Sigma 24-105 f/4 DG OS Discontinued

[Canon Rumors]

<p><a href="http://www.canonrumors.com/2014/11/sigma-24-105-f4-dg-os-art-production-on-hold/" target="_blank">We posted back in the fall that Sigma had halted production indefinitely of the relatively new 24-105 f/4 DG OS lens</a>. We’re now told that the lens is in fact discontinued and production has been halted forever.</p>
<p>There was no word as to why it was discontinued, I can only assume the market for a 24-105 on the Canon side is extremely saturated and that the Sigma wasn’t a big enough leap forward in terms of optical quality to purchase over the “kit” lens from Canon. There’s also a possibility the cost of production was too high to keep the price competitive.</p>
<p>We’re still waiting on an official release about this from Sigma.</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">c</span>r</strong></p>
<p> </p>

 

[bereninga]

Wow! I guess the price just wasn't right for this one, esp since it wasn't weather-sealed and wasn't that much better optically vs the Canon version. I wonder how many are actually out there.

 

[AcutancePhotography]

Maybe they are planning on a newer version?

 

[ajfotofilmagem]

Maybe Sigma will do what should have done from the beginning... ???

Rename as Sigma Contemporary : (not Art) and lower the price to $ 700.

 

[distant.star]

.
So indicative of the horrible state of "journalism" in the photo equipment world.

This is a great story -- and what media organization is pursuing it? None.

I think we need to get Roger from Lens Rentals on the case!

 

[NaturaLight]

I bought this lens, and after extensively comparing it to my Canon 24-70 f2.8, I sold the Canon. This is an outstanding lens.

 

[Canon Rumors]

.
So indicative of the horrible state of "journalism" in the photo equipment world.

This is a great story -- and what media organization is pursuing it? None.

I think we need to get Roger from Lens Rentals on the case!

I agree, this is strange, that's why I'm posting about it.

 

[moreorless]

Wow! I guess the price just wasn't right for this one, esp since it wasn't weather-sealed and wasn't that much better optically vs the Canon version. I wonder how many are actually out there.

Never really understood why Sigma haven't sealed there latest lenses, with a general zoom like this its going to stand out as a clear negative in a lot of users eyes.

It does seem to be generally that these kinds of slightly extended mid range zooms are very tough for third parties to do well, I'm guessing because there areas the camera companies have invested a ton of money in as they get a lot of kit sales from them. Stuff like the Art primes is arguably the reverse as your talking more specialist lenses where the 3rd party markers can target different lens mounts.

 

[Hjalmarg1]

<p><a href="http://www.canonrumors.com/2014/11/sigma-24-105-f4-dg-os-art-production-on-hold/" target="_blank">We posted back in the fall that Sigma had halted production indefinitely of the relatively new 24-105 f/4 DG OS lens</a>. We’re now told that the lens is in fact discontinued and production has been halted forever.</p>
<p>There was no word as to why it was discontinued, I can only assume the market for a 24-105 on the Canon side is extremely saturated and that the Sigma wasn’t a big enough leap forward in terms of optical quality to purchase over the “kit” lens from Canon. There’s also a possibility the cost of production was too high to keep the price competitive.</p>
<p>We’re still waiting on an official release about this from Sigma.</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">c</span>r</strong></p>
<p> </p>

Probably Sigma will focus on the 'no-so-good' 24-70mm f2.8 EX where the market for fast apperture (f2.8) is less saturated, Hopefully they will add OS to the 24-70mm f2.8 to be a contender to the very good Tammy.

 

[K-amps]

I bought this lens, and after extensively comparing it to my Canon 24-70 f2.8, I sold the Canon. This is an outstanding lens.

Same here, I love it too.

 

[LetTheRightLensIn]

Not surprised.

The 24-70 f/4 IS is better stopped down for landscapes and FAR smaller and lighter and barely cost more.

The 24-105L real world price fell to much less than this sigma.

The Tamron 24-70 VC was the same size and weight but offer f/2.8 and probably a bit better IQ, although for a few hundreds more.

The 24-70 II has much better IQ and is a trace smaller and lighter! despite having f/2.8 (although no IS and costing a lot more)

The first two made it not make too much sense for Canon users IMO and the last two just made it even more clear IMO.

