Page 1 of 1

Sigma 200-500mm f/2.8 EX DG

Posted: Sat May 23, 2009 8:42 pm
by harvey
I noticed this lens in a catalogue I received in the post today
  • What are the economics of producing such a lens?
You would need a strong support for the 15.7kg.

It has an "attachment" that turns it into a 400-1000mm f/5.6.

Harvey

Re: Sigma 200-500mm f/2.8 EX DG

Posted: Sat May 23, 2009 10:47 pm
by Heidfirst
harvey wrote: What are the economics of producing such a lens?
tbh I don't believe that they are a problem - I believe that it was a product requested & probably funded by government agencies etc.

Re: Sigma 200-500mm f/2.8 EX DG

Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 1:39 am
by David Kilpatrick
They are made to special order only and they were originally a military order. Sigma UK has one example, most other Sigma national offices have one.

David

Re: Sigma 200-500mm f/2.8 EX DG

Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 9:47 am
by harveyzone
harvey wrote:I noticed this lens in a catalogue I received in the post today
  • What are the economics of producing such a lens?
You would need a strong support for the 15.7kg.
I think it is essentially a showcase lens now. A 'look at what we can do' type lens, rather than a practical option for anything other than very specialist use.

Re: Sigma 200-500mm f/2.8 EX DG

Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 11:31 am
by KevinBarrett
harvey wrote:
  • What are the economics of producing such a lens?
Such a lens serves as spectacular advertizing for the company, even if nobody else buys it after the original entity that commissioned it. A buyer, largely insensitive to the cost, foots the bill for the R&D, then all Sigma need do is make a couple of extra copies at diminishing cost and they've got an immortal billboard: Every pro photography and enthusiast starts talking about "that huge Sigma," "Sigzilla," or, "green monster," and they remember it forever. Pretty inexpensive advertising, actually.