Posted by Mike Smith on January 31, 2008 at 4:31 AM
the Sigma 200-500 f2.8 that is, but what on earth do you use to support 16kgs, and how many Sherpas are needed to move it for you?
Posted by Andy Astbury on January 31, 2008 at 5:00 AM
7 is the figure I heard Mike
Just imagine how 'thin' 500mm/800mm DoF would be at the usual distances we work at - you'd have to stop down to f4/f5.6 before you could even start - oooops - aren't we already using these numbers
I can see I'd be theoretically 'gagging' for one to try if if I made a living from football or F1 photography.
I think there is at least 1 in the UK because a guy in Sigmas' service department was telling me all about it on Tuesday, so it might well be on display at Focus next month.
The 'mods' could make some 'dough' if they started a 'book' on who gets one first on the forum
Having just put my 400/2.8 up for auction, i don't think i will miss the weight, or the half stop of aperture gain compared to my new 3.5 {and that is less than half the weight of this monster }.
Having thought about this lens a bit more , i can't see much practicle use for it as a wildlife photography lens, however, i can see a use for it as a camcorder/movie type lens {Simon King type of malarky}.
If used for that purpose, the limited dof would be less restrictive with the tiny camcorder sensors.
Just me rambling
Alan
Posted by Paul Inglis on January 31, 2008 at 9:24 AM
This looks a beast of a lens after just looking on their website. The specification is huge and the lens is too, weighing in at no less than 16kgs, I’d have to nip down the gym for some weight training before attempting to use this lens. I think a new tripod and head would be in order if this lens was purchased. I have to say it wouldn’t look out of place in a military base but in the real world – come on! You have to agree there is no getting away from the fact that enough funny looks are received when dressed in camo with a 500mm when undertaking projects/shoots in public – I can only begin to imagine the quips people would make if I had one of these, such as ‘Oh don’t you have a big one!’
500mm f/2.8 isn’t something I’d need in all honesty but was intrigued by that 400-1000mm attachment that comes with it making it a whooping 1000mm f/5.6. This lens has its own battery – just one more to charge eh!
The sigmonster (300-800mm) is dwarfed by this beast!
I think I’ll just stick to the 500mm f/4 VR I have on order.
Discussion
9 repliesJust imagine how 'thin' 500mm/800mm DoF would be at the usual distances we work at - you'd have to stop down to f4/f5.6 before you could even start - oooops - aren't we already using these numbers
I can see I'd be theoretically 'gagging' for one to try if if I made a living from football or F1 photography.
I think there is at least 1 in the UK because a guy in Sigmas' service department was telling me all about it on Tuesday, so it might well be on display at Focus next month.
The 'mods' could make some 'dough' if they started a 'book' on who gets one first on the forum
Agree with Andy's views on this beast.
Having just put my 400/2.8 up for auction, i don't think i will miss the weight, or the half stop of aperture gain compared to my new 3.5 {and that is less than half the weight of this monster }.
Looks similar to a submarine, to me
Alan
If used for that purpose, the limited dof would be less restrictive with the tiny camcorder sensors.
Just me rambling
Alan
500mm f/2.8 isn’t something I’d need in all honesty but was intrigued by that 400-1000mm attachment that comes with it making it a whooping 1000mm f/5.6. This lens has its own battery – just one more to charge eh!
The sigmonster (300-800mm) is dwarfed by this beast!
I think I’ll just stick to the 500mm f/4 VR I have on order.
T
Major.
Major.