 

[Botts]

I just hope this doesn't tamper Sigma's R&D investments going forward.

The other new lenses they have are fantastic. Hopefully this doesn't distract from new A or S lenses.

 

[eosmaniac]

I am really disappointed. A few months ago, I had all my money saved up for this lens. When I placed an order with Adorama, I was notified that it was back-ordered. After I discovered this lens would not be produced for an indefinite period (now permanent), I gave up and ordered a Canon 24-70mm f4.0L IS USM lens. I skipped on the Canon 24-105mm f4.0L IS USM lens because it's an old design. While I am pleased with the lens I bought, it will always be my "second" choice. I'm not going to bother looking for the rare Sigma that might pop up; I have other things to get now. While I like Sigma, this has soured me a little toward them.

 

[mrsfotografie]

I bought this lens, and after extensively comparing it to my Canon 24-70 f2.8, I sold the Canon. This is an outstanding lens.

Same here, I love it too.

If you are comparing the Sigma to the Canon 24-70 f2.8 Mk I it should be noted that I sold my 24-70 f2.8 too, but after getting the 24-105L, because the 24-105L had much better resolution and I was more pleased with the color saturation it provided. The Canon 24-70 f2.8 Mk I just wasn't that great.

I think a more direct comparison between the 24-105's probably leaves little to be desired over the Canon especially if you like to process in DPP (like me) and thus have the OEM Canon lens profiles and camera settings available in post. Other than this I *really* dislike lenses with a duo-cam zoom mechanism such as this Sigma has for mechanical reasons and the appearance which associates it with cheap, wobbly builds of the past.

 

[Maximilian]

Really interesting to read this. And also puzzeling.

When this lens came out and showed, that there was no real difference in IQ to the Canon 24-105L (which was well known to the Sigma dev dep, I'm sure) I was sure from the beginning, that this lens was aiming on the Nikon and Sony users. So if Sigma was planning with a relevant sales share to Canon users, this would have been a dead horse from the beginning and would puzzle me even more.
And if they where planning just only with Nikon/Sony sales (what I'd done) it seems that there wasn't that big market. Maybe a Tamron 24-70/2.8 VC, though a bit more expensive, took the sales numbers away.

That would be really interesting to get the background info...

 

[Bennymiata]

Sigma is, relatively speaking, a small company, and it's obvious that they could use the production space for faster selling lenses like their 150-600 which is in short supply.

 

[dash2k8]

I had this lens before and thought it was a little better than the Canon version. Its price, I think, was not helping sales because a lot of white box versions of the Canon 24-105 were available at a lower price, and to the casual consumer, they will pick a "big brand" with lots of ads over a name that perhaps only the more advanced users know. Or maybe they just remember Sigma from the old days, before the Art series, and figured it to be a poor brand.

 

[vscd]

Maybe they come back with a 24-105 F2 DG OS

 

[Viggo]

I am to puzzled by this and also why the new lenses aren't sealed. I just had my 50 art serviced for a squeaky sound and unstable AF. And it's better now, so obviously the AF motor had dust and dirt. Now I have cut apart and old neoprene laptop sleeve and wrapped the 50 to keep the dust away.

 

[YuengLinger]

Despite the old design, the ef 24-105mm f/4 is still a bread and butter lens for many, many working portrait photographers, especially when on location with small strobes. It is also still very popular as a landscape lens for many enthusiasts, and still being praised in workshops by nature photographers.

The Canon price is fair and the lens holds up to heavy use. And it has that cute little soft black ring around the mount.

I'm definitely not an f/4 lover, but this really works for daylight events, as well as for portrait sessions where I know I'm going to need the FL range. And it's also a lot of fun for long exposure photography with an ND filter, as it is sharp and has that great FL range.

I'm surprised often when reading RANGEFINDER or PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER to see an incredible image had been taken with a lens that is often dismissed in this forum. :

So, no, it was not a good product choice by Sigma, but at least they didn't keep going down an unprofitable road. Apparently they have management that knows when to admit a mistake, and the company is nimble enough to shift somewhat quickly.

I do wonder if there might have been a patent dispute involved, but that is 100% speculation.