Sigmas Global Vision---reorganizing lenses

it's a bit of a read...but sounds like quite a shake up on the horizon...

http://www.sigmaphoto.​com …igmaJapanPressR​elease.pdf

the thing that intrigues me quite a bit is the sports category...and featuring supertelephoto lenses...along with zooms(which i assume are just the current lenses)...

wonder if they are re-doing their whole line up...

A new 15mm FE is what would be on my list right now

Not to be cynical, but it sounds to me like a revamped marketing strategy more than anything else. The sport category you're excited about sounds great, but have they improved their AF speed? That'll have more bearing on how they do in the market place. Right now Sigma (and Tamron) are positioned as options for photographers who want nicer lenses but don't want to pay Canon or Nikon prices. Sigma seems to be trying to break out of this entry level, Chevrolet niche (if you will), and reposition themselves as the Buick of lenses. It might work, but ultimately lens performance will determine whether or not they succeed.

jblaschke wrote in post #15006674
Not to be cynical, but it sounds to me like a revamped marketing strategy more than anything else. The sport category you're excited about sounds great, but have they improved their AF speed? That'll have more bearing on how they do in the market place. Right now Sigma (and Tamron) are positioned as options for photographers who want nicer lenses but don't want to pay Canon or Nikon prices. Sigma seems to be trying to break out of this entry level, Chevrolet niche (if you will), and reposition themselves as the Buick of lenses. It might work, but ultimately lens performance will determine whether or not they succeed.

i actually meant i was excited about the supertelephoto lenses...i'm thinking a longer prime with OS would be nice for cheaper than the canon options...a little faster AF speed than my sigma 150-500OS would be fine for me...

jblaschke wrote in post #15006674
Not to be cynical, but it sounds to me like a revamped marketing strategy more than anything else. The sport category you're excited about sounds great, but have they improved their AF speed?

According to the info on the new 120-300 one of the things they changed was AF Speed as well as adding a focus limiter and some form of control for the focus speed...

While its obviously a lot of marketing, I think its good marketing, Its designed to grab consumers and say "Megapixels are NOT what matter, Cameras DONT matter, Lenses MATTER" and reorganizing things to be a lot easier for your average consumer to sort of understand....

As for zooms in the sports category, the 70-200 f/2.8 is a very popular lens for some sports, Personally I think zooms are VERY useful, but i expect a big fast tele is on its way... With recent price increased

My guess here is Sigma is going to be dumping a lot of the old models, Some lenses just simply arent needed/dont sell much right now, I expect them to be discontinued, Probubly some of the old primes like the 20mm f/1.8, 24 f/1.8 and 28mm f/1.8 will get the sack, but id also expect to see some replacements for some lenses, Sigma could use a fast 24mm lens to go with the other FF fast primes for instance..

I expect more recent lenses will get a facelift, See the 85mm f/1.4 and 50mm f/1.4, Also the 70-200 f/2.8 OS as well, I wouldnt doubt a tweak or two to the internals on these lenses happening either...

The 105, 150 and 180 OS macros will get facelifted, All three are brand new, I expect, and want to see, a 50mm-class macro with HSM and OS as well, Bonus points if its f/2!

-edit- nevermind, reading descriptions answers my stupid question

KenjiS wrote in post #15006931
As for zooms in the sports category, the 70-200 f/2.8 is a very popular lens for some sports, Personally I think zooms are VERY useful, but i expect a big fast tele is on its way...

I've been hoping for a Sigma version of the 400 2.8 for a couple of years now. I agree there's a lot of marketing going on here, but the fact that Sigma is updating a 1year old lens tells me they've made some sort of improvement that we'll all notice.

Stone 13 wrote in post #15007091
I've been hoping for a Sigma version of the 400 2.8 for a couple of years now. I agree there's a lot of marketing going on here, but the fact that Sigma is updating a 1year old lens tells me they've made some sort of improvement that we'll all notice.

