Sigma SD14 and manual lenses

[Xpres]

At Bob's suggestion I will indeed start a thread for the Sigma SD9, SD10 and SD14 which work just fine with manual lenses.
Please add any links, experiences and photos!
It has a Sigma SA mount which is mechanically the same as Pentax K but with a registration of 44mm.
The only adapter available is for M42 lenses although there used to be one for Nikon I think.
You can mount PK lenses If you remove the aperture link and baffle which will then work fine although they'll focus a bit past infinity.
Anything else needs a little more work!

Look at these links for info

http://www.foto.nordjylland.biz/SD14/SD-usertips.htm

http://www.foto.nordjylland.biz/SD14/SD14-NonSigmaLenses.htm

[hacksawbob]

Thanks anyone else with more info please post

[LUIS A GUEVARA]

I am happy to say that the SD14 to Contax C/Y Mount replacement kit has finally reached the status of Prototype , as you can see here:










The Prototype stage is just a validation of Feasability of the project . It is far from what is required to start production , For that the project needs to go trough another validation , this time of Manufacturability.

I am confident though that most of the obstacles that have surfaced could be overcome. What I am not so sure is if a Mount Replacement KIT can be made that can be installed by a non skilled user.

It looks promissing , but the Planar and another C/Y Zoom lens , have both required the REMOVAL of those Aperture levers that project into the Mirror Cavity. The Good News is that after that there is no Interference with the Dust Filter.

However , because of that , and some other issues ,at this point it looks like the first SD14-ZY offerings will be of Converted cameras , rather than Mount replacement kits. This way perhaps some useful information can be gathered from user feedback regarding lens usability .

The Planar is surprisingly good . Very Sharp and Contrasty and yet with a beautiful , Creamy Bokeh. Color , as well known is a bit on the Blue side, that seems to be a Zeiss trademark .

There is also a certain "Glow" on some images that is reminiscent of the "Leica Glow" that for some images works very nice.

See for yourself here:http://www.sigmacumlaude.com/sigmacumlaude/Sigma%20SD14%2DZY%20Gallery/Sigma%20SD14%2DZY/

If you have an interest in this mount please email me at luis@sigmacumlaude.com so I can put you on my mailing list for further news.



Luis

--
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http://www.summiluxart.com/
http://www.sigmacumlaude.com/

luis@sigmacumlaude.com

[Orio]

Luis, this is very interesting for me, I have a question, do I understand correctly that a modification to contax lenses is required to mount them?

[LUIS A GUEVARA]

[F16SUNSHINE]

Luis
This is great news! Certainly the work you are doing will be well received especially on this Forum. It is too bad the aperture pin must be modified. This may slow me personally as some of the Contax lenses are too expensive to own 2 copies (one for sigma and one for film use with Contax cameras). Of course many will not worry about something so trivial as shooting with Foveon and Contax is very appealing . Thankyou for your efforts! You are a true pioneer

[Orio]

Thank you. Well this is not good news really, I'm afraid. I could sacrifice a copy of a Planar 50 or lens with similar budget (100 to 150 Euros), but I doubt I'd never do that to a Distagon 1.4/35 or Sonnar 2.8/180.
But this is me, maybe other people would want to do that, after all there is a lot of people now who is using Contax lenses on digital.

[Xpres]

I'm a little reluctant to sacrifice any the zeiss lenses in this way as they wouldn't work on film anymore. My intention is to try a couple of yashica ML and decide after that. I have a feeling the sacrifice may be well worth it.

[LUIS A GUEVARA]

[DSG]

There is no need to de-lever them if you simply remove the C/Y mounting plate and swap it for either an SA mounting plate or an M42-SA adapter.
The easiest Ziess lens to convert to SA mount is without dought the 85mm f1.4 Planar T* (MM version).
As an SA mounting plate is the same diameter as the 85mm's C/Y mounting plate its virtually a direct swap, albeit with some drilling and countersinking in the SA mounting plate to do first.
Here is a picture of the rear of my SA mount 85mm f1.4 Planar T* (note it has no bezel ring...I could'nt be bothered to make one for it):

http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/1180/img17738buu2.jpg

The 28mm Distagon T* is a little trickier because its C/Y mounting plate securing holes are well within the inner circumference of an SA mounting plate...The solution was to make a simple stepped washer out of Aluminium which sits inside the SA plate and also acts as the lens's bezel ring...A picture of rear of my SA mount 28mm f2.8 Distagon T* is here:

http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/2008/img14104cqf0.jpg

The 50mm f1.4 has a similar securing screw setup to the 28mm so it might be possible to use the same washer to convert one to SA mount.
On no account should you ever consider trying to convert the 50mm f1.7 Planar T* to any other mount, trust me on this!...Its has a horrendously complex iris actuation mechanism inside to work around that consists of two seperate actuators on opposite sides of the lens that have to be turned simultaniously in opposite directions but at different rotational rates!!!...By employing some precison engineered parts custom made for the job I managed it, just, but it does'nt have click stops anymore.
In any case, the lens really is'nt anywhere near as good as its MTF scores would lead you to believe, in fact its really nothing special at all, so even if you spot a cheap one I would give it a very wide berth and get the 50mm f1.4 version instead.

[DSG]

[no-X]

Warning: I've just discovered, that CZJ Tessar 40/4.5 is unfortunately incompatible with SD14 and can break the IR/dust-filter! It's back parts are protruding too much into the camera body.

[Puplet]

Nikon 45mm f2.8 pancake lens?

[DSG]

[n6mod]

Now, this is interesting, (he said, eyeing a few choice Zuikos)

Click here to see on Ebay

The auction above is the first I've seen of this, there's nothing on sigmacumlaude.com

-Zandr

[n6mod]

I'm curious about something on the SD14. My understanding is that after changing the battery, you need to mount a Sigma lens to activate AF confirmation.

So how does this work if you've converted to one of the other mounts that are available from sigmacumlaude?

[no-X]

This list contains Sigma SD14 compatible lenses (M42) I have personaly tested:

CZJ Flektogon 20/2.8
Zeiss Distagon 25/2.8
Vivitar VMC S1 28/1.9 (Tokina)
Vivitar 28/2.5 (Kiron)
Vivitar 28/2.8 (Komine)
Focal MC 28/2.8
S-M-C Takumar 28/3.5
Pentacon 29/2.8
Vivitar 35/1.9 (Komine)
Super Takumar "PRO" 35/2
S-M-C Takumar 35/2
Auto Takumar 35/2.3
CZJ Flektogon 35/2.4
Cosina Cosinon 35/2.8
Schneider-Kreuznach Curtagon 35/2.8
Schneider-Kreuznach C-Curtagon (Baby-C) 35/2.8
S-M-C Takumar 35/3.5
Meyer-Görlitz Primagon V 35/4.5
ZOMZ MIR-1 37/2.8 (silver, black Grand Prix) - but MIR 1B is very likely incompatible
Super Takumar (2nd version) 50/1.4
S-M-C Takumar 50/1.4
SMC Takumar 50/1.4
CZJ Pancolar 50/1.8
Pentacon 50/1.8
Meyer-Görlitz Oreston 50/1.8
Helios 77M 50/1.8
JOV Helios 77M-4 50/1.8
KMZ Zenitar M2s 50/2.0
LZOS Volna-9 50/2.8
CZJ Tessar (ALU pre-set) 50/2.8
Meyer-Görlitz Trioplan 50/2.9
KMZ Industar 50-2 50/3.5
S-M-C Macro Takumar 50/4
Tomioka Yashinon 55/1.2
Pancolar 55/1.4
Revuenon 55/1.4
Cosionon 55/1.4
Porst 55/1.4
Chinon 55/1.7
Meyer-Görlitz Primoplan V 58/1.9 (pre-set and manual)
KMZ Helios 44M 58/2
JOV Helios 44M-4 58/2
CZJ Biotar manual 58/2
CZJ Biotar pre-set 58/2
CZJ Biotar semi-auto 58/2
CZJ Biotar ALU 75/1.5
CZJ Pancolar 80/1.8
CZJ Biometar 80/2.8
KMZ Helios 40-2 85/1.5
S-M-C Takumar 85/1.8
Vivitar 85/1.8 T + T2->M42 adapter
Jupiter 85/2
Meyer-Görlitz Telefogar V 90/3.5
Meyer-Görlitz Trioplan V 100/2.8 (old and new version)
S-M-C Macro Takumar 100/4
Spiratone plura-coat 135/1.8 (native M42 version)
Pentacon pre-set 135/2.8
KMZ TAIR 11A 135/2.8
Accura Supertel 135/3.2
Jupiter 37A / AM 135/3.5
CZJ Sonnar 135/3.5
Schneider-Kreuznach Telexenar 135/3.5
S-M-C Takumar 135/3.5
Meyer-Görlitz Telemegor V 180/5.5


tested and incompatible:
CZJ Tessar 40/4.5
Voigtlander Color-Ultron 50/1.8 - work, but rear part hits IR filter near infinity
Spiratone 35/2.8 T-mount + T->M42 adapter (works, but at infinity the lens touches the IR filter - risk of scratches)

[LUIS A GUEVARA]

[Attila]

Superb!! Thank you for sharing!

[Xpres]

Certainly is. I think I must have one.

[guardian]

New SD-14 body and yet to take my first photograph. Awaiting receipt of CF memory.

Yesterday's job was to mount my Tamrom SP 90mm F/2.5 model 52B lens onto the camera. This lens uses the Adaptall-2 mount.

Also on hand had:

Tamron Adaptall-2 Custom Mount to adapt M42

and

M42 to PK adapter, brass, bought from a dealer in Texas on eBay

The PK adapter seemed to fit into the SD-14 without trouble or damage to the camera body. Have had it in and out a number of times. The red dot on this PK adapter, though, should/can/must not be lined up with the camera body's red dot when installing. You have to free lance a bit and figure it out before you go ahead.

Problem with the Tamron lens was limited to the iris control pin. It is necessary to depress the pin to achieve the iris setting one dials up. The SD-14 has no provision for this whatsoever. Also, the pin intrudes into the camera body enough to be a nuisance.

To make this work I fabbed up a tiny collar, of brass, which asserts the mechaniam activated by the pin. This is a simpleminded fix, but creating such a tiny part with my big fingers was tough and required several tries.

Finally, with the pin annoyance solved, I screwed everything together and the outcome is good. This morning I was able to test infinity focus and there is no problem. My image in the viewfinder is very clear.

I also have a Tamron-SP 2X Tele Converter model 01F which works with my Tamron lens. I have not yet mounted the converter or tried it, but it should work.

Now if only the CF memory cards would arrive I could take some photos. It will be a few more days, though.

One final thing:

The three Tamron items (lens, converter, and mount) are all in virtually new condition, found that way several years ago at the local thrift shop. In a package deal I paid US$10 for all three . . . a few cents less actually. Not a bad deal.

[Xpres]

Well I did get one of those OM mounts from Luis - who provides an excellent service by the way - and finally have got around to fitting it which really was very straight forward.




I've only put the 55/1.2 on it so far which works fine. However some zuiko lenses have a protruding guard on the baffle which gets in the way of the filter so if I'm to use those they need modifying. I'll post a compatability list of those I have in due course but it's fairly obvious which will work if you look at the mount on the lens.

The mount kit from Luis was a perfect fit. Very pleased!

[aniramca]

SD 14 body is now 220 Euros? (about US$300)
What a bargain?
http://www3.computeruniverse.net/info.asp?id=90199841&promo=10734&banner=&pos=

[guardian]

[guardian]

Could somebody help out a noob, please?:

Am taking photos with my SD14 using a MF Tamron lens.

Camera is set to "M" and when I switch it on I go to the first position to take single photos.

For about the first five to ten seconds after the camera is switched on I can set the shutter speed by rotating the wheel which surrounds the shutter button. After that, the shutter speed locks in. If I want to change shutter speed I have to turn the camera off, and then back on.

Obviously I don't know what I'm doing.

With the camera switched on for a while, how do I gain ability to change shutter speed? What must I do?

Thanks!!