If any of you budding photography enthusiasts out there require a need of a good fast telephoto lens but don’t have the budget to fork out large sums of money, well Sigma has the answer for you.
Sigma today announced the launch of two new telephoto lens, the APO 50-150mm F2.8 II EX DC lens and the APO 70-200mm F2.8 II EX DG MACRO HSM lens.
APO 50-150mm F2.8 II EX DC HSM
The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of the new APO 50-150mm F2.8 II EX DC HSM lens.
This large aperture telephoto zoom lens is designed exclusively for digital SLR cameras with APS-C size sensors and its compact, lightweight body provides freedom of movement and versatility. The minimum focusing distance of 100cm/39.4in. and the high-resolution power layout have improved the strength of the lens in close-up photography. This lens offers a large aperture of F2.8 and its large depth of field offers greater freedom of creative expression. It has a maximum aperture of F2.8. Four SLD glass elements are used for maximum correction of chromatic aberrations. The super multi-layer lens coating reduce flare and ghosting and ensure sharp images throughout the entire zoom range. The lens design incorporates an inner focusing and inner zooming system. As the overall length of the lens does not change during focusing and zooming, convenient handling is ensured. The HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) system allows quiet and high-speed auto focusing with full time manual focus override by just rotating the focusing ring. The addition of the optional 1.4x EX DG APO or 2x EX DG APO Tele Converters produce a 70-210mm F4 AF tele-zoom lens and a 100-300mm F5.6 AF ultra-telephoto zoom lens respectively.* Vignetting will occur if the lens is used with digital cameras with image sensors larger than APS-C size or 35mm SLR cameras.
APO 70-200mm F2.8 II EX DG MACRO HSM
The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of the new APO 70-200mm F2.8 II EX DG MACRO HSM.This large aperture zoom lens has improved optical performance and retains close-up ability with a minimum focusing distance of 100cm/39.4in and maximum magnification ration of 1:3.5. This lens is suitable for taking all type of subjects such as portraits, landscape, and close-up pictures. Two SLD (Special Low Dispersion) and three ELD (Extraordinary Low Dispersion) glass elements provide excellent correction for all types of aberrations. High image quality is assured throughout the entire zoom range. The super multi-layer coating reduces flare and ghosting. This lens incorporates HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor), which ensures a quiet and high-speed AF as well as full-time manual focusing capability. The lens design incorporates an inner focusing and inner zooming systems. The overall length of the lens does not change during focusing and zooming, ensuring convenient handling. A removable tripod collar (TS-21) is included as a standard component. When this lens is used with the optional 1.4x EX DG APO or 2x EX DG APO Tele Converters, it becomes a 98-280mm F4 AF telephoto zoom lens or a 140-400mm F5.6 AF telephoto zoom lens respectively.
For a while now, I always contemplated whether getting a telephoto lens is actually worth its pric. I guess that with the new upcoming 3rd party lens from Sigma, the expected prices for these lens should be in the range of RM3k+ and above.
What makes these lens a Christmas item wish list is that, for budding photagraphy enthusiasts (like me), who want to shoot weddings (also like me), would want a cheap alternative to shoot those up-close portrait shots of those moments under low light. The f/2.8 will definitely offer good performance without maximizing one’s ISO setting.
Now that I have hinted, it is only 21 more days till Christmas and I would be more than happy to accept this *grins*.
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I don't think they have optical stabilization, right?
While the 70-200mm looks fine, but the 50-150mm sure is rather odd focal length combination. However, for those who use kit lens (18-55mm), the 50-150mm would be a great add on though.
Hmm, can consider.
The 50-150mm is a light weight f/2.8 telephoto lens to extend the range of the existing Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 HSM, so you get f/2.8 from 18-150mm with 2 fairly light lenses.
Not a bad deal! Sadly the newly announced 70-200mm f/2.8 doesn't have OS like the 18-200mm they recently released.
I'd seriously consider it if they had put a stabiliser in it, as HSM is superb – as fast as AF-S or USM and their optical stabiliser is good too.
Yeah I agree, it is a shame they didn't put in the OS function in there. But then if they did, I am sure the price would balloon up as well.
I am rather tempted with the 50-150mm though.
Hi I had a look at the 50-150mm while I was in Singapore over the New Year's and it does have a nice feel to it. I didn't read that many reviews about the lens though and decided not to get it. Did you purchase this lens after all?
Hi Grace,
Nah I didn't get it in the end. Was saving for something else actually.