Honestly I'd rather Sigma do something different, Why not a 400mm f/4 prime thats easier to handle than the 2.8s that the big manufacturers make... or a 500mm f/5.6...

KenjiS wrote in post #15007098
Honestly I'd rather Sigma do something different, Why not a 400mm f/4 prime thats easier to handle than the 2.8s that the big manufacturers make... or a 500mm f/5.6...

An EF mount 400 f/4 would probably be a hit considering how little love the Canon DO version gets, would probably be an easy win for Sigma.

I tend to think in terms of a 2.8 plus updated Sigma tc's getting me all 3 of those focal lengths, but maybe I'm just being greedy.

Stone 13 wrote in post #15007134
An EF mount 400 f/4 would probably be a hit considering how little love the Canon DO version gets, would probably be an easy win for Sigma.

I tend to think in terms of a 2.8 plus updated Sigma tc's getting me all 3 of those focal lengths, but maybe I'm just being greedy.

it did mention the Teleconverters in that press release, I'm thinking Sigma will update them to match the new 120-300...

And agreed, Im unsure if its unrealistic to hope for a 400mm f/4 OS HSM at say, a $3500 price point, But if it happened, I'd want it... Be a great birding/hiking lens, and also very good for quite a few sports...

I think theres a market for lighter smaller teleprimes, I for one, could not use a 400mm f/2.8 (I could, Probubly for about 5 minutes before i was crying in pain, Even on a tripod and such..if i got the chance id still do it at least once, but live with it? no)

The docking station is really nice. Are the days of having to send the lenses to Sigma for calibration over?

Rush87 wrote in post #15008085
The docking station is really nice. Are the days of having to send the lenses to Sigma for calibration over?

I was also excited at first until I read that it has been developed exclusively for the new generation of lenses. Does it mean only the 3 new lenses mentioned in the publication? Will it work with older lenses (like my current 120-300 2.8 OS)? WHo knows... But it'd be nice if it did, although my lens is pretty much spot on.

jblaschke wrote in post #15006674
Chevrolet niche (if you will), and reposition themselves as the Buick of lenses.

I think you just revealed your age...
The Corvette is a Chevy, does Buick make anything in that category?

KenjiS wrote in post #15007098
Honestly I'd rather Sigma do something different, Why not a 400mm f/4 prime thats easier to handle than the 2.8s that the big manufacturers make... or a 500mm f/5.6...

That or that would be a hit. All the others have a 400 2.8 but the 400 f4 or 500 5.6 are missing. No point covering already covered focal lengths.

Stone 13 wrote in post #15007091
I've been hoping for a Sigma version of the 400 2.8 for a couple of years now. I agree there's a lot of marketing going on here, but the fact that Sigma is updating a 1year old lens tells me they've made some sort of improvement that we'll all notice.

They are making alot of noise about this A1 quality control. The 2 year old 120-300 seems to be having an unusually high failure rate, often out of the box. I know some people have good uns but just read the 120-300 OS announcement thread, alot of AF, OS or electrical issues. Hopefully that will change and make it a worthwhile lens to own.
Being able to adjust focus at home will be a plus, not to menion setting your own limit for the limitation switch.

Neilyb wrote in post #15008406
That or that would be a hit. All the others have a 400 2.8 but the 400 f4 or 500 5.6 are missing. No point covering already covered focal lengths.

The only justification for having like, a 400 f/2.8 or a 500 f/4 is because the new Canon ones are very, very pricey and some people might want a cheaper alternative with a warranty...

For instance, I really like that new Pentax 560mm f/5.6, Its half the weight of a Canon 600mm f/4 at 6.7lbs, its even lighter than a 500mm f/4L and closer to a 300 f/2.8 in weight, a bit pricey but I chalk that down to a very limited marketshare and potential market for it ($7000) or just a very high MSRP

http://www.ephotozine.​com …hoto-lens-announced-20078