Sigma 200-500mm f/2.8 EX DG

[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

[Heidfirst]

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.

[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

[harveyzone]

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.

[KevinBarrett]

• 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.