New Product Annoucements from Sigma

It's now Sigma's turn to announce some new products. I'll focus on those applicable to my Nikon DSLR's.

- APO 150-500mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM

This is the new super zoom on the block, most likely a replacement for the APO 50-500mm F4-6.3 EX DG /HSM (aka Bigma). It loses the 50mm at the wide end (though at 75mm on a 1.5X crop factor DSLR, it's not really that wide to begin with). Here's how the new lens stacks up against the Bigma:

*Lens Construction : 15Groups 21Elements vs 20 Elements in 16 Groups
*Angle of View :16.4°-5° vs 46.8 - 5 degrees
*Number of blades : 9pcs vs 9pcs
*Minimum Aperture(W) : F22 vs F22
*Minimum Focusing Distance : 220cm / 86.6in. vs 100-300cm
*Maximum Magnification : 1:5.2 vs 1:5.2
*Filter Size : Ø86mm vs Ø86mm
*Lens Hood : Bayonet type vs Bayonet type
*Dimensions : Ø94.7mm×252mm/ 3.7in. × 9.9in. vs Ø95mm×218.5mm
*Weight : 1,910g / 67.4oz. vs 1840g

So, there's an extra piece of glass in the new lens, which now has a constant minimum focus distance of 2.2 meters! It's longer than the Bigma (possibly due to the 150mm wide end) and weighs just a tad bit more (getting closer to 2kg).

The really big difference here is the addition of OS, Sigma's own stabilizer technology. This alone will put is ahead of the Bigma (if it works). With a shorter zoom range, the optics should be improved. All in all, just waiting for the price and deliver date from Sigma! (Now what am I supposed to do with two monster zooms anyway...?) :)

Next up:

- APO 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM

This is slated to replace the APO 80-400mm F4.5-5.6 EX DG OS, once again, Sigma has sacrificed a little off the wide end and this time, they've added HSM (their version of screwless autofocusing). Looks like Sigma is now making their lens D40/D40X/D60 compatible! The line up against the old lens:-

*Lens Construction : 15Groups 21Elements vs 20 Elements in 14 Groups
*Angle of View :20.4°-6.2° vs 30.3 - 6.2 degrees
*Number of blades : 9pcs vs 9cs
*Minimum Aperture(W) : F22 vs F22
*Minimum Focusing Distance : 150cm / 59.1in. vs F180
*Maximum Magnification : 1:4.2 vs 1:5
*Filter Size : Ø77mm vs Ø77mm
*Lens Hood : Bayonet type vs Bayonet type
*Dimensions : Ø92.5mm×203.5mm/ 3.6in. ×8in. vs 95mm x 192mm
*Weight : 1,750g / 61.7oz.vs 1750g

Again, there's a new piece of glass and an additional element, with reduced wide end. Minimum focus distance is improved to 1.5m, but still that would make it pretty hard to use as a portrait lens. Length is just slightly increased, but overall weight remains unchanged. With the zoom range now wider than the new 150-500 and basically identical features, these two lens are now converging. Possibly Sigma would want to consolidate them in the future (just my own personal opinion - don't quote me on this).

Now, on the lower end:-

- 18-125mm F3.8-5.6 DC OS HSM

Sigma doesn't have anything in this range yet. It's a shorter version of the 18-125mm F3.8-5.6 DC OS HSM from their stable. Expect this to be lighter and more manageable for those who can live without the extra telephoto range.


Lastly:

- APO 200-500mm F2.8/400-1000mm F5.6 EX DG (what the hell???!!!)

Now this is something you probably won't see in a lifetime. Check out the specs:-

*Lens Construction : 13 groups 17 elements
*Angle of view : 12.3°-5°
*Number of blades : 9pcs
*Minimum aperture : F22
*Minimum Focusing Distance : 200-500cm/78.7-196.9in.
*Maximum Magnification : 1:7.7
*Filter Size : Ø72mm (Rear)
*Dimensions : Ø236.5mm×726mm / 9.3in.×28.6in(Hood included).
*Weight : 15,700g / 553.7oz.

This is why you don't see F2.8 super-telephotos - for that you would need something the diameter of a python. At 15.7kg, you would probably break a normal tripod. If you point that thing at an airplane, the anti-terrorist group will probably shoot you first before asking questions later!

Well, there are other announcements from Sigma for other camera systems, which you can check out [ HERE ]

I'm actually disappointed that they've not upgrade their 10-20mm F4-5.6 EX DC /HSM. I was expecting maybe a constant F4 aperture or maybe the addition of OS, but that's just wishful thinking on my part! :)