Sigma Japan has filed a new lens patent on Sigma 120-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports lens. Sigma already have 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports lens on the market for $1,799.
- Patent Publication No. 2015-203827
- Published 2015.11.16
- Filing date 2014.4.16
- Example
- Zoom ratio 4.66
- Focal length 125.15 250.18 583.80
- F number 4.86 5.84 6.50
- Total angle of view 2ω 19.47 9.76 4.18
- The image height Y 21.63
- Overall length of the lens 314.20 371.31 424.96
via: EG
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Another Sports super tele lens from Sigma is very exciting. But why invest time and money on developing 120-600 f5-6.3 lens when your company already have two 150-600mm lenses released within 1.5 years and generally well accepted by the target market base.
Current market is flooded with so many ultra tele zoom lenses (the Sigmas, Tamron 150-600mm, Nikon 200-500mm and Canon 100-400 ver.2, etc.). Though having multiple options to select is always great (as it benefits the customer in many ways), image quality possible with these lenses still cannot hold a candle to say 15 year old affordable prime lens like Nikon AF-s 300mm F4 D lens (or Canon 400mm f5.6 L).
Despite the rising of popularity for these ultra tele zooms, LOTS of quality conscious photographers are eagerly awaiting affordable ($ 2,000 – $ 3,000) super tele prime lenses like 400mm F4, 500mm f5.6 or 600mm f5.6 (or even something like 300-600mm f5.6), which will provide the contrast, subject isolation, clarity that define professional quality photographs without breaking the bank. With the recent introduction of Nikon D500 (alnd already available Canon 7D -2), many enthusiast wildlife sports photographers will be looking to buy quality glasses that could provide them that pro level image quality (at the expenses of one F stop) for an affordable price.
Having handled and shot the Sports 150-600mm lens (excellent build quality, great features, very good image quality for an ultra zoom), I am sure Sigma could sell a Sports 500mm f5.6 or similar lens at around $ 2,500 and if they could do just that, I am sure such lens could sell like hot cakes and will be one of the first to pre-order such dream lens.
Moreover, $ 12,000 Pro super tele lenses from Nikon and Canon are incredible and even for Sigma, I think it would be difficult to replicate that same optical excellence and even if they manage such feat and price such top of the line exotic f2.8 or f4 glass at say $ 7,000 – 8,000, most pros would still pay the extra for Nikon and Canon may be due to excellent resale value and future compatibility. Therefore I think Sigma should develop pro quality yet affordable F5.6 (or similar) super tele lenses for the enthusiast photographers.
Having said all these, I am still curious as to what image quality improvements that Sigma could integrate to this 120-600 lens in comparison to current 150-600mm Sport lens. If Sigma could achieve the following, most will be extremely tempted to buy such lens in a hear beat.
> Smooth and creamy bokeh and subject isolation capability similar to high end prime lens.
> Punchy colors and loads of micro contrast
> Image clarity and sharpness at-least on par with Nikon AF-S 300mm F4.0D. ($ 1,000 lens, 15 years old)
> Same build quality as current Sports version
> Constant F5.6 aperture from 120-600mm.
> Superb wide open image quality
> Less vignetting
> Similar or better OS and AF performance to current Sport lens.
> Price around $ 2,500
I am excited to hear your thoughts on this.
Regards,
Manoj Pathiravasam
from Sri Lanka