Comments on: Ridiculous is Always Cool

By: brian44

brian44 — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 18:49:25 +0000

Now if that was a Canon 200-400mm f2.8L I’d be interested. Taking it to 500 makes it too impractical.

By: Grummbeerbauer

Grummbeerbauer — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 06:10:03 +0000

The lens actually brings its own battery, so adding an OS would not have been a problem.

“The dedicated Li-ion battery BP-21 is used to power the zooming and AF operation” (from http://www.sigma-photo.com/lenses/lenses_all_details.asp?id=3349&navigator=3 )

Reads like the zoom is motor-powered. It also ships with a 2x teleconverter, giving you a 400-1000 f5.6 lens.

By: asdf

asdf — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 04:05:28 +0000

I used the one at photokina, wasn’t impressed at all. It couldn’t compare to any Canon glass. I wouldn’t spend Ã¢â€šÂ¬1000 on one.

By: Ed

Ed — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 22:27:36 +0000

Since it is intended for tripod mount, stabilization isn’t really necessary. However, unless your tripod is ine of the $3500 super heavy duty ones, it will probably shake.

It has its own built-in li-on battery for power zoom, and AF.

If there was a Sony Version, you would have IS.

This ultra telephoto zoom lens offers a fast aperture of F2.8 at the 500mm focal length and F5.6 at the 1000mm. It covers widely used focal lengths from 200mm to 500mm and has a large aperture of F2.8 throughout the entire zoom range. This lens can be used to create amazing image expression with various types of photography such as astrophotography, portraits, wildlife, sports. SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass and three ELD (Extraordinary Low Dispersion) glass elements provide excellent correction for all type of aberrations. The super multi-layer coating reduces flare and ghosting and provides high image quality from the extremely large aperture. The lens hood, designed exclusively for this lens, blocks out extraneous light. A 72mm filter can be inserted at the rear of the lens, and a circular polarizing filter can be used in situ thanks to the ingenious internal rotation mechanism. The dedicated Li-ion battery BP-21 is used to power the zooming and AF operation. This battery is built in the lens barrel. For the convenience of the photographer, focusing distances and focal lengths can be viewed on the lens` built-in LCD panel.

By: Enjott

Enjott — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 20:26:51 +0000

This lens is on display here at Saturn MÃƒÂ¶nckebergstraÃƒÅ¸e in Hamburg. Absolutely a beast. There’s a warning sign attached to it telling people to remember to reengage the tripod head lock after positioning it or something.

By: Nigel

Nigel — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 20:09:59 +0000

As Luke said in the first reply, this lens is not for fashion/portrait photography. It would’ve been better if the test had been conducted using a more appropriate subject.

Not that I’m complaining about the subject mind! ;)

By: Gene

Gene — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 19:41:54 +0000

I don’t know if this is practical for in-lens stabilization optics, but if they could put it in the very rear right before the camera it wouldn’t need to be very big or power-hungry at all.

By: Musouka

Musouka — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 18:39:10 +0000

Women are a main ingredient of Nature. :-)

By: gnarf

gnarf — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 17:26:26 +0000

the model is such a cutie i just fell in love

By: Bill

Bill — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:22:27 +0000

IS/VR/OS would drain camera batteries in a heart beat. It’d probably need a car battery a even heavier motors. I think it would be far simpler to get a camera with built in IS instead…or a tripod…

By: Brother Grimm

Brother Grimm — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 14:26:23 +0000

“Nature” photography, huh? :-)

By: ms

ms — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 14:19:08 +0000

that sure is a nice model… to bad when you check out the full jpegs you start seeing the mushiness, the blatant CA… yea, I know its an extreme lens, but frankly get a 500/4 IS and you get amazing IQ with IS that make up for the 1 stop slower aperture (in most case)…. oh yea, you also save about 20k USD and about 27lbs (and by proxy a trip to the chiropractor)… this thing is a toy for those who have way too much money… you know, the gold plate toilet type

By: jigglypoo

jigglypoo — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 12:58:50 +0000

looks like an extra from “footloose” holding a bosch vacuum cleaner.

By: Michal

Michal — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 11:24:03 +0000

I would buy it if it was white. Honestly. If I could pass it for an Canon L-lens I would just buy for no other reason than I can afford it (not that I need it in any way, shape or form). But come on, honestly, no IS/VR/OS on that monster?!