Sigma SA-mount

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The Sigma SA-mount is a lens mount by the Sigma Corporation of Japan for use on their autofocus single-lens reflex and mirrorless cameras. It was introduced with the SA-300 in 1992. Originally, the SA-mount was a dual-bayonet mount with inner (SA-IB) and outer (SA-OB) bayonets, the latter being a feature intended to mount heavy telephoto lenses, [1] but never utilized by Sigma and consequently dropped with the release of the SD14 in 2007.

Contents

There were two precursors to the introduction of SA-mount cameras, the manual-focus Sigma Mark-I in 1976, which still featured a M42 screw lens mount, and the SA-1 of 1983 with Pentax K-mount.

Mechanically, the (inner) SA-mount is similar to the Pentax K-mount as well, [2] but with a flange focal distance of 44.00 mm, identical to that of the Canon EF-mount. Like the EF-mount, the SA-mount uses electrical communication between body and lens, and in fact uses the same signalling lines and protocol as the EF-mount, despite the physical incompatibility. Sigma has long produced EF-mount lenses for Canon cameras, and thus had the ability to use this protocol.

All Sigma SLRs and DSLRs can use manual focus lenses too, which have no electrical communication between body and lens.

In September 2018, Sigma announced that they will stop the development of SA-mount cameras and focus on the Leica L-mount, as members of the L-Mount Alliance alongside Panasonic. [3]

Compatibility

M42-mount lenses can be mounted via adapters utilizing the SA inner bayonet.

Despite of the physical similarities Pentax K-mount (PK) lenses can't really be fitted straight onto the SA-mount as well, once the protruding AA lever and AA protector outcrop are removed, though the fit is slightly loose as the SA-mount has a slightly bigger bore than the PK-mount. However, due to the difference in registration distance scale focusing isn't possible and the close focusing capabilities will be reduced.

Utilizing the SA-OB bayonet mount (on camera bodies supporting it), Nikon F-mount can be fitted and used via a JTAT mount adapter developed by Kazuo Suzuki, Tachibana Seisakusho. [4]

In digital cameras, it is important to make sure that the rear of an adapted lens never hits the camera's dust protector filter when focused to infinity.

Lens adaptations

Newer lenses with Sigma SA-mount can be used on newer Sony E-mount cameras (for example, the Sony ILCE-7 series, the ILCE-5000, ILCE-6000 etc.) using the Sigma MC-11 SA-E mount adapter, introduced in 2016. (A similar Sigma MC-11 EF-E adapter is available to mount Canon EF-mount lenses on Sony E-mount cameras.) The adapters support autofocus, image stabilization and electronic aperture control.

Camera bodies

BodyRelease dateMountSensor
Film (24×36 mm)
SA-300/SA-300 QD 1992 or 1993SA-IB and SA-OBN/A
SA-300N/SA-300N QD 1994SA-IB and SA-OBN/A
SA-5/SA-5 QD 1997SA-IB and SA-OBN/A
SA-7/SA-7 QD 2001SA-IB and SA-OBN/A
SA-9/SA-9 QD 2001SA-IB and SA-OBN/A
SA-7N/SA-7N QD 2002SA-IB and SA-OBN/A
Digital (13.8×20.7 mm)
SD9 2002-10SA-IB and SA-OB Foveon X3, 1512×2268 pixels
SD10 2003-12SA-IB and SA-OBFoveon X3, 1512×2268 pixels
SD14 2007-03SA-IB onlyFoveon X3, 1760×2640 pixels
SD15 2010-06SA-IB onlyFoveon X3, 1760×2640 pixels
Digital (15.7×23.5 mm)
SD1 2011-05SA-IB only Foveon X3, 3200×4800 pixels
SD1 Merrill 2012-02SA-IB onlyFoveon X3, 3200×4800 pixels
SD Quattro 2016-02SA-IB onlyFoveon Quattro, 3616×5424 pixels
Digital (17.9×26.7 mm)
SD Quattro H 2016-02SA-IB onlyFoveon Quattro, 4128×6192 pixels

Lenses

All SLR lenses manufactured by Sigma since 1993 are available for the SA-mount. A partial listing can be found here.

See also

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Lenses for SLR and DSLR cameras

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Pentax (lens)

Pentax lenses were first badged as Takumar. The Takumar branded lenses were well respected for their line of Super Takumar, which designated the high performance coating applied to the lens as well as the optical formulas used to make them. The majority of the industry at the time was still satisfied with the variations of the "plumb" coating process and later some of the two and three layer processes as well. Asahi Pentax soon introduced the Takumar Super-Multi-Coated line of lenses which was a 7 layer process as the industry had just caught up with similar forms of 5 layer multi-coated optics. Eventually Asahi Optical and Pentax slowly shifted much of their lens production under the Pentax name and transitioned some of the successful designs that were first introduced under the Takumar name to use Asahi/Pentax badging as well as beginning to use the "smc" abbreviation. Eventually the Asahi partnership disappeared and the Pentax name became solely used. Pentax lenses saw many feature changes to answer the market, such as: incorporating "Auto-Aperture" with the M42, the light weight and compactness with the 'M' series, Aperture Priority overrides with the 'A' series, and Auto-Focus with the 'F' series. Modern Pentax lenses for digital SLR cameras have seen the elimination of the aperture ring completely as found on Pentax DA and D-FA series lenses. They use the Pentax KAF mount. All of these lenses have an autofocus feature, either operated from the camera body or from an internal SDM motor. Pentax compatible lenses are also made by third-party companies.

Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 lens

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The Fujica X-mount was a lens mount created by Fujifilm in the late 1970s for the new Fujica SLR lineup: AX-1, AX-3, AX-5, STX-1, STX-1N, STX-2. It replaced the M42 screw mount used on their earlier SLRs.

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Sony E-mount

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Sony NEX-5

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Lens adapter

In photography and videography, a lens adapter is a device that enables the use of camera and lens combinations from otherwise incompatible systems. The most simple lens adapter designs, passive lens adapters provide a secure physical connection between the camera and the lens. Some passive adapters may include a mechanism for manual iris control. So called, active lens adapters will include electronic connections, enabling communication between the lens and the camera.

Nikon Z-mount Digital camera lens mount

Nikon Z-mount is an interchangeable lens mount developed by Nikon for its mirrorless digital cameras. In late 2018, Nikon released two cameras that use this mount, the full-frame Nikon Z 7 and Nikon Z 6. In late 2019 Nikon announced their first Z-mount camera with an APS-C sensor, the Nikon Z 50. In July 2020 the entry level full-frame Z 5 was introduced. In October 2020, Nikon announced the Nikon Z 6II and Nikon Z 7II, which succeed the Z 6 and Z 7, respectively. The APS-C lineup was expanded in July of 2021, with the introduction of the retro styled Nikon Z fc, and in October 2021, Nikon unveiled the Nikon Z 9, which effectively succeeds the brand's flagship D6 DSLR.

References

  1. SA-300 owner's manual
  2. Stephen H. Westin. "Comparison: Sigma SA mount vs. Pentax K".
  3. "Sigma Set To Axe SA Mount Cameras". ePHOTOzine. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
  4. "SD_Nikon.gif". www.jtat.com. Archived from the original on 2005-10-01.