide what lens is what, as it tried to crop my sigma 24-70 also, which can also be used in FX mode on the body.

[kiwi]

It's all good until you realise that you are back to almost an effective 70-200 on a DX again lol

[marcotrov]

I noticed this when I first tried the combo. The 120-300 is a 'FX lens', don't worry, it's all good. I never let the body decide what lens is what, as it tried to crop my sigma 24-70 also, which can also be used in FX mode on the body.

So when you adjust the D700 menu item to read FX instead of DX when it sees the 120-300 is this set within the camera or does it mean each time you mount the Sigma 120-300 you have to reset the controls onthe D700? So does anyone know if indeed you can program the D700 to actually see the Sigma 120-300 for what it is (and no smart alec comments from the 'I hate Sigma fraternity! ) an FX lens?

It's all good until you realise that you are back to almost an effective 70-200 on a DX again lol

I suppose you are referring to the loss of the crop factor effect you get when this lens is mounted on the D300 as I expect once you change the camera settings so that it sees the Sigma as a full frame lens and not DX then you actually see what the lens is rated i.e. 120-300 on the FX body?

cheers
marco

[colin_12]

You will only need to set the body up once Marco.
It will then just treat all lenses as fx which is what you need in this case.

Yes it will see the lens for what it is (120-300).

[kiwi]

Yeah, the 120-300 on FX seems like a 70-200 on DX if that makes sense

[big pix]

What do you think Bernie, will it work because I am of a mind to sell the Sigma(as much as I love the lens) and start saving for the 'dream' 200-400VR

cheers
marco

....... Phone calls are cheap, to get the right information......

[marcotrov]

Thanks for the responses everyone. D700 about to be ordered
cheers
marco

[inmotion]

HI I had to send my sigma to japan for re-chipping
what happens is the Auto detect wont work properly so the fx/dx must be selected manually via menu.My lens was under warantee so this was free allbe 7 weeks to perform.the benefit is that set to dx the lens becomes a 180-450mm
at 8mpix approx.the lens came back spot on and i sold it soon after to fund a D3s but the fix did work well and the combo was terrific in all aspects--VERY underrated
cheers jim

[marcotrov]

Thanks to all. Got my D700 and MB-10. As mentioned works great once you tell the camera to treat it as an FX
cheers
marco