New Sigma 120-300mm 2.8

Didn't they officially announce that a couple of months ago (with the 35mm)?

Either way I'm also very interested, just need to wait and see how much it is actually going to be and when it is actually released (unless it says in the link, haven't read it all yet) as I'm interested in knowing what will happen to the current OS prices...
 
I wish sigma would update some of the tele primes. Their 300mm f/2.8 is tempting but it isn't as sharp as the 120-300, which is a shame as it should be sharper. The 500mm f/4.5 is nice and light, cheap, sharp but I think making a slighty heaver and more expensive f/4.0versiopn will allow better use with TCs. the f/4.5 will just about work with the 1.4 TC but not great, an f/4.0 will work well with a 1.4TC and work OK with a 2.0XTC on a modern nikon body.
 
D.P. said:
I wish sigma would update some of the tele primes. Their 300mm f/2.8 is tempting but it isn't as sharp as the 120-300, which is a shame as it should be sharper. The 500mm f/4.5 is nice and light, cheap, sharp but I think making a slighty heaver and more expensive f/4.0versiopn will allow better use with TCs. the f/4.5 will just about work with the 1.4 TC but not great, an f/4.0 will work well with a 1.4TC and work OK with a 2.0XTC on a modern nikon body.
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I tried the Sigma 500mm and what you say about it is true except fot 2 things I found about it.
I tested one at Aperture in London and I thought its native contrast was terrible. The real killer was that it wouldn't AF with a 1.4x TC on my 1D4.
Of course that doesn't make a bad lens and the 120-300 looks like it may be a cost effective alternative to Canons 300 f2.8 with added zoom flexibility.
 
Well if their production process is just that good that they can comfortably afford to bring out better, newer, cheaper lenses than the first parties then I'm sure it'll all come in time. That said, in longer lenses it might be more of a challenge as the glass becomes a bigger cost factor relative to the design costs and good quality lenses will get closer to Canon and Nikon equivalents
 
I just wish sigma would add weather sealing to their lens line up, especially seen as it seems to rain more than the sun shines at the moment.
 
footman said:
I tried the Sigma 500mm and what you say about it is true except fot 2 things I found about it.
I tested one at Aperture in London and I thought its native contrast was terrible. The real killer was that it wouldn't AF with a 1.4x TC on my 1D4.
Of course that doesn't make a bad lens and the 120-300 looks like it may be a cost effective alternative to Canons 300 f2.8 with added zoom flexibility.
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Interesting about the contrast. I have never tested the Sigma and can only go by sparse online reviews, the inability to use a 1.4xTC is not too surprising given the aperture but is disappointing - a super-tele that doesn't take a 1.4xTC nicely is really a shame.

I will probably keep saving for the Nikon - if only things like weddings and buying houses were cheaper....
 
footman said:
I tried the Sigma 500mm and what you say about it is true except fot 2 things I found about it.
I tested one at Aperture in London and I thought its native contrast was terrible. The real killer was that it wouldn't AF with a 1.4x TC on my 1D4.
Of course that doesn't make a bad lens and the 120-300 looks like it may be a cost effective alternative to Canons 300 f2.8 with added zoom flexibility.
Click to expand...

if you can i'd prefer to get Canon's, purely because the performance of them with the new mk III extenders is nothing short of outstanding. My 400 f2.8 IS II USM and 1.4x TC III is just incredible in terms of resolution/sharpness and even AF speed, and the samples I see of the 300/400 with both the 1.4 and 2 make me smile. Though they are stupidly expensive...

I presume Canon are not updating the FW of the 1D4 to AF at f8?
 
londonbairn said:
if you can i'd prefer to get Canon's, purely because the performance of them with the new mk III extenders is nothing short of outstanding. My 400 f2.8 IS II USM and 1.4x TC III is just incredible in terms of resolution/sharpness and even AF speed, and the samples I see of the 300/400 with both the 1.4 and 2 make me smile. Though they are stupidly expensive...

I presume Canon are not updating the FW of the 1D4 to AF at f8?
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You pay for what you get though. A canon 400 F2.8 + 1.4 MK III extender is what, £7k? Can buy 3 of those sigma lenses for that sort of money.
 
An Exception said:
Judging by Sigma's recent quality revolution, I have high hopes for this. (looks nice as well)
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Out of interest,what do you mean by that?? I have not been following the recent developments with independent lens manufacturers. I always thought Tokina tended to be the best one(they bought up the consumer optics part of Angenieux and were themselves bought by Hoya) or has Sigma now surpassed them overall??
 
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CAT-THE-FIFTH said:
Out of interest,what do you mean by that?? I have not been following the recent developments with independent lens manufacturers. I always thought Tokina tended to be the best one(they bought up the consumer optics part of Angenieux and were themselves bought by Hoya) or has Sigma now surpassed them overall??
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They started taking QC seriously and not just in the factory. They also have software and a USB docking station for their latest line of lenses so you can calibrate them yourself if your body doesn't support microadjust or the lens requires more than the body can provide.
 
londonbairn said:
if you can i'd prefer to get Canon's, purely because the performance of them with the new mk III extenders is nothing short of outstanding. My 400 f2.8 IS II USM and 1.4x TC III is just incredible in terms of resolution/sharpness and even AF speed, and the samples I see of the 300/400 with both the 1.4 and 2 make me smile. Though they are stupidly expensive...

I presume Canon are not updating the FW of the 1D4 to AF at f8?
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The 1D4 does AF at F8, it's the 1Dx that doesn't.
I'm getting hold of a Canon 300L f2.8 IS Mk1 at the weekend to replace my 500.
The present owner uses MkIII TC's with it and says the IQ is better than with the MkII's.
 
CAT-THE-FIFTH said:
Out of interest,what do you mean by that?? I have not been following the recent developments with independent lens manufacturers. I always thought Tokina tended to be the best one(they bought up the consumer optics part of Angenieux and were themselves bought by Hoya) or has Sigma now surpassed them overall??
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The recent Sigma primes 35/50/85 have been stunning.

The 35 1.4 thread on here is a good example.

kd
 
James J said:
They started taking QC seriously and not just in the factory. They also have software and a USB docking station for their latest line of lenses so you can calibrate them yourself if your body doesn't support microadjust or the lens requires more than the body can provide.
Click to expand...

King Damager said:
The recent Sigma primes 35/50/85 have been stunning.

The 35 1.4 thread on here is a good example.

kd
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That is certainly interesting!! I hope they add these features to their telephoto lenses like the 150-500MM for example.

Thanks BTW.
 
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The primes seem to be getting the love first it seems as they have state of the art glass, but don't appear to be weather proofed, which is my only annoyance. There isn't any competition to the 150-500 and 50-500 lenses they do so I'll doubt they'll be in any rush to refresh those yet.
 